Here’s how to watch the 2022 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round and your favorite football teams online for free—even without a cable subscription
Four games. Endless drama. Welcome to the Divisional Playoff Round of the 2022-203 NFL season.
The league’s top eight teams meet this weekend, with two games on Saturday and two on Sunday. And each one of them is probably a banger.
The Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants in a game expected to be a must on Saturday night, while the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals meet again Sunday afternoon, about three weeks after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest in the first half of a game between the two. The weekend ends with a final battle between old rivals Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.
So cancel any plans you might have had, or make sure your phone is charged if that’s not possible. Here’s a look at all of this week’s matchups and tips on how best to follow the games.
Which NFL teams are playing this week? And which channels will broadcast the games?
Here’s this week’s lineup. (The home team is listed second.)
Saturday January 21st
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC
New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET on Fox
Sunday January 22nd
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills, 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox
How can I watch NFL games for free – even if I’m no longer in the market?
The best way to watch any kind of network programs on a big screen for free is with a good HD antenna. And all of this week’s NFL games are being broadcast 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.
Can I stream NFL games live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
Definitely! Here are some 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 that 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 will cost you $70 per month.
YouTubeTV
After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly fees of $65.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling recently increased its prices. The lower “Orange” plan is now $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan brings the cost up to $55 per month. (An increase of $5 per month.) The seven-day free trial is gone along with the price increase, but the cord-cutting service is offering 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 per month and up 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?
No playoff games. Amazon’s contract with the NFL will not be extended into the postseason.
Does the NFL offer viewership packages to watch the games I want?
Actually several.
NFL app
the 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 can’t receive DirecTV) you can also sign up for an online version that allows you can watch every NFL game live season. There’s a week-long trial, then you’ll see monthly charges of $73.49 per month for a four-month period, or $293.36 for the entire season (or $99 for four months, or $396).
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