Quick answer: The NFL plays three games on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, 2026. Netflix streams two of them: Packers at Bears at 1 p.m. ET and Bills at Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. The night game, Rams at Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. ET, is on FOX, so a free antenna works for that one. The cheapest Netflix plan, Standard with ads, costs $8.99 a month.
Christmas football on Netflix is now a holiday habit in many American homes. But the setup confuses people every year: two games are streaming-only, one is on regular TV, and local fans in four cities get a special exception. Here’s exactly what you need, what it costs, and how to avoid paying for anything you don’t need.
NFL Christmas Day 2026 schedule
| Time (ET) | Game | Where to watch | Free with an antenna? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 p.m. | Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears | Netflix | Only in the Green Bay and Chicago TV markets |
| 4:30 p.m. | Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos | Netflix | Only in the Buffalo and Denver TV markets |
| 8:15 p.m. | Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks | FOX | Yes, nationwide on your local FOX station |
Schedule as announced by the NFL and Netflix. Times can change, so check again the week of Christmas.
How to watch on Netflix: step by step
- Sign up or sign in at netflix.com. Any paid plan includes the NFL games. There’s no extra sports fee.
- Pick a plan. Standard with ads ($8.99/month) is the cheapest way in. Ads appear during the games, just like on regular TV.
- Update the Netflix app on your TV, streaming stick or game console a few days before Christmas.
- Test your internet. Netflix recommends at least 5 Mbps for HD and 15 Mbps for 4K. Run a free speed test on the TV you’ll use.
- On game day, open Netflix. Live games usually appear at the top of the home screen. You can also search “NFL.”
Netflix plans and prices in 2026
| Plan | Monthly price | Ads? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard with ads | $8.99 | Yes | Watching the games for the lowest price |
| Standard | $19.99 | No (on regular shows) | Families who watch Netflix all year |
| Premium | $26.99 | No (on regular shows) | 4K TVs and more screens at once |
Prices after Netflix’s March 2026 increase. Live sports may include ads on every plan. Check netflix.com for current pricing.
Made-up example (for illustration): The Garcia family in Ohio already pays for Netflix Standard. They don’t need to change anything: both Netflix games are included. For the 8:15 p.m. Rams-Seahawks game, they plug in a $30 indoor antenna and watch their local FOX station for free. Total extra cost for all three Christmas games: the antenna, once.
Live in Green Bay, Chicago, Buffalo or Denver?
Under NFL rules, games streamed by a service like Netflix also air on local over-the-air TV in the home markets of the two teams. That means fans in the Green Bay, Chicago, Buffalo and Denver areas can usually watch their team’s Christmas game on a local station with a free antenna.
Your local station will announce the channel closer to Christmas. If you’re outside those markets, you’ll need Netflix for the 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. games.
Also read: How to watch the Thanksgiving NFL games 2026, including the Netflix Thanksgiving Eve game
How to watch the FOX night game (Rams at Seahawks)
The 8:15 p.m. ET game is on regular broadcast TV, so you have several options:
- Free: a TV antenna picks up your local FOX station in HD. Check your signal on the FCC’s DTV Reception Maps first.
- FOX One: FOX’s own streaming app carries your local FOX feed. Check its current price on the FOX One site before you sign up.
- Live TV streaming: YouTube TV ($82.99/month) and Hulu + Live TV (about $99.99/month) include FOX in most areas. Many offer free trials for new users.
- Cable or satellite: FOX is in every basic package.
Cheapest way to watch all three games
| Setup | Games covered | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix Standard with ads + antenna | All 3 | $8.99 for one month + antenna (about $20–$50, once) |
| Netflix only | 2 (the Netflix games) | $8.99 for one month |
| Antenna only | 1 (FOX), or 2 if you live in a home team market | Antenna only |
| YouTube TV + Netflix | All 3 | $82.99 + $8.99 |
For most families, Netflix with ads plus a basic antenna is the cheapest way to watch every Christmas game. If you only want Netflix for football, you can cancel after Christmas and keep access until the end of your billing month.
Tips for a smooth game day
- Use a wired connection if you can. An inexpensive Ethernet adapter can make a streaming stick much more stable.
- Close other streams in the house during kickoff. Gaming and video calls share your bandwidth.
- Restart your device an hour before the 1 p.m. game, not at kickoff.
- Set up a profile for guests, so family members don’t mess up your recommendations.
- Watch out for “free NFL stream” sites. Many are full of malware or fake login pages. Stick to official apps.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying for a sports add-on. Netflix doesn’t charge extra for NFL games.
- Assuming the antenna gets every game. It only gets the FOX game, unless you live in a home team market.
- Waiting until Christmas morning to sign up or update the app. Do it the week before.
- Forgetting to cancel a trial. Set a phone reminder if you only want a live TV service for one game.
Watching at a relative’s house?
Christmas often means watching on someone else’s TV. Netflix lets you sign in on another household’s TV, but sharing an account outside your home can trigger Netflix’s household check. The simplest options are:
- Use their Netflix account if they already have one.
- Cast from your phone to their TV, if the TV supports casting or AirPlay.
- Bring your own streaming stick already signed in to your account, and plug it into a free HDMI port.
Test the setup the night before, so nobody is fighting with passwords at kickoff.
Is Netflix worth it just for Christmas football?
If football is the only reason, one month of Netflix with ads costs $8.99, less than a single delivery pizza. You also get Netflix’s full library for the holiday break, including movies the whole family can watch between games. Many viewers subscribe for December and cancel in January.
If you already pay for Netflix, there’s nothing new to buy. Just make sure your app is updated and your payment method is current, so your account isn’t paused on Christmas morning.
Other NFL games on Netflix this season
Netflix’s 2026 NFL package has five games in total, including the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, and the league’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game: Packers at Rams on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m. ET. If you sign up in November, you can catch that game and the two Christmas games in back-to-back months, or keep one month of service if your billing date lines up.
Recommended products
Gear that makes holiday game day easier.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Nexgen Headlines earns from qualifying purchases.
FAQ
Which NFL Christmas games are on Netflix in 2026?
Packers at Bears at 1 p.m. ET and Bills at Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 25. Rams at Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. ET is on FOX.
Do I need a special Netflix plan to watch the NFL?
No. Any paid plan includes the games. The cheapest is Standard with ads at $8.99 a month.
Can I watch the Netflix Christmas games for free?
Only if you live in the home TV market of one of the teams playing. Those games also air on local stations there.
Can I watch on my phone?
Yes. The Netflix app streams live games on phones, tablets, TVs and computers.
What time zone are the game times in?
All times listed are Eastern. The 1 p.m. ET game starts at 10 a.m. Pacific.
Bottom line
For Christmas 2026, you need Netflix for the 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. games and FOX for the 8:15 p.m. game. Netflix with ads at $8.99 plus a basic antenna covers all three for the lowest cost. Set it up the week before Christmas, and you’re ready for a full day of holiday football.
Last reviewed: Nov. 12, 2026. Schedules and prices can change; check Netflix and the NFL before game day.
Sources: NFL.com: 2026 Christmas games on Netflix, Netflix Tudum: NFL on Netflix schedule, Sports Illustrated, NFL.com: Thanksgiving Eve game, Netflix Help: plans and pricing, FCC DTV Reception Maps.
Featured image: Football in the snow (Army-Navy game, 2013). Photo: Spc. Philip Diab / U.S. Army (Wikimedia Commons), public domain; edited by Nexgen Headlines.
