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Netflix will undoubtedly make history tomorrow by exclusively streaming two high-profile NFL games. The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Baltimore Ravens will go head-to-head with the Houston Texans. These games are part of Netflix’s ambitious push into live sports, following its recent acquisition of the U.S. streaming rights for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and a $5 billion, 10-year deal with WWE starting in 2025. 

The NFL games even have a festive twist. They feature Mariah Carey’s rendition of “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” a halftime performance by Beyoncé during the Ravens-Texans game, and national anthem performances by Voices of Service and Pentatonix. Netflix plans to deliver these games to its 283 million global subscribers, with local broadcasts in participating teams’ markets and NFL+ providing mobile users access.

This move signals Netflix’s growing ambitions in live sports, a lucrative but challenging market. However, the stakes are high, as the service’s ability to stream these games without technical glitches will be closely scrutinized by fans and advertisers alike, especially after the Paul-Tyson boxing match debacle, where buffering, poor quality issues marred the event and left many viewers frustrated.

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