NFL Christmas ratings: Netflix reports an average of 24 million viewers for Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans

The NFL did something different with its holiday programming this year, teaming up with Netflix to stream two unusually timed Wednesday games. A day later they announced the results.

Netflix reported an average of 24 million viewers for its games between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, then the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. A total of 65 million viewers are said to have watched at least part of the celebrations.

The games are the two most streamed NFL games in U.S. history, although their competition only comes from Amazon’s regular-season “Thursday Night Football” games.

For reference, last year’s NFL Christmas games, which took place on a Monday, drew an average of 29 million viewers across three games on CBS, Fox and ABC.

The NFL also reported some facts from Netflix on Wednesday about their earlier game:

Both games posted these numbers despite trailing significantly for much of the game. The Chiefs never trailed in a 29-10 win over the Steelers, while the Ravens overwhelmed the Texans in every phase of a 31-2 game.

Netflix has tried to drum up broader interest in Game 2 with a Beyoncé halftime concert with production values ​​typically only seen on the Super Bowl halftime show. It’s unclear what the numbers were when the star took the stage at NRG Stadium in Houston.

The NFL is trying to steal Christmas and so far they’re succeeding

As expected, the NFL’s numbers are significantly higher than those of the NBA, the previous owner of Christmas in the sports holiday calendar.

The NFL has been attempting a hostile takeover of that ownership since 2020, and the result has been clear victories in average viewership. Last year’s NBA drew just 2.85 million viewers, compared to 29 million for the NFL.

This year was more successful, with an 84% increase to 5.25 million through five games, the league’s highest number in five years (read: when the NFL started watching). Still, it’s hard to deny that the NFL is at least in the “Presents on the Grinch’s Sleigh” stage and stealing Christmas from the NBA.

It’s also notable how much effort the NFL had to go to for a Christmas Wednesday this year, as the four teams involved also had to play on Saturday, giving them four days of rest before they could take the field again. Still, three games in 11 days is a lot to ask, but the NFL is clearly willing to do whatever it takes to turn Christmas into another Thanksgiving with its games built into the typical family schedule.