The Baltimore Ravens (10-5) travel to Houston to face the Texans (9-6) at 4:30 p.m. EST on Christmas Day in a game that will be aired on Netflix. Beyoncé will be providing the halftime entertainment — that we know — but who will be the announcers for the AFC clash?
Netflix Will Have a Mostly CBS Booth for Ravens vs. Texans on Christmas Day
Netflix will be using CBS play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle and CBS football analysts Nate Burleson and JJ Watt for commentary — retired football players with offensive and defensive perspectives. They will be joined by sideline reporters Melanie Collins from CBS and Stacey Dales from the NFL Network.
Eagle is a veteran play-by-play announcer who calls games for the NBA, NFL, and college basketball games on CBS, TNT, and TBS, as well as Brooklyn Nets games on the YES Network and French Open tennis for Tennis Channel.
MORE: Everything About Beyonce’s Halftime Show
Other announcing experiences include Army–Navy football games, boxing, and NCAA track and field for CBS. Eagle’s son, Noah, will be covering the 4:30 p.m. game on Netflix.
Burleson is on “The NFL Today” and is a co-host of “CBS Mornings.” He played wide receiver in the NFL and is a veteran broadcaster. He also paired with Noah Eagle in February to broadcast the Super Bowl for children on Nickelodeon with SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick.
Watt is also on “The NFL Today” on CBS. He played football for the Houston Texans and the Arizona Cardinals, and his brother T.J. Watt plays for the Steelers.
“There are two phenomenal matchups,” Watt told Tudum. “The Chiefs and Steelers are both near the top of the AFC — [it will be] an old-school battle, hopefully with a bit of snow. Just a perfect Christmas Day game.”
Dales is a commentator for NFL Network and anchors their NFL Scouting Combine coverage and also serves as a reporter. Collins is a sideline reporter who covers games for CBS.
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens Preview
- Location: Houston, NRG Stadium
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Netflix
- Channel: Local CBS affiliate (Houston, Baltimore markets ONLY)
The Ravens fell from the top spot in Pro Football Network’s power rankings this week after recording a 79.4 (C+) grade in our OFF+ metric in Week 16. That speaks more to what the Detroit Lions did to earn back the top spot, though. Baltimore’s grade was its best against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game since Offense+ began in 2019.
The Ravens’ passing success rate jumped up from a season-worst 34.3% in the first Pittsburgh Steelers matchup to 56.0% in the rematch, their fifth-best in a game all season. Lamar Jackson actually had just one explosive play, his fewest in a game all season (a 49-yard completion to Zay Flowers).
However, the Derrick Henry-led offense managed to record an above-average rushing success rate (44.7%), allowing the Ravens to stay ahead of the chains.
Even with the Diontae Johnson situation fizzling out, the Ravens look like a team that is rounding into form with an improving defense and an offense that can control any given game in multiple fashions. Regardless of whether that results in a division title, it makes the Ravens a very dangerous team to face in the playoffs.