The 2025 holiday season is shaping up to be a real treat for sports fans, with a loaded slate of marquee NBA and NFL games on Christmas Day. From high-stakes division rivalries to potential playoff previews, this year's Christmas lineup has something for everyone.
NBA Christmas Day Showdowns
The NBA has long made Christmas a centerpiece of its regular season, and 2025 will be no exception. Headlining the action is a clash between the surging Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, two of the Eastern Conference's top contenders.
"What this really means is that the league is banking on a Cavaliers-Knicks playoff matchup down the line," said ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose. "Both teams have championship aspirations, and this Christmas showdown could be a preview of an epic Eastern Conference Finals battle."
NFL Brings the Holiday Cheer
The NFL has also made Christmas a fixture on its calendar in recent years, and 2025 will be no different. Highlights include a heated NFC West clash between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers, as well as an AFC North rivalry game pitting the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens.
"The NFL knows that Christmas Day is a huge opportunity to capture casual fans and keep them engaged throughout the playoffs," said CBS Sports NFL analyst Pete Prisco. "These divisional matchups have major postseason implications, and you can bet the players will be bringing extra intensity to the field."
Betting Odds and Predictions
With so much on the line, sportsbooks have set some intriguing odds for the 2025 Christmas Day games. The DraftKings oddsmakers have the Knicks favored by 5.5 points over the Cavaliers, while the Seahawks are 3-point home favorites against the 49ers.
As for predictions, the USA TODAY Sports NBA team is split on the Knicks-Cavaliers game, with three experts picking the Knicks and two going with the Cavs. On the NFL side, CBS Sports' analysts unanimously favor the Seahawks at home against the 49ers.
No matter how the games play out, one thing is certain: Christmas Day 2025 will be a true feast for sports fans.