What NFL teams play on Christmas? Schedule, matchups and teams

Christmas Day brings a doubleheader of NFL action. This will be the fifth consecutive season that games are played on the holiday and the second in a row that features both the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.

Their opponents will be the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers. All four teams have clinched a spot in the AFC playoff picture.

The Christmas NFL games will kick off at 1:00 pm EST and both matchups are potential previews of the playoffs.

Kansas City is the No. 1 seed in the AFC entering Week 17, and the Chiefs will face the Steelers in the opening game. Meanwhile, Baltimore will face the Texans in a rematch of the 2023 divisional-round matchup.

Here's what to know about the two Christmas NFL games kicking off on Wednesday:

NFL WEEK 16 PICKS: Betting advice straight up and against spread: Much on line for Ravens, Steelers

Christmas NFL games 2024

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Venue: Acrisure Stadium

• Time: 1 p.m. ET

• Streaming: Netflix

• Channel: Local CBS affiliate (Pittsburgh, Kansas City markets ONLY)

All four teams played on Saturday in Week 16 and are playing on short rest. The defending champions have suffered no ill effects of a Super Bowl hangover.

The Chiefs are inching closer to clinching the AFC's No. 1 seed after defeating Houston 27-19. Meanwhile, the Steelers fell to the Ravens on Saturday; a win would have given them the head-to-head sweep and the AFC North title. Instead, Pittsburgh hopes to bounce back and hold off Baltimore with two games remaining.

If Buffalo were to lose on Sunday in Week 16, the Chiefs would lock up the No. 1 seed, and they wouldn't have anything at stake for this Christmas meeting. The Steelers are battling in the AFC playoff picture behind a reinvigorated offense with Russell Wilson at the helm.

NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: Ravens, Packers among teams that can clinch in Week 16

Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens

• Location: Houston, Texas

• Venue: NRG Stadium

• Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

• Streaming: Netflix

• Channel: Local CBS affiliate (Houston, Baltimore markets ONLY)

It'll be time for egg nog when the second NFL game on Christmas kicks off. The Texans have claimed the AFC South title for the second consecutive season. The offense led by C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and Joe Mixon will look to bounce back after losing to the Chiefs on Saturday.

Conversely, the Ravens are eyeing another deep run in January and hope to overtake the Steelers in the AFC North to guarantee themselves at least one home playoff game.

Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and backfield teammate Derrick Henry combine for one of the most dynamic pairings of offensive weapons in the NFL. These teams could be on a collision course to meet in the playoffs for the second straight year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Christmas games 2024: Schedule, matchups and teams