Beyoncé Shines in Netflix’s Christmas NFL Debut, Stealing Show

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Beyoncé Shines in Netflix’s Christmas NFL Debut, Stealing Show \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Netflix’s first-ever NFL broadcast on Christmas Day showcased a dominant Kansas City Chiefs victory and Beyoncé’s unforgettable halftime performance in Houston. The event, streamed to a global audience, marked a major milestone for Netflix and the NFL. Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 29-10 win, while Beyoncé’s nearly 13-minute set captivated viewers and proved Netflix’s capability to handle live streaming without major issues.

Netflix’s NFL Christmas Debut: Quick Looks

Show-Stopping Halftime: Beyoncé delivered a stellar live performance, riding onto the stage on a white horse in Houston.
Chiefs’ Commanding Win: Patrick Mahomes threw for 320 yards, securing a 29-10 win over the Steelers.
Streaming Milestone: Netflix streamed the games globally in five languages, marking its first NFL event.
Technical Smoothness: Few glitches were reported, an improvement over past Netflix live events.
New NFL Tradition: Two Christmas games were scheduled exclusively for Netflix, part of a three-year deal.
Star-Studded Trailers: Netflix premiered the first teaser for Happy Gilmore 2 and a celebrity-filled promo featuring Travis Kelce.

Deep Look

Netflix made history on Christmas Day by streaming two NFL games globally, a major step in its expansion into live sports. Featuring high-profile matchups and a dazzling halftime performance by Beyoncé, the event cemented Netflix’s position as a contender in live sports broadcasting. While the on-field action brought moments of excitement, the entertainment aspect stole the spotlight, particularly Beyoncé’s electrifying set at NRG Stadium.

Beyoncé’s Halftime Spectacle Captivates Audiences

Riding onto the stage on a white horse, Beyoncé delivered a nearly 13-minute performance in front of her hometown Houston crowd. As the 32-time Grammy winner wowed audiences, she brought out special guests Shaboozey for “Sweet Honey Buckiin” and Post Malone for “Levii’s Jeans.”

Her performance was seen as the ultimate test of Netflix’s ability to handle live streaming at scale—and it passed with flying colors. Fans raved about the production value, and no major streaming issues were reported.

Chiefs Dominate Steelers in Opener

The first game of the doubleheader saw Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a 29-10 rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mahomes, in MVP form, threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while Kelce contributed eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.

With the win, the Chiefs improved to 15-1, clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC and securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Steelers, meanwhile, dropped to 10-6, jeopardizing their AFC North title hopes.

Ravens Take Control Before Beyoncé’s Show

In the second game, the Baltimore Ravens jumped to a 17-2 halftime lead over the Houston Texans, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. C.J. Stroud struggled to keep pace for Houston, setting the stage for Beyoncé’s halftime performance to dominate the headlines.

Netflix’s Global NFL Streaming Debut

Netflix’s three-year deal with the NFL marks the streaming giant’s first foray into live football. The Christmas Day event was available in five languages—English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German—and reached all 50 U.S. states and nearly 200 countries.

NFL Media reported that the Chiefs-Steelers game became Netflix’s second-most popular live event ever, trailing only the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight. Compared to the streaming issues during that event, Wednesday’s games went much more smoothly.

Commercial Highlights and New Traditions

Netflix also used the event to showcase its upcoming programming, including the premiere of the first teaser for Happy Gilmore 2, set to release in 2025. Travis Kelce appeared in a star-studded Netflix promo featuring celebrities like Bad Bunny and Kid Cudi.

The NFL, which began playing games on Christmas Day in 1971, has steadily expanded its holiday presence. The Christmas Day doubleheader was a strategic move to strengthen Netflix’s live sports credentials and introduce new holiday traditions to a global audience.

Broadcast Teams Add Depth

The broadcast featured veteran analysts and commentators to enhance the viewing experience. J.J. Watt and Nate Burleson handled the Chiefs-Steelers game, while Noah Eagle and Greg Olsen provided commentary for Ravens-Texans. J.J. Watt humorously acknowledged his brother, Steelers star T.J. Watt, adding a personal touch to the analysis.