The NFL is giving followers a gift on Christmas, with two high-profile matchups between AFC contenders with a number of playoff implications.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers play at 1 p.m. ET, and the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans play at 4:30 p.m. ET, with each video games streaming completely on Netflix.
After many had streaming points in the course of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson battle in November, Netflix is beneath a number of stress to make sure their viewers don’t have any points watching the video games.
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Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is launched previous to a recreation in opposition to the Houston Texans at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Photographs)
One Netflix subscriber even filed a lawsuit in opposition to Netflix for “breach of contract” due to fixed glitches in the course of the battle, per TMZ.
This would be the first time an NFL recreation has been streamed completely on Netflix, and irrespective of how the viewing expertise is for followers on Wednesday, it received’t be the final recreation they see on the streaming service.
The NFL and Netflix introduced in Might that they agreed to a three-year deal the place the streaming service will broadcast no less than one Christmas Day recreation over the lifetime of the deal.
Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vp of nonfiction collection and sports activities, stated the corporate discovered from what went unsuitable within the Tyson-Paul battle.
“The sheer tonnage of people that came to watch was incredible. And for all the testing that the engineering team had done ahead of that, and I think they’re the best in the business, the only way to test something of that magnitude is to have something of that magnitude,” Riegg stated.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson takes the sector in opposition to the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Photographs)
“We never want to have technical issues or a disappointing experience for our members. There was a subset of people that were watching that struggled with that and we acknowledge that. The good news is they stress-tested the system to such a degree that there’s a lot of these fixes and improvements that they realized that they could make, and they’re applying all that stuff.”
Netflix’s first check will likely be a showdown between the Chiefs (14-1) and Steelers (10-5).
The Chiefs have already secured their ninth consecutive AFC West title and at the moment are enjoying for the No. 1 seed within the AFC, which might grant them the all-important bye week.
If the Chiefs had been to win on Wednesday, they’d have the No. 1 seed locked up earlier than Week 18, giving head coach Andy Reid an opportunity to relaxation his starters in the course of the ultimate week of the common season.
The Chiefs are coming off a 27-19 win over the Texans on Saturday, the place quarterback Patrick Mahomes performed properly. The star quarterback threw for 260 yards and a landing, whereas speeding for 33 yards and a landing regardless of enjoying by way of an ankle sprain.
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Pittsburgh Steelers extensive receiver George Pickens breaks by way of the Bengals protection for a landing reception at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Dec. 1, 2024. (IMAGN)
The Steelers, however, are coming off a troublesome 34-17 loss in opposition to their arch-rival Ravens on Saturday.
It seemed just like the Steelers had been going to have an opportunity to come back again after security Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Lamar Jackson down 24-17 within the fourth quarter.
Nevertheless, Ravens’ cornerback Marlon Humphrey thwarted any probability of a Steelers’ comeback with a Decide Six off Russell Wilson on the following drive, placing the Ravens up 31-17 and successfully sealing the win.
The Steelers’ protection had a troublesome time dealing with working again Derrick Henry, who ran the ball 24 instances for 162 yards within the win for Baltimore.
For the Steelers, their recreation in opposition to the Chiefs is essential to profitable the AFC North. Pittsburgh has already clinched a playoff spot, however their loss on Saturday was an enormous blow to their probabilities of profitable the division, because the Ravens are additionally 10-5.
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Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey returns an interception for a landing in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Financial institution Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Photographs)
Some excellent news for the Steelers is that extensive receiver George Pickens has a “real chance” to play in opposition to the Chiefs, coach Mike Tomlin stated on Sunday.
Pickens has missed the final three video games, and he is been sorely missed. Within the three video games with out Pickens, the Steelers are averaging simply 248.3 yards per recreation, virtually 77 yards lower than their season common of 324.9.
As massive a blow because the loss was for the Steelers on Saturday, the Ravens win over Pittsburgh was simply as massive a lift for them.
The Ravens performed properly on Saturday, outgaining the Steelers 418-315 by way of yards, with 220 of these yards approaching the bottom.
Jackson threw three touchdowns within the win, and could have an opportunity to make his MVP case with the entire world watching on Wednesday.
The Ravens quarterback is having one other implausible yr, as Jackson and Payments’ quarterback Josh Allen are thought-about the 2 favorites for the award.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Financial institution Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Photographs)
A win for the Ravens on Christmas would go a great distance of their race in opposition to the Steelers for the AFC North crown.
The Ravens (10-5) are taking over the Texans (9-6) within the second a part of the NFL’s Christmas doubleheader on Netflix.
They’re taking over a Texans crew that simply misplaced to the Chiefs. Along with the loss, the Texans additionally misplaced second-year extensive receiver Tank Dell for the season after he suffered a grotesque leg damage whereas catching a landing within the loss.
The Texans additionally misplaced extensive receiver Stefon Diggs for the season after the star receiver tore his ACL, leaving what was as soon as a robust extensive receiving corps now skinny.
A win over the Ravens on Christmas for the Texans wouldn’t solely clinch them a playoff spot, but additionally the AFC South title and a house playoff recreation.
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud scrambles in opposition to Kansas Metropolis Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Photographs)
The Texans-Ravens matchup may also include a particular halftime efficiency by Beyoncé.
All 4 of the groups enjoying on Wednesday are enjoying their third recreation in 11 days.
With so many playoff implications, and an enormous halftime efficiency, Netflix will likely be beneath a number of stress from NFL followers and the “BeyHive” to ensure issues go off with no hitch.
Fox Information’ Jackson Thompson and The Related Press contributed to this report.
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