Before last year, the NFL was a rarity on Christmas Day. But the success of the 2020 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints (when New Orleans showed no seasonal kindness to Minnesota) has emboldened the NFL.
So once you’ve finished unwrapping presents and have thrown in the towel on assembling some of those gifts, a pair of big games await you this year.
Of course, with many restaurants and sports bars closed for the day, you might not be able to slip away to watch the game. And the kids have likely taken over your big-screen TV to play those new video games Santa brought them. Don’t worry. You can still catch all the action. Here’s a look at who’s playing today—and several different ways to watch the games.
Which NFL teams are playing on Christmas? And what channels are airing the games?
You’ll have your choice of two contests this Yule. And the NFL was kind enough to start them late enough that whether you live on the East Coast or West, it shouldn’t interfere with your morning traditions.
The home team is listed second.
Saturday, Dec. 25
Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers, 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox
Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals, 8:15 p.m. ET on NFL Network
How can I watch my local NFL team for free—even if I am out of market?
The best way to watch any sort of network programming for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. And NFL games are one of the easiest to view, since they air on broadcast networks, meaning you’ll be able to watch even if you don’t have a cable subscription. To ensure you’re getting the most reliable signal, be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.
Note that this option will not work for games on the NFL Network, which is not streamed over the air.
How can I stream NFL games live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
You’ve got several options:
Peacock
NBC’s streaming service will give you access to Sunday night games and others aired on that network. You can get a seven-day free trial, followed by a $5 or $10 monthly charge. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)
Paramount+
CBS’s streaming service will give you access to games aired on that network. You can get a one-month free trial, followed by a $6 monthly charge.
Hulu with Live TV
You can try the service free for a week. Once that’s up, you’ll pay $65 per month.
YouTube TV
After a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $65.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered Orange plan will run you $35 per month. Adding the more comprehensive Blue plan bumps the cost to $50 per month. You’ll have a seven-day free trial first. And right now, the cord-cutting service is dropping the first month’s bill to $10.
AT&T TV
Formerly known as DirecTV Now and AT&T TVNow, AT&T’s streaming service will run you $70 per month and up. There is no longer a free trial option.
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ can be enjoyed for free for seven days, after which you’ll pay $13.99 per month for all three combined.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $65 to $80, depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch NFL games on Amazon?
You can! Well, one, anyway. Amazon Prime Video will air the Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers at 4:30 p.m. ET, but not the Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the games I want?
Sure as Santa!
NFL App
The NFL App will let you stream games that are being broadcast locally in your market on Sundays. If you want to watch an out-of-market game, you’ve got two choices.
NFL Game Pass
There are a couple of hitches with this service. You can’t use it to watch live games, but you can watch anything once its main broadcast ends. There’s a seven-day free trial, after which you’re looking at a $100 charge per season.
NFL Sunday Ticket
DirecTV customers have access to it, but if you’re not a subscriber and live in an area where it’s not available, you can watch any NFL game live, online, or on TV for $73.49 per month or $293.36 for the entire season.
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