Boxing Day usually means Christmas is over, but thanks to the NFL, this year the festivities can continue a little longer in Australia. With games scheduled on Christmas Day in the US, Boxing Day becomes a prime viewing window for Aussie fans of American football.
The league has three games scheduled with some of its biggest stars featured, making Boxing Day a great day to stay home and avoid the shopping discounts, and instead enjoy some football.
AllSportsPeople has all the information you need, including the schedule, start times, and how to watch.
NFL Christmas Day Schedule
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
- Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The day starts with an NFC East matchup, as the Dallas Cowboys take on the Washington Commanders. The Cowboys' late quest for a playoff berth finally came to an end when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Commanders in week 16 to clinch the division. But despite joining the Commanders in sitting out this season's playoffs, the Cowboys have been one of the most fun teams to watch this season, and there's a chance that between Dak Prescott, Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens, Dallas could put up a mighty score.
From there we have an NFC North battle, as the Detroit Lions look to hold onto their slim playoff chances against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions' loss to Pittsburgh in week 16 saw their playoff hopes take a major hit, but there is still a chance for them to take Green Bay's spot in the NFC playoff picture. But they'll need to beat Minnesota to keep any chance alive.
Finally, we're in store for an AFC West showdown between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. After an historic run, the Chiefs' playoff streak came to a brutal end with the season-ending injury to Patrick Mahomes in week 15. However, the Broncos still have plenty left to play for, with a chance at clinching the one seed in the AFC still a possibility despite their week 16 loss to Jacksonville. But they'll desperately need a win against Kansas City.
NFL Christmas Day start times
The action starts bright and early in Australia - especially for those out west - before carrying on all the way into the afternoon. Here's where each game kicks off around Australia.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 5:00 a.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 4:30 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 2:00 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 4:00 a.m. |
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 8:30 a.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 5:30 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 7:30 a.m. |
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 12:15 p.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 11:45 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 9:15 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Fri, Dec. 26 | 11:15 a.m. |
How to watch NFL on Christmas Day
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders / Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Channel: N/A
- Live Stream: Netflix
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Channel: 7Mate / ESPN on Foxtel
- Live Stream: 7Plus / Kayo Sports / Disney+ / NFL Game Pass
To ensure NFL fans catch all the action this Christmas Day, they will need at least two subscriptions. The first two games of the day, Dallas vs. Washington and Detroit vs. Minnesota, will be streamed exclusively in Australia via Netflix (not including NFL Game Pass).
Fortunately, the main event of the day, Denver vs. Kansas City, will be a bit more accessible. The game will be broadcasted on free-to-air via 7Mate, and can be streamed for free via Channel 7's free streaming service, 7Plus. For those with access to ESPN's Foxtel TV channel, the game will be also broadcasted live. In addition, Kayo Sports and Disney+ both allow subscribers to access ESPN, meaning a subscription to either service will allow fans to enjoy the NBA on Christmas Day. A subscription to the NFL's streaming service, NFL Game Pass, will ensure fans can enjoy all three games.
New users of Kayo can currently sign up for a FREE trial. This dedicated streaming service offers affordable, contract-free plans starting at just $25 per month. Plus, it’s a paradise for sports fans, streaming plenty of live action, including cricket, AFL, F1, and much more.
