- - Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch NFL Christmas games? All viewing options

Nick Brinkerhoff, USA TODAYDecember 25, 2025 at 5:20 AM

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Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch NFL Christmas games? All viewing options

Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé and Frank Sinatra tend to dominate the Christmas music scene. If you listen close enough, there is another prominent trio that gets left out – Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Cha-ching.

It's the sound of spending sprees across the globe as everyone prepares for the end-of-year, holiday rush. In the midst of all those gifts, there is an NFL Christmas tripleheader slate that will also require people to bid farewell to some extra currency this year.

The first two matchups – Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions – are set to be featured on Netflix, as part of their agreement that lasts through the 2026 season.

In other words, you might want to grab a Netflix gift card for the stocking before leaving the store.

Here's what to know about the NFL's Christmas slate on Netflix.

Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch the NFL Christmas games?

You will need a Netflix subscription to watch the NFL Christmas games on the streaming service.

It's a deal that was reached ahead of the 2024 season between the NFL and Netflix, meaning there will be at least one Christmas game on the streaming service through 2026.

NFL viewers can subscribe to any Netflix plan – from their "standard with ads" option for $7.99/month to "premium" at $24.99/month – to get access to Thursday's doubleheader.

Just because that is the easiest way to watch, doesn't mean there are ways around the Netflix paywall. As always, there are exceptions:

Fans with a subscription to the NFL's premium subscription service, NFL+, can stream each game on their mobile device using the NFL app.

In addition, football fans who live in one of the local markets of the competing teams on Christmas can watch that team's game on their local CBS affiliate station.

Fans of the Commanders living in the Washington TV market can catch the game on their local CBS affiliate. The same can be said for Cowboys fans in Dallas, Vikings fans in Minnesota and Lions fans in Detroit.

Here's the list of local affiliates that will carry the two NFL Christmas games:

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys

Washington: WUSA-9

Dallas: KTVT-CBS 11

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions

Minnesota: WCCO-CBS

Detroit: WWJ-CBS

Christmas NFL games 2025

Here's the rundown of the NFL's Netflix Christmas doubleheader:

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys -

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys

Location: Landover, Maryland

Venue: Northwest Stadium

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Streaming: Netflix

Christmas in the capital. Well, sort of. The Cowboys travel to Maryland to renew their rivalry with the Commanders to kick off the holiday slate.

It was a disappointing year for both teams, who won't be finding anything they asked for under the tree. The Commanders asked for a Super Bowl run after an appearance in the NFC Championship Game last season. Apparently, the store was sold out of those playoff spots and the Commanders will be watching at home on the couch.

The Cowboys are in the same boat, but to a lesser extent. They didn't come into 2025 with the weight of great expectations and yet, America's Team still fell short in a year of transition. Dallas, like their rivals in Washington, will be watching the playoffs at home.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions -

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Streaming: Netflix

It's amazing the difference a year makes. If you flipped the calendar back 365 days, you'd see two teams competing for the No. 1 seed in the NFC – unstoppable forces. In this case, the ghost of Christmas past represents the good times.

Now both teams face the reality of missing the playoffs in 2025. For the Vikings, it's confirmed they are out. For the Lions, they are hanging on for dear life. In what is probably the most exciting game of the day, both teams are looking for a time machine under the tree.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Christmas games: Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch?

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Source: “AOL Sports”