On Christmas Day, I can’t wait to sleep in and open a few presents. But if I’m being honest, Christmas football is what I’m looking forward to the most. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been watching football in my pajamas with my family on Christmas Day. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the holiday.
Both of the games broadcast exclusively on Netflix this year will hold huge playoff implications and be very entertaining. Let’s dive into what I believe will happen in these two Christmas thrillers.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Steelers
God has a favorite team, and I’m convinced that it’s the Chiefs. Game after game, the Chiefs have continued to win in nail biting fashion, keeping me on the edge of my seat begging for Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes to fail. From the extra point field goal made off the crossbar against the Chargers, to the fumble at the end of the fourth quarter against the Raiders, the Chiefs continue to entertain, dominate, and improve their record on the year as of Friday December 20th.
While the Chiefs may have improved their record from last year, I can not push aside the glaring holes that their talented defense has. I can’t help but shake my head watching the poor tackling and defensive mistakes that have allowed my favorite players like tight end Brock Bowers and Cleveland Browns Wide Receiver Jerry Juedy to exploit their back line. Their inability to contain players truly frustrates me given the talent and experienced coaching staff they have. The Chiefs have had multiple opportunities to put games away, however, multiple teams have been able to dominate the Chiefs offensive line, sacking Patrick Mahomes multiple times to keep the game within reach. Just last week Mahomes suffered a mild to high ankle sprain, potentially weakening his abilities for this week’s game on Christmas, making me wonder if the chiefs will be playing with an impaired version of Patrick Mahomes.
A bright spot for the Chiefs was the return of third year running back Isaiah Pacheco off injury reserve. Pacheco has been a stand out in the Chiefs run game to an otherwise unexpectedly average offense ranking 14th in total offense due to poor offensive line play. As a fellow New Jersey Native, it is always a pleasure watching the effort and toughness Pacheo plays with, so I am excited to see what he brings to this matchup.
On the other side of the ball, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been dominant on both sides of the field all year. Russell Wilson has been putting together an amazing first year with the Steelers, his ability to spread the ball around to all of his receiving weapons. I truly credit his outstanding play to the resurgence of this offense, which has brought an unexpected flare to the previously underwhelming offense. In addition, the Steelers have continued to outperform other teams on both offense and defense, behind the success of Steelers running back Najaee Harris and star defensive end TJ Watt.
The Pick: Although it seems as if every week the Kansas City Chiefs win in dramatic fashion, I believe their luck will run out when up against the Steelers. I truly am hoping to see Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes get tackled into the dirt by the physical Steelers defense. For those reasons, I am betting on the Steelers in a hard fought Christmas thriller.
Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens
The second Christmas game is the Houston Texans versus the Baltimore Ravens. These two teams faced off against each other in the Divisional Round of the 2024 playoffs with the Ravens winning in entertaining and dominant fashion. When I watch Texans games, I can’t help but think that they have not found their footing from last year, as they barely beat a below average Jacksonville Jaguars and lost to a very inconsistent Tennessee Titans. I enjoy watching this Texans team, however I continue to think about how the offense simply has not looked like themselves all year. It really frustrates me that a team of this high caliber has made many mistakes that most fans like me were never expecting to see them make. Watching their most recent game has me yearning for the team to return to their early season selves.
On the other side of the ball, I have been impressed by the fierce leadership of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. The Ravens have been able to flawlessly run the football all year, opening up the passing game for my fantasy quarterback (Jackson) to spread the ball around. As a Lamar Jackson lover, it’s easy to see with my own eyes that the Ravens wide receivers have recently failed to step up at the right time, forcing him to create plays out of structure with his feet. This makes me wonder if they will have to put the team on his back to pull out another win against another tough opponent. The Ravens defense has been a great unit all year, but there is still one glaring issue: in the games Baltimore has lost, the offense has failed to get going, leaving the defense out on the field for extended stretches. This extended time on field has worn them down.
The Pick
This game I believe has the potential to come down to the wire. However, I believe that the Ravens will put too much pressure on C.J stroud and the Texans offense, while simultaneously beating them in the running game with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. These are two teams I enjoy watching any time I can, so I will grab my popcorn and enjoy this thriller. For that reason, my money is on the Ravens.
Family and football with my 3 favorite people–there really is nothing better. Watching football on Christmas is truly something I cherish year after year. Through the excitement and cheering for these games, I am able to strengthen my bond with family and it truly makes Christmas Day what I think is the best day of the year. Happy Holidays everyone, and let’s get ready for some football!