Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys Rescheduled for Christmas Day

The NFL has officially confirmed a schedule change that pushes one of the league’s most historic rivalries into an optimized national spotlight. The Washington Commanders will host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 on Thursday, December 25, 2025, marking a highly anticipated Christmas Day showdown at Northwest Stadium. The game’s kickoff time has been updated to 1:30 PM ET, a 30-minute shift from the originally announced 1:00 PM ET start. The matchup will stream nationally on Netflix, becoming one of the league’s featured holiday broadcasts.

Why the Kickoff Time Was Changed

According to league sources, the kickoff adjustment was part of a larger Christmas Day broadcast coordination effort. With several NFL games scheduled across the holiday slate, the league worked closely with Netflix to refine programming flow. The 30-minute shift allows improved alignment for pregame coverage, halftime segments, and postgame analysis, ensuring smoother transitions earlier in the day.

NFL officials also highlighted operational benefits. The updated kickoff gives teams, production staff, and broadcast crews a more balanced preparation window. For viewers, the slight delay provides more flexibility for fans juggling holiday meals, family gatherings, and live football, without disrupting the competitive weight or narrative significance of the rivalry.

A Rare Holiday Stage for Washington

The game will take place at Northwest Stadium, giving Washington a rare opportunity to host a Christmas Day NFL contest in front of a national and global audience. For fans, this matchup becomes more than a seasonal fixture—it transforms into a holiday showcase loaded with tradition, rivalry, and emotional stakes.

The Washington-Dallas rivalry stands as one of the NFL’s longest-running and most passionately followed divisional battles. Defined by decades of tension, postseason consequences, and unforgettable moments, the league’s decision to elevate this contest to a holiday window signals confidence that the matchup will deliver drama worthy of the occasion.

Washington’s Motivation to Respond

The Commanders enter Week 17 after a 29-18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, a result that dimmed playoff hopes and exposed roster depth concerns as injuries continued to mount. That setback shifted Washington’s mindset from postseason positioning to resilience, roster evaluation, and finishing the season with authority.

Facing Dallas offers Washington more than redemption—it offers a stage to reaffirm identity. Regardless of record or standings, beating the Cowboys carries emotional weight for players and fans alike. Rivalry credibility, pride, and late-season momentum remain firmly on the line, especially under the glow of a national holiday audience.

What’s at Stake for Both Teams

By late December, divisional games always carry heightened importance. For Washington, a strong performance could restore confidence and help define a competitive foundation heading into offseason planning. For Dallas, the game may carry implications tied to seeding, momentum, or reinforcing divisional authority.

The league’s decision to spotlight this matchup underscores its perceived importance. Rivalry games consistently generate massive engagement, and Commanders-Cowboys remains one of the NFL’s most polarizing, emotional, and widely discussed divisional matchups year after year.

Netflix and the NFL’s Expanding Partnership

This game also highlights the NFL’s deepening partnership with Netflix as streaming platforms continue reshaping the live sports landscape. Christmas Day football provides a strategic opportunity to reach both lifelong NFL supporters and casual holiday viewers worldwide.

The broadcast is expected to feature enhanced storytelling, extended player narratives, premium production elements, and entertainment segments tailored for a festive audience. The kickoff time change further supports this goal by optimizing programming structure for peak global engagement.

What the Time Change Means for Fans

For fans across time zones, the 1:30 PM ET kickoff provides a comfortable afternoon window that fits naturally between holiday meals and gatherings. It also prevents tight overlap with later Christmas Day matchups, giving this rivalry a cleaner and more distinct national broadcast stage.

Official Updated Game Details

• Week 17 – Thursday, December 25, 2025

• Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys

• Kickoff: 1:30 PM ET (Updated)

• Broadcast: Netflix (National Stream)

• Venue: Northwest Stadium
  

  

Same Rivalry. New Kickoff. Unchanged Stakes.

The kickoff time may have shifted, but the meaning of the game has not. On a day centered around tradition and togetherness, the Commanders and Cowboys will once again take center stage—now arriving 30 minutes later, but carrying the same rivalry-driven intensity fans have always expected.

Christmas Day football in Washington now has a new start time, but the stakes remain unmistakable. This isn’t just a holiday broadcast. It’s history, pride, rivalry, and momentum—delivered under a national spotlight built for the moment.