The NFL’s annual schedule release, which features enticing playoff rematches, made waves with the announcement that its Christmas Day doubleheader will be streamed live on Netflix, marking the company’s biggest foray into live sports.
The league only has two games on the docket Christmas Day compared to its tripleheader last year—the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens head to Houston to face the Texans. Also, since Christmas falls on a Wednesday, that means that there will be NFL games on that day of the week for only the third time since 1946.
Popular on Variety
Clearly, the NFL was more than willing to buck convention and play on a Wednesday after seeing the massive out-of-home ratings from last year’s tripleheader. Yet the league also sees value in creating exclusive events for streamers as it’s done for Amazon’s Prime Video and Comcast/NBC’s Peacock.
The prior Wednesday games were in 2012 when the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants moved their Thursday night affair a day earlier to accommodate President Barack Obama’s address during the Democratic National Convention, and in 2020 when AFC North rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh were forced to reschedule due to COVID outbreaks at the height of the pandemic.
The Christmas games are not the only streaming exclusives, though the only major streamer not invited to the party is Paramount+. In addition to Year 3 of Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, Peacock has the NFL’s first game in South America when the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles begin their seasons in São Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 6, ESPN+ gets the Los Angeles Chargers/Arizona Cardinals Monday Night Football Week 7 game on Oct. 21, and Amazon gets the Las Vegas Raiders playing the Chiefs for its Black Friday game on Nov. 29.
It’s also not often that the NFL’s scheduling format, which involves rotating divisions every year, guarantees a rematch of the previous year’s Super Bowl. And this year, not only will fans enjoy one for the second year in a row, but they will see rematches of all four divisional round games and both conference championships.
The year of the playoff rematch starts on Sept. 5 with the annual Kickoff Game on NBC. The Chiefs will raise their fourth title banner at Arrowhead Stadium against the Ravens, whom they defeated in January’s AFC Championship Game.
The champs will also play in a 2024 Super Bowl rematch when they visit the San Francisco 49ers on Week 7 (Oct. 20). This marks just the 10th time in the modern era that the previous year’s Super Bowl participants face of in the subsequent regular season, with champions winning six of the previous nine matchups (although Kansas City lost to Philadelphia last year). And in what has taken the Tom Brady/Peyton Manning quarterback rivalry spot in the NFL’s scheduling, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will travel to Buffalo to play Josh Allen and the Bills on Week 11 (Nov. 17) in a redux of their divisional round battle.
Additionally, the 49ers will run back last season’s NFC title game when they host the Detroit Lions on Week 17 (Dec. 30). Other playoff repeats will be Tampa Bay/Detroit on Week 2 (Sept. 15), San Francisco/Green Bay on Week 12 (Nov. 24), and the aforementioned Ravens/Texans tilt on Christmas.
In addition to the previously announced Brazil game, there will be a total of five games played outside of the United States in the league’s annual International Series. The NFL will take over London for three weeks in October—Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets meet up with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5, top-overall pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars duel in Week 6, and the Jags’ residency continues against the New England Patriots in Week 7. The international slate ends in Week 10 when the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers play in Munich, Germany, on Nov. 10. The London and Munich games will be broadcast exclusively on the NFL Network.
The Thanksgiving games will have the Bears going to Detroit to face the Lions on CBS, the Giants playing the Cowboys on FOX and the Miami Dolphins visiting Green Bay on NBC/Peacock.
While there have always been some fun and games with the schedule drop, it was serious business for the marketing and sales divisions for each of the 32 NFL teams. Franchises generally sell more single-game tickets on this day than any other, and Marissa Daly, the vice president and general manager for the Los Angeles Rams’ studios, said in an interview with Sportico, “It’s the Super Bowl of ticketing but also the Super Bowl for social media teams.”
Super Bowl LIX itself, which takes place in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025, is in 270 days.
Read more about the business of sports on our sister site, Sportico.
Nine Playoff Rematches, Christmas Games on Netflix
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer