A festive feast of live sport awaits on ESPN this Christmas, with a stacked Christmas Day and Boxing Day schedule that includes NINE live NFL games, SIX live NBA games, and a historic Christmas night live NBL clash, as part of over 50 hours of live sport.
ESPN is providing the ultimate gift to sporting fans this Christmas, with wall to wall LIVE sport across ESPN and ESPN2.
The live sporting bonanza begins Christmas Day at 5am AEDT, with four straight NFL games back to back.
Whilst the kids rip into their presents, NFL fans will be treated to some stellar Christmas Day showdowns.
At 5am AEDT, a live NFL double header kick starts the festive football feast. On ESPN, the Seattle Seahawks meet the Kansas City Chiefs, and on ESPN2, the New York Giants meet the Minnesota Vikings.
Both games are crucial to the NFL playoff picture, with the Chiefs chasing top spot in the AFC, sitting level with current #1 Buffalo.
The Seahawks and Giants are still chasing a playoff spot, whilst the Vikings clinched the NFC North, with a record breaking comeback last round.
The highlight of Christmas Day is at 8.25am AEDT when the Philadelphia Eagles meet the Dallas Cowboys, live on ESPN.
The two historic rivals collide in a blockbuster Christmas Day affair, between the top two in the NFC East.
Philadelphia remain kings of the NFC, sitting at 13-1, having won five straight games.
Dallas looked like also stretching their winning run to five games, but were eventually beaten in overtime by the Jacksonville Jaguars 40-34 last round.
The Cowboys must win on Christmas Day to keep the pressure on the Eagles above, with the playoffs also not yet secured.
Following at 12.15pm AEDT Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers collide.
Completing the Christmas Day smorgasbord is a historic NBL showdown between the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United at 6.30pm AEDT.
The NBL will create Australian sporting history, becoming the first Australian professional league to play on Christmas Day, when rivals Sydney and Melbourne collide at QUDOS Bank Arena.
The Kings are the team to beat in the NBL this season, as they look to defend their NBL Championship. Melbourne are climbing the ladder, after a slow start to the campaign and will hope to defeat Sydney to maintain their late push towards the play-in tournament.
Boxing Day continues to bring the hoops action, with a massive five NBA games back to back throughout the day – all LIVE on ESPN.
For the early risers, ESPN tips off the basketball marathon at 4am AEDT, with the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, before the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks follow at 6.30am AEDT.
But, the pick of the Boxing Day NBA matchups comes at 9am AEDT when the Milwaukee Bucks meet the Boston Celtics.
Currently ranked #1 and #2 in the Eastern Conference standings, the two heavyweights of the NBA look destined to put on a Boxing Day classic.
Following at 12pm AEDT, two highly fancied sides in the Western Conference will take centre stage when the Memphis Grizzlies take on the Golden State Warriors.
Then at 2.30pm AEDT, two sides firmly in the race for Western Conference honours clash, when the Denver Nuggets welcome the Phoenix Suns.
The NFL continues across ESPN on Boxing Day, with a further three live matches on ESPN2.
At 5am AEDT, the Green Bay Packers collide with the Miami Dolphins.
The Denver Broncos tackle the Los Angeles Rams at 8.25am AEDT on ESPN2.
Then at 12.15pm AEDT, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clash with the Arizona Cardinals.
Tuesday December 27 also sees crunch NBA and NFL matches light up ESPN and ESPN2.
The NFL action is live from 12.15pm AEDT on ESPN2, when the Indianapolis Colts face off against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Over on ESPN2, the NBA action heats up, with a clash between the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
With NBA, NFL, NBL and the best of the College Bowls, ESPN and ESPN2 is the only place to be this Christmas.
Friday December 23 –
NFL –
12.15pm AEDT, Jacksonville Jaguars vs New York Jets, ESPN
Christmas Day – December 25
NFL –
5am AEDT, Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN
5am AEDT, New York Giants vs Minnesota Vikings, ESPN2
8.25am AEDT, Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys, ESPN
12.15pm AEDT, Las Vegas Raiders vs Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN
College Football –
12.15pm AEDT, EasyPost Hawai’I Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs San Diego State, ESPN2
NBL –
6.30pm AEDT, Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United, ESPN
Boxing Day – December 26
NBA –
4am AEDT, Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks, ESPN
6.30am AEDT, Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks, ESPN
9am AEDT, Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics, ESPN
12pm AEDT, Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors, ESPN
2.30pm AEDT, Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets, ESPN
NFL –
5am AEDT, Green Bay Packers vs Miami Dolphins, ESPN2
8.25am AEDT, Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Rams, ESPN2
12.15pm AEDT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Arizona Cardinals, ESPN2
NBL –
7.30pm AEDT, New Zealand Breakers vs Tasmania JackJumpers, ESPN
December 27
College Football –
6.30am AEDT, Quick Lane Bowl: New Mexico State vs Bowling Green, ESPN
NFL –
12.15pm AEDT, Los Angeles Chargers vs Indianapolis Colts, ESPN
NBA –
11am AEDT, Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN2
NBL –
7.30pm AEDT, Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 are available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.
*Streaming functionality on the ESPN App and ESPN.com.au is available to ESPN channel subscribers via Foxtel, Fetch TV and SKY NZ who enter their platform credentials. (Note: Kayo subscribers cannot stream via the ESPN App or ESPN.com.au). Download the ESPN App from the Apple and Android app stores.
Media Release – ESPN
