Can Playoff-Free Games Really Pull Christmas Numbers?
Netflix is rolling out the red carpet for its second Christmas Day NFL doubleheader, but there’s one glaring problem: three of the four teams suiting up have already been sent packing from playoff contention.
The Cowboys and Commanders kick things off at 1 p.m. ET, both already eliminated. Then the Vikings host the Lions at 4:30 p.m. ET, with Minnesota also out of the race. Detroit sits at 8-7 and can only squeak into the postseason as the NFC’s No. 7 seed—and even that’s a long shot.
So what does Netflix do when the games lack stakes? They throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks.
Going Full Super Bowl Without the Super Bowl Teams
Netflix isn’t backing down from its Christmas Day ambitions, even if the matchups won’t determine much beyond draft positioning. The streaming giant is launching pregame coverage at 11 a.m. ET from Northwest Stadium in Washington, followed by a second pregame show at 4 p.m. from Minnesota.
The broadcast features more than 20 NFL personalities—Ian Eagle, Noah Eagle, Scott Hanson, Bill Simmons, Kay Adams, Drew Brees, and Gene Steratore among them. Kelly Clarkson opens the show singing “Underneath the Tree,” and Snoop Dogg headlines halftime during Lions-Vikings with his “Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party.”
Last year, Beyoncé was the halftime headliner. This year, it’s the Doggfather. Both have performed at actual Super Bowls, which tells you exactly what Netflix is trying to replicate here.
The Real Test: Will Fans Show Up?
This Christmas Day slate will answer a crucial question: Do fans care about holiday NFL action when the games mean nothing?
Last year’s Netflix Christmas broadcasts crushed it, pulling in more than 24 million viewers per game and setting NFL streaming records. But those games featured teams still fighting for something. This year’s lineup is essentially a preseason all-star exhibition with playoff jerseys in the closet.
Amazon’s primetime nightcap doesn’t help matters—it features the Broncos against the reeling Chiefs, who have also been eliminated. Just last month, before Kansas City and Dallas were knocked out, NFL EVP Hans Schroeder told Front Office Sports he believed Christmas NFL games “will rival Thanksgiving in the not-too-distant future.”
That’s a bold prediction considering this year’s Thanksgiving game between the Chiefs and Cowboys set an all-time regular-season record with 57.2 million viewers on CBS. To match that energy on Christmas, you need games that matter. Right now, Netflix is serving up consolation prizes wrapped in tinsel.
“Will rival Thanksgiving in the not-too-distant future.” — Hans Schroeder, NFL EVP of Media Distribution
The league is banking on star power, halftime spectacle, and holiday tradition to carry these broadcasts. Whether that’s enough to keep viewers glued to screens while unwrapping presents and carving ham remains the billion-dollar question.
