How to Watch & Stream Christmas Day NFL Football Games Live Online Free & Wireless: Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN
Football on a Sunday is not uncommon. But just three years ago it was unusual for the NFL to schedule a game on Christmas Day. But for the last two years, the league has seen tremendous success with matchups on December 25 – and this year the number of games will increase from two to three.
While the schedule may be unkind to West Coast fans, the East Coasts will likely already have their presents opened, giving them a perfect window to catch the early competitions.
It will be harder to sneak away to catch the game, mind you. Many restaurants and sports bars are closed today. And you might find yourself in a fight over your new big screen TV when the kids want to play their new video games. Luckily, you can still catch all the action. Here’s who’s playing today – and different ways to watch the games.
Which NFL teams play at Christmas? And which channels will broadcast the games?
Any of today’s games could have major playoff implications for at least one of the teams. Coaches are certainly hoping for some Christmas magic to remain when they step onto the field. Here’s who’s playing and when. As always, the home team comes second.
Saturday December 25th
Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Arizona Cardinals, 8:15 p.m. ET on NFL Network
How can I watch my local NFL team for free – even if I’m out of market?
The best way to watch any network program on a big screen for free is with a good HD antenna. And watching most NFL games is pretty easy, as many are aired on broadcast networks, meaning you can watch them even if you don’t have a cable subscription. To ensure you are getting the most reliable signal, you should test the antenna in multiple locations around your home.
Note that this option will not work for non-wireless NFL network games.
How can I stream NFL games live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
You have several options:
peacock
NBC’s streaming service gives you access to multiple games, including all Sunday night matchups. You can get a seven-day free trial followed by a $5 or $10 monthly fee. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)
Outstanding+
CBS’s streaming service gives you access to games that air on this network. You can get a week-long free trial followed by a monthly fee of $5 or $10.
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $13.99 a month for all three together (or $19.99 a month with no ads on Hulu). Including Live TV in the package bumps the price up to $70 per month ($76 without ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial version of this service is also no longer offered. It costs $70 per month.
YouTubeTV
After a trial period of up to two weeks, the monthly fees are $65.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling recently increased its prices. The lower “Orange” plan is now $40 per month. If you add the more comprehensive “Blue” plan, that increases to $55 per month. (An increase of $5 per month.) The seven-day free trial is gone, but the cord-cutting service offers a 50% discount off the first month’s bill.
DirectTV stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow, and AT&T TV, this often-rebranded streaming service costs $70 a month or more after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks to most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly fees ranging from $70 to $100 depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch NFL games on Amazon?
Not this year. Amazon is the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football for the next 11 years, but it doesn’t carry weekend games. Next up is the Dallas Cowboys versus the Tennessee Titans on December 29th.
Does the NFL offer viewership packages to watch the games I want?
Santa has left three options for you under the tree…
NFL app
That NFL app you can stream games broadcast locally in your market on Sundays. If you want to check out an “out of print” game, you have two options.
NFL+
Watch local and out-of-market games and (with the premium subscription) replays live. There is a seven-day free trial, after which you pay a fee of $30 per season. ($80 for premium.)
NFL Sunday ticket
DirecTV customers have access to it, but (if you meet the conditions, e.g. live in an apartment complex or in an area where you cannot receive DirecTV) you can also sign up for an online version that allows you can watch every NFL game live season. There is a one-week trial, after which it costs $73.49 per month for four months or $293.36 for the entire season (or $99 for four months or $396).
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