After a 17-week-long season of the National Football League (NFL), we all look forward to the NFL playoff games every January. The playoffs determine the top two teams—one from the NFC and AFC—that will compete in the Super Bowl in February.
People in the US and Canada are lucky to have the NFL playoffs broadcasted in their region. They can watch live games either through over-the-air free TV or through paid cable channels. The four TV networks in the US—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC—have split the broadcasting rights over the NFL games. Moreover, cable channels like ESPN, NFL Network, Fox Sports, and NBC Sports cover the games too. As a football fan, surely, you wouldn’t want to miss the chance to watch what could be the best NFL playoff game live!
However, what about the rest of us who don’t have access to US TV networks or cable sports channels? Don’t worry, you can still watch the NFL games, and that’s via online streaming. If you want to find out how to stream NFL playoffs, keep reading to know how.
How to stream NFL playoffs regardless of location
As we mentioned earlier, if you are inside the USA or Canada you can watch live games without a problem. Those outside of those countries can stream the NFL playoffs by changing their virtual location with a
Using a vpn to get past the nfl game pass blackout of playoff games in the UK. Technology rocks!
— Mike Phillips (@houserabbits) January 16, 2016
Here is how to set up a
- Install one of these top geo-unblocking tools which we reviewed.
- Open the
VPN client software. - Choose a
VPN server. For streaming platforms, select the US or any country where the NFL game is broadcasted. For NFL Game Pass, select a country apart from the US. - Go to the website or app of the broadcaster or the streamer of the NFL game. Start streaming.
With these steps, you can now access geo-restricted NFL playoff games. For in-depth guidance, check our guide on how to install a
Why you need a VPN
Whether you’re watching the NFL playoffs or another sports stream online, always use a
- Encrypts your connection to protects your data against hackers
- Provides access to geo-blocked websites, streams, and online contents
- Improves your connection and allows faster streaming
- Protects you against any legal issues that may arise out from watching online broadcasts
With these benefits, don’t hesitate to get yourself a high-quality
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Put simply, the image below…https://t.co/eBQ481aure pic.twitter.com/tceVOJKp4Q— BA VPN Services (@BaVpn) February 20, 2019
Best free streams to watch the NFL playoffs
Even without a TV, cable package, or satellite subscription, you can still watch the NFL playoffs games for free. If you’re in the US, you can stream the games through the NFL and Yahoo Sports apps. You can download both apps from the App Store and Google Play.
Stream NFL playoffs: Streaming platforms
Streaming platforms let you watch not only the telecasts of the local networks of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Some platforms also carry cable networks like ESPN and NFL Network. Here are the platforms where you stream NFL playoffs:
- SlingTV: With SlingTV, you’ll have access to NBC and Fox. Plus, depending on whether you pick the Orange or Blue package, you can also stream games off ESPN or NFL Network.
- Hulu Live TV: This platform offers more access than SlingTV. Hulu Live TV carries ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as ESPN. However, it doesn’t have the NFL Network.
- YouTube TV: All local networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC) are covered. Also, YouTube TV carries ESPN. However, it doesn’t have the NFL Network.
- PlayStation Vue: As a complete streaming platform, PlayStation Vue carries ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as ESPN and NFL Network.
- FuboTV: With FuboTV’s standard package, you can access ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It doesn’t have ESPN, but it has NFL Network, making it a solid choice for streaming NFL games.
- DirecTV Now: As DirecTV’s online version, DirecTV Now lets you access ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and—at a higher package—the NFL Network.
With these six streaming platforms, you won’t need to have a TV or a cable subscription to watch the NFL playoff games. All platforms have a one-week free trial period. However, beyond this, you’ll have to pay for monthly subscriptions to maintain the service.
Best paid streams to watch the NFL playoffs
If you want long-term access to the NFL games, either get the monthly subscriptions of the above streaming platforms or subscribe to a cable package that has ESPN and/or NFL Network. Also, you can try WatchESPN, CBS All Access, or NFL Game Pass.
Stream NFL playoffs: WatchESPN
WatchESPN is a website as well as a mobile app. With WatchESPN, you’ll have access to streams of ESPN and its sister networks. Still, you need a cable subscription to log in. Either you buy a cable plan, or you borrow a friend’s login credentials.
Stream NFL playoffs: CBS All Access
As a streaming video service, CBS All Access lets you access NFL games for just $5 per month, which is way cheaper than the prices of the streaming platforms mentioned above. However, you can only watch NFL games that are exclusively broadcasted by CBS.
Stream NFL playoffs: NFL Game Pass
If none of the above options work, why not try the international version of NFL Game Pass. This is a great thing for NFL fans outside the US as they can live stream NFL playoffs and other NFL games. However, if you’re inside the US, there will be a blackout, and you can only watch a playoff game after 2-4 hours. There’s a workaround though: make your device appear like you’re based in other countries (say, France). This is something you can do with a
Source for unlicensed streams
To find streams that are likely less than kosher, the best place to head is Reddit.com/r/nflstreams. They are having issues like their equivalent Soccer streaming site, but they are working on solutions right now to ensure that you can stream the NFL playoffs live and free.
Best VPNs for watching the NFL playoffs
Not all VPNs are created equal. Some VPNs—usually the ones that are free, ad-ridden, or bandwidth-limited—won’t provide excellent services. To stream NFL playoffs in optimum conditions, you need a reputable and tested
We tested, reviewed, tested, and ranked the best
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