Netflix’s big bet on the NFL and Beyoncé seems to have paid off. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Netflix had a lot on the line with two live NFL games on Christmas Day. It’s not just that the streaming giant paid $150 million to show the games as part of a three-year deal,

According to NBC News, the league has prohibited all its players from any "violent gestures" that mimic "the firing of a pistol or a shotgun or a bazooka." Players can be fined for the gestures but it can also create a disadvantage during a game, resulting in a 15-yard penalty. Players are allowed to appeal the fines.

Netflix's debut NFL broadcasts on Christmas Day received positive reviews and record streaming ratings but still attracted fewer viewers than the linear broadcasts last Christmas.Christmas Day sport in the USA has traditionally been the preserve of NBA basketball and their ratings for games on linear television were significantly below Netflix's NFL games with the five games averaging 5.