Beyoncé’s Electrifying Halftime Steals the Spotlight in Netflix’s NFL Christmas Debut
Before the clash between the Ravens and the Texans kicked off, Netflix announced a staggering milestone—this matchup shattered the platform’s record for Christmas Day viewership over the past four years. But it wasn’t just the game that had fans buzzing.
A Showstopper Like No Other
In a historic debut for Netflix’s NFL Christmas broadcast, the incomparable Beyoncé took center stage during halftime, delivering a jaw-dropping 13-minute performance. Riding in on a majestic white horse, the 32-time Grammy winner dazzled her hometown crowd in Houston, making the stadium roar with excitement.
The surprises didn’t stop there. Beyoncé invited Shaboozey to perform “Sweet Honey Buckiin” and was later joined by Post Malone for a powerful rendition of “Levii’s Jeans.”
Meanwhile, on the field, the action unfolded with four of the AFC’s top five teams battling it out.
NFL Action Meets Streaming Milestone
The opening match saw Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce dominate, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a decisive 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The win secured Kansas City (15-1) the top seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Later, the Baltimore Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson, crushed the Texans 31-2. Jackson threw two touchdown passes, ran for another, and rested for most of the fourth quarter as Baltimore (11-5) clinched the AFC North lead.
Technical Triumph
Despite some minor hiccups during the pregame show—like an unmuted microphone—the live broadcast quickly soared to become Netflix’s second most-watched livestream ever, according to NFL Media. For context, 282.3 million Netflix subscribers across 190 countries could access the game, marking the first time an NFL game was streamed globally on such a scale.
The performance proved that Netflix, following earlier technical challenges with events like the Tyson-Paul fight, had ironed out most issues. Reports of connection problems were minimal, allowing fans worldwide to tune in seamlessly.
Beyoncé’s Halftime Dominance
As the Ravens-Texans game paused for halftime, Beyoncé stepped in to deliver a performance that overshadowed even the day’s thrilling football action. Her set not only captivated the live audience but also cemented Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL partnership as a new tradition to watch.
In fact, Mariah Carey opened the day with her iconic “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” setting a festive tone before the Chiefs took the field.
Christmas Football on Netflix: A New Era
The NFL has played Christmas games since 1971, but this was a watershed moment—marking the first time such games were broadcast on a global streaming platform. Netflix signed a three-year deal in May to air these high-stakes games, a move anticipated to draw millions.
From exclusive match broadcasts to hyped movie trailers like “Happy Gilmore 2” featuring Adam Sandler, Netflix skillfully blended sports and entertainment to deliver a unique viewing experience.
This Christmas broadcast is just the beginning of Netflix’s NFL journey. If this inaugural event is any indication, fans can expect even more electrifying performances, intense matchups, and global streaming milestones in the seasons to come.
🎥 Ready to relive the magic? Head to Netflix now and catch the highlights from Beyoncé’s spectacular halftime show!
