There’s good news and bad news for West Coast football fans this week. The bad news is you’ll once again have to wake up at a depressingly early hour if you want to catch this week’s international game, where the Patriots meet the Jaguars. The good news is that, after this week, you’ll be able to sleep in for a while.
The schedule returns to normal next week for a little under a month. In the meantime, there are plenty of rivalry games taking place, including the Eagles taking on the Giants and the Raiders facing the Rams. Minnesota and Kansas City, meanwhile, will strive to keep their undefeated streaks alive. But the game that will likely capture the most attention is the Chiefs and 49ers, in a rematch of Super Bowl LVIII.
Planning to watch? There are a variety of ways to do so. Here’s all you need to know about this week’s games.
Which NFL teams are playing this week? And what channels are airing the games?
New England and Jacksonville head across the Atlantic this week. As always, the home team is listed second.
Sunday, Oct. 20
New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Houston Texans vs. Green Bay Packers, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Carolina Panthers vs. Washington Commanders, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
Monday, Oct. 21
Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals, 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+
How can I watch NFL games 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. To ensure you’re getting the most reliable signal, be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.
Can I stream 2024 NFL games live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
You sure can—and you’ve got a number of ways to do so.
Paramount+
CBS’s streaming service will give you a one-week free trial, followed by a $8 or $13 monthly charge. (An annual plan is as low as $30 right now.)
Peacock
NBC’s streaming service will give you access to several games, including all upcoming Sunday night matchups. It carries a $8 or $14 monthly charge—and the service has recently done away with its free trial. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $17 per month for all three combined (or $30 per month for no ads on Hulu).
Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service lasts three days. Afterward, it will cost you $77 per month.
YouTubeTV
After a free trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, unfortunately.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $80 per month and up after the free trial option. (The package that includes NFL Network will run you $99 per month.)
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 $80 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch NFL games on Amazon?
On Thursday, but not Sunday. Amazon is the home of Thursday Night Football, with the exception of Thanksgiving (though it will air a game on Black Friday). The first matchup on Amazon this year will be the Denver Broncos facing the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 17.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the games I want?
Three of ‘em.
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+
Watch live local and out of market games and (with the premium subscription) replays. You’re looking at a $50 charge per season. ($100 for premium.)
NFL Sunday Ticket
YouTube once again is the home for this channel. Prices this year start at $73 per month for Sunday Ticket and YouTubeTV or $449 for just Sunday Ticket (spanning the entirety of out-of-market games this season).
