NFL Christmas day schedule 2025: Cowboys-Commanders, Lions-Vikings headline holiday tripleheader, Results, Highlight.
Christmas Day NFL Tripleheader: Results and Playoff Fallout
The NFL's Christmas Day slate delivered critical matchups with major postseason consequences. Here are the full results and what they mean for the playoff picture.
Dallas Cowboys 30, Washington Commanders 23
The Dallas Cowboys secured the NFC East division title with a hard-fought victory at home. While the Commanders kept the game competitive into the fourth quarter, the Cowboys' offense made key plays down the stretch to close out the win. The victory ensures Dallas will host a playoff game at AT&T Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings 23, Detroit Lions 10
In a stunning defensive performance, the Minnesota Vikings forced six turnovers (including four interceptions) to dominate their divisional rival. The Lions' offense never found its rhythm, and the loss had severe consequences: it mathematically eliminated the Detroit Lions from playoff contention, ending their postseason hopes for the 2025 season.
Denver Broncos 20, Kansas City Chiefs 13
The prime-time finale decided the AFC West. In a tight, defensive struggle, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix delivered a clutch late-game touchdown pass to break a 13-13 tie and seal the victory. With this win, the Denver Broncos clinched the AFC West championship, claiming the division title from the rival Chiefs and securing a home playoff game.
Updated Playoff Picture
NFC: Dallas (NFC East Champs), Minnesota (strengthened Wild Card position), Detroit (eliminated).
AFC: Denver (AFC West Champs), Kansas City (now likely a Wild Card team).
For complete box scores, drive charts, advanced statistics, and the official, updated NFL playoff bracket, visit the NFL.com Scores and Stats hub.
Which NFL teams are playing on Christmas day in 2025?
A lot can change between now and then, but the NFL awarded the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs the honor of playing on the biggest holiday of the year.
When are the NFL games on Christmas day 2025?
Thursday, Dec. 25, which falls on around NFL Week 17 of the 2025 season, that falls in Week 16 in 2024 season.
How to watch 2025 NFL's Christmas games, start times, tv channel, live stream.
Where can I watch the NFL Christmas games? What channel will they be on?
Three games are schedule this year on Christmas Day, two games will be live stream on Netflix, while the third one Live on Prime Video .
Commanders vs. Cowboys: Time: 1 p.m. ET - Stream: Netflix
Venue: Northwest Stadium
The Dallas Cowboys secured a 30-23 road victory over the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day, completing a season sweep of their NFC East rival. The Commanders, starting their third-string quarterback, rallied in the second half but couldn't overcome the Cowboys' early lead and a strong ground game.
Vikings vs. Lions: Time: 4:30 p.m. ET - Stream: Netflix
Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium
It might be cold outside in Minnesota when this game takes place, but the heat will be turned all the way up inside U.S. Bank Stadium when these NFC North rivals meet. The Lions and Vikings clashed in a Week 18 game last year for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which started the Vikings' end-of-season spiral. They'll look to avenge that loss this year and make it a blue Christmas for the Lions.
Chiefs vs. Broncos - Time: 8:20 p.m. ET - Steam: Prime Video
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
The Chiefs will be Mahomes for Christmas in 2025. After Patrick Mahomes and co. traveled to Pittsburgh for a battle against the Steelers, this year it's the home faithful that get to celebrate in style. An AFC West divisional clash awaits against the Broncos, who surprised in 2024. Coming off a playoff appearance, they'll be looking to take the next step against their foes from Kansas City.
How can I stream the NFL Christmas Day games or watch them without cable?
Streaming services that carry FOX, ABC and CBS like YouTube TV or Fubo can be used to stream the games. You can also stream FOX games on FoxSports.com or the FOX Sports app.
CBS games can be streamed Paramount+ and ABC games can be streamed on the ESPN app.
How can I watch the NFL Christmas games for free?
If you have an over-the-air antenna that picks up your local channels, you can watch games on FOX, ABC or CBS for free.
What are the NFL games on Christmas eve?
There will be a A NFL game taking place on Christmas Eve on this year in 2025 season schedule: .
Chiefs vs. Broncos - Time: 8:20 p.m. ET - Steam: Prime Video
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
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When was the first NFL game played on Christmas?
With Christmas falling on a Saturday in 1971, the NFL decided to play its first Christmas games that season, almost four decades after the NFL played its first Thanksgiving game, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
What teams played in the NFL’s first Christmas games?
In 1971, the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins played in the first NFL Christmas games. Because the NFL season was only 14 weeks at the time, the two Christmas games were divisional round playoff games.
Who played on Christmas in 2024 & won the games?
2024 Matchups & scores.
Kansas City Chiefs 29 - 10 Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens 31 - 2 Houston Texans
2023 Matchups & scores.
The Las Vegas Raiders 20-14 Kansas City Chiefs.
The New York Giants 25-33 Philadelphia Eagles.
The Baltimore Ravens 33-19 San Francisco 49ers
Will the NFL play on Christmas day in 2025?
YES, YES: "Well, I think the days are the same for us. We've done this," Goodell explained. "In fact, COVID was a learning opportunity, I think it was the first time we played on a Wednesday. It will not be a regular thing. It will be when Christmas falls on a Wednesday. But the time period between games has been done before. We have not seen any elevation of injuries. You all, and we, have had a major focus on Thursday night when we first put it in, and we've still not seen any kind of elevation of injuries. So I think we have this down.".
When was the first NFL Christmas game?
For years, the NFL season simply did not run long enough to reach the holiday. Until the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the regular season ended in mid-December with the championship game two weeks later. The league would move the game to Dec. 26 if there was a conflict with the holiday.
The first NFL Christmas game happened in the 1971-72 playoffs with the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Miami Dolphins. Both road teams won that day with the Cowboys earning a 20-12 win en route to a Super Bowl win and Miami gutting out a 27-24 double-overtime victory.
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