The NFL enters the playoff round next week, with the wild card games—and as of right now, there's a historic number of teams whose hopes for a postseason are still alive.
Given how chaotic the year has been as a whole, with an unprecedented number of quarterback injuries and rollercoaster win/loss records from some teams, that makes an odd amount of sense. But it also makes this week’s games absolutely fascinating.
Four divisions are still up for grabs—and 20 teams are in contention for the playoffs. The must-watch game is Sunday night, when the Bills face the Dolphins, with the winner taking the AFC East.
It’s a solid weekend of football. Here’s how best to catch it all.
Which NFL teams are playing this week? And what channels are airing the games?
Here’s who’s playing where and when this week. (The home team is listed second.)
Saturday, Jan 6
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens, 4:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN
Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts, 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN
Sunday, Jan 7
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
New York Jets vs. New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
How can I watch NFL games for free—even if I am out of market?
Almost every NFL game can be watched without a cable subscription, though you do need to be in the right market to catch them. The best way to do that (and 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 NFL games live online if I don't have a cable subscription?
Yep! Try one (or more) of these methods.
Peacock
NBC’s streaming service will give you access to several games, including tonight’s contest and all upcoming Sunday night matchups. You can get a seven-day free trial, followed by a $6 or $12 monthly charge. (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 $15 per month for all three combined (or $25 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 is no longer offered, as well. It will now cost you $77 per month.
YouTubeTV
After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73. YouTube is also now the home of Sunday Ticket. Prices on that service currently range from $300 to $439 for the season, with the current discounts.
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, but the cord-cutting service is offering 50% off of the first month’s bill.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $75 per month and up after the free trial option.
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 $75 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch the NFL games on Amazon?
Not until next year. Amazon’s streaming rights for the 2023 season ended on Dec. 28.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the games I want?
There are a few you can look into…
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. There's a seven-day free trial, after which you're looking at a charge of $6.99 per month (including NFL Network). ($14.99 per month for premium, which includes NFL Network and RedZone.)
NFL Sunday Ticket
As mentioned above, YouTube has taken over broadcast duties for this channel, replacing DirecTV. With the current offered discounts, prices on the service (and the optional NFL Red Zone) currently range from $300 to $439 for the season.
