The road to the Super Bowl is entering its last miles.
Wild card playoffs begin this week, the first in a three-week process to winnow down the search for who will play in the NFL’s most important game. And while there are some teams no one expected would be a part of the postseason after the year’s first kickoff (yes, we’re looking at you, Las Vegas Raiders), there are several vying for wildcard spots that many expected would be enjoying a bye week about now.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for example, who dominated in last year’s Super Bowl, are fighting the Philadelphia Eagles for a spot. And the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills will duke it out in Buffalo on Saturday.
Seeing as COVID levels are still at all-time highs, heading down to the local sports bar still might not hold much appeal. And kids (or spouses) can make the living room less than optimal. Looking to stream the games or not sure who’s playing when? We’ve got a look at the matchups—and several different options for viewing.
Which NFL teams are playing this week? And what channels are airing the games?
Here’s a look at who’s playing who this week. (The home team is listed second.)
Saturday, Jan. 15
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC
New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. ET on CBS
Sunday, Jan. 16
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC
Monday, Jan. 17
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC
How can I watch the NFL playoffs 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.
How can I stream the NFL playoffs live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
You’ve got lots of options at your fingertips.
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.
YouTubeTV
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 7-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?
Not the playoffs. The last game to stream on Amazon this season was on Christmas Day, but it’s likely the company will carry more in 2022.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the games I want?
It does. Three, in fact.
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 couple 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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