Christmas Day football is back this year with a full slate to keep the holiday exciting from kickoff to late night. The NFL’s tripleheader on December 25th features Dallas vs. Washington, Detroit vs. Minnesota, and a primetime battle between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. These aren’t the best matchups we’ve seen for a Christmas Day slate, but it’s still football to watch while we enjoy the holiday spirit.
First up, the Cowboys host the Commanders in a game where Dallas, despite being eliminated from playoff contention, has publicly committed to playing its starters and finishing the season strong, including Dak Prescott under center. That’s a boost for bettors who want true competitive football rather than a late-season letdown.
Next, the Lions travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings. These NFC North rivals always bring physical football, and with the Lions fighting for any chance at a playoff berth in a crowded NFC playoff race.
The nightcap, Broncos vs. Chiefs, pits two AFC West foes against each other on a national stage. Kansas City is seeking to remain competitive and build momentum, while Denver’s defense always keeps AFC West games close.
For bettors, Christmas Day is one of the best days of the regular season. With games spaced throughout the day, you can build same-game parlays early, chase live lines with prediction market apps, or even string together a three-leg moneyline parlay across the tripleheader.
Typically, I stick to one game pick and a handful of props for Thursday Night Football. But with three games on Christmas Day, we’ll break down my game picks (against the spread) for all three matchups.
Game Pick: Cowboys -7.0
Yes, I am taking all three favorites against the spread this week; you’re welcome for the expert insight. The Commanders’ secondary is one of, if not the worst, in the league. They’ll be facing the 2nd leading passer in the NFL, and the best wide receiver duo this season. On the offensive side, it’s not certain if Mariota will be good to go, and the alternative, Josh Johnson, is not going to keep this game close. Mariota could be competitive if he’s ready to go, but I see the Commanders tanking before the Cowboys do.
Game Pick: Lions -7.0
The Lions have a slim chance of making the playoffs, but you know that is enough for Dan Campbell’s team to keep them motivated. With JJ McCarthy out with a hand injury, the Vikings will turn to rookie Max Brosmer. In his only other start, Brosmer threw 4 interceptions. I think the Lions play angry here after a highly disappointing season, and try to run up the score on the Vikings. The Vikings have a fairly strong defense, but they will be on the field for the entire game. I see the Lions winning by 2+ scores in this one.
Game Pick: Broncos -12.5
Who would have thought that the Broncos would be 13-point favorites over the Chiefs in late December? Not I, but here we are. I’ve said before that I don’t like taking heavy favorites, but it seems like the Chiefs threw in the towel once Mahomes went down and they were eliminated from playoff contention. With Minshew also tearing his ACL, they are suiting up a quarterback who had thrown one career pass before being forced into action on Sunday. This Chiefs team hardly kept it close against the Titans, so I don’t see them making it competitive against a Broncos team in need of a bounce-back game.
Total Odds on 3-leg Parlay: +573
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Running total:
Game Picks ATS: 7-4
Player Props: 14-7
Last Week’s Results:
Rams -1.5 ❌
Nick Emmanwori O 5.5 Tackles + Assists ✅
Puka Nacua O 7.5 Receptions ✅
Sam Darnold O 0.5 Interceptions Thrown ✅
By Jake Koehler
Jake is a sports betting writer at BettingApps.com, covering the latest sportsbook news, app reviews, promos, and betting features across the NFL and beyond. For the rest of the season, he will provide weekly analysis, predictions, and updates to help readers make smarter bets and stay ahead of the game.
