Honestly, if you told a football purist five years ago that the NFL would take over a random Wednesday on the calendar, they would’ve called you crazy. Yet, here we are. The football games christmas day 2024 weren't just about the scores; they were a massive experiment by the league to see if they could own a day usually reserved for NBA marathons and family arguments over the roast.
Spoiler alert: They totally did.
The day was basically a Netflix takeover. For the first time, the streaming giant had the keys to the kingdom, and the production felt... well, expensive. You had Mariah Carey opening the show and Beyoncé literally breaking the internet during halftime in Houston. But under the glitz, the football was surprisingly lopsided. We saw the Kansas City Chiefs remind everyone why the AFC still runs through Arrowhead, and Lamar Jackson basically cemented his MVP case by running all over the Houston Texans.
The Netflix Debut and the Beyoncé Factor
People were worried. Would the stream lag? Would the elderly members of the family be able to find the game on the smart TV? Netflix reported some massive numbers, claiming their doubleheader averaged over 24 million viewers per game. That’s wild for a streaming-only event.
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The first game kicked off at 1:00 PM ET at Acrisure Stadium. It was cold, it was gray, and it was classic Pittsburgh. But the Steelers just didn't have the juice. The Chiefs cruised to a 29-10 win. Patrick Mahomes was surgical, throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns. The big story there, though, was Travis Kelce. He finally hit 1,000 career receptions, joining an elite club that includes Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. He even did the signature Gonzalez goal-post dunk, which naturally got him a penalty. Worth it? Totally.
Then we moved to Houston.
This was the "Beyoncé Bowl." The hype for her halftime show almost eclipsed the actual game, which, to be fair, was a bit of a blowout. The Baltimore Ravens demolished the Texans 31-2. Yes, you read that right. Two points for Houston. A safety. That was it.
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Lamar Jackson’s Historic Night
If you blinked, you might have missed history. During the 31-2 rout, Lamar Jackson officially passed Michael Vick for the most career rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history. He only needed 86 yards going into the game; he finished with 87. Talk about precision.
Lamar’s 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was just vintage. He faked the handoff to Derrick Henry, and the entire Texans defense basically bit on it. Jackson was untouched. It was one of those plays where you just realize no one else on the planet can do what he does.
Derrick Henry wasn't exactly a slouch either. He hammered the Texans for 147 yards on 27 carries. The Ravens were just physically superior. Houston looked lost without Tank Dell, and C.J. Stroud spent most of the afternoon running for his life, getting sacked five times.
Why the Steelers Slipped
Pittsburgh fans are going to be grumbling about this one for a while. The 29-10 loss to the Chiefs was their third straight defeat. Russell Wilson had some moments—a 41-yard strike to George Pickens early on looked promising—but they just couldn't finish drives.
- Turnovers: The Steelers lost the turnover battle again.
- Red Zone Woes: A Jaylen Warren touchdown was called back for holding, and they never recovered the momentum.
- Defense: Even with Chris Jones out for the Chiefs, the Pittsburgh offensive line couldn't protect Wilson.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, looked like they were just playing with their food. They clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with that win, which basically gave them a head start on their three-peat dreams. Mahomes found eight different receivers. That's the scariest part about this Chiefs team—they don't rely on one guy anymore.
What This Means for Future Holidays
The NFL is clearly done pretending to care about "traditional" days of the week. Playing on a Wednesday used to be a "once-in-a-century" event due to blizzards or COVID-19. Now? It’s a business strategy.
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The success of the football games christmas day 2024 means we should expect more of this. Netflix has already signed on for 2025 and 2026. The NBA used to own Christmas Day, but the NFL just walked into the room and took the biggest slice of pie.
If you're a fan, you've gotta get used to the apps. The era of just "turning on the TV" is dying. You need a Netflix sub, a Prime sub, and maybe a prayer that your Wi-Fi doesn't cut out during a goal-line stand.
Actionable Insights for Next Season
- Plan your subscriptions early: Don't wait until 12:55 PM on Christmas to realize you don't have the right app.
- Watch the waiver wire: If your fantasy league runs through Week 17, these Christmas games are massive. Lamar and Henry owners basically won their matchups on this day alone.
- Check the injury reports: Houston’s collapse was a direct result of losing Tank Dell just days before the game. Depth matters more in these short-week holiday windows.
The 2024 holiday slate proved that the NFL is king, even on a Wednesday. Whether it was Kelce’s record, Lamar’s legs, or Beyoncé’s performance, there was no escaping the shield.