The Arizona Cardinals have shown major signs of improvement this season, but recently, it has been hard to see. After last week’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints with Drew Brees back in the lineup and this game against the San Francisco 49ers, it’s difficult to imagine a tougher two-game stretch in the NFL.
Predictably, the Cardinals were demolished by the Saints—and the same is probably true this week.
New Orleans’ defense remains surprisingly stout, limiting Arizona’s running game to about 40 total yards. The Arizona running attack has been inconsistent all year, and last week was a down week. Kyler Murray’s quarterbacking remains so-so. His stat line of 19/33 for 220 yards is right in the middle of where he has been this season: serviceable but nothing to write home about.
Where the Cardinals offense is up and down, the defense is just not very good. It looked like things were turning around two weeks ago with an eight-sack performance against the Giants, but this unit didn’t get to Brees once last week. Despite some promising players like safety Jalen Thomas, this defense is a very much work in progress.
In San Francisco, by contrast, things are going great. Though Jimmy Garoppolo hasn’t quite played at an elite level, an amazing defense and a dependable offense have been enough to win games. Their 51-13 demolishing of Carolina is exactly how they like to win. While Jimmy G only threw for 175 yards, Tevin Coleman ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns (and got one in the passing game as well), George Kittle averaged 14.3 yards per reception, and the defense picked off Kyle Allen three times.
You do have to wonder how this 49ers team will handle truly high-flying offenses like the Packers and the Saints, but those are questions for another week. In the meantime, scout for yourself: Here’s everything you need to know about how to stream Thursday Night Football.
How to stream Thursday Night Football: 49ers vs. Cardinals
- When: 8:20pm ET, Thursday, Oct. 31
- Where: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
- Streaming: Fox, Amazon Prime, NFL Network (free trials with various streaming services)
How to stream Thursday Night Football
The majority of Thursday night games are simulcast on Fox and NFL Network. This week, you will be able to watch TNF on these two networks and with any streaming platforms that carry them.
NFL Network
NFL Network is where you go if you want to be immersed in pro football. There’s plenty to love about NFL Network, including the ability to watch exclusive shows like Good Morning Football, NFL Total Access, A Football Life, Inside the NFL, and most importantly, Sunday’s NFL GameDay once the regular season begins. There’s also daily programming devoted to fantasy football and power rankings—the kind of stuff football lovers need in their lives. NFL Network shows most Thursday night games during the regular season, and it’ll exclusively show some of the international games in 2019. Take note, though: NFL Network can no longer be seen via DirecTV Now.
The bottom line: If you want to get closer to the action and catch (almost) every Thursday Night Football game, NFL Network is a worthy investment.
Thursday Night Football: The streaming service route
1) FuboTV
- Cost: $54.99 per month
- FuboTV devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- FuboTV local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
If you’re a big-time sports fan, FuboTV is probably your best streaming service option. If you love international soccer and you’re a Spanish speaker, FuboTV also offers various add-on packages, including Fubo Latino and Fubo Português. FuboTV’s basic plan boasts nearly 100 channels and includes NFL Network. At $54.99 per month, you’ll also get FS1, FS2, NBCSN, NBA TV, Big Ten Network, Pac 12 Network, BeIn Sports, and CBS Sports Network, along with premium channels like FX/FXX/FXM. The only notable omission for sports fans is ESPN. You can add Fubo’s Sports Plus package for an additional $8.99 per month, which will allow you to stream NFL RedZone, (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
2) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $44.99 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Hulu with Live TV includes sports programming among its offerings, including ESPN and FS1, and as a subscriber to the service, you’ll get free access to Hulu’s sizable on-demand library. (Check out the full list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
3) Sling TV
- Sling TV pricing: $25-$40 per month (40% off first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, Microsoft Edge, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Sling TV provides two base channel package options, each priced at $25 per month. Sling Orange includes three ESPN channels, while Sling Blue includes sports channels like NBCSN (where many Premier League matches appear), NFL Network, and local channels. (Sling Blue customers in select markets get NBC, where some matches appear; see if yours has it here.) If you’re Team “Why Not Both,” Sling Orange + Blue combines the two for just $40 per month. To add beIN SPORTS and maximize your soccer-watching potential, you’ll want to add either Sports Extra: Sling Orange ($5 per month) or Sports Extra: Sling Blue ($10 per month). (The latter also includes NFL RedZone.)
Spanish-speaking viewers have quite a few options. For bilingual families, you might consider the Español: Best of Spanish TV package for either Sling Orange or Sling Blue for 24/7 specialty channel LaLiga TV and beIN SPORTS Connect: Channels 4-9, which features matches from La Liga, Ligue 1 and Copa del Rey, among others. Both packages cost $5 per month after your free trial. Sling TV Latino is another Spanish-language package for $10 per month, including NBC Universo, History en Español, and—of import to soccer fans—four beIN SPORTS channels. (And choosing Sling TV Latino + Sling Orange for $30 per month gives you access to ESPN Deportes.) For more information, check out our guide to Sling TV channels and our Sling TV review.
AirTV
You can also catch Fox games with AirTV—which is something you should have as a companion to Sling.
AirTV solves one of Sling’s biggest problems: The inability to receive all of your local channels. By purchasing a basic AirTV for $79.99 or the AirTV Player for $119.99, you can merge those local channels into your Sling TV (or on your mobile device if you have the basic AirTV). As the Daily Dot wrote in its AirTV review, “It’s practically magic.”
The basic AirTV is a dual-tuner streaming device, while the AirTV Player is basically an upgraded Chromecast that has Netflix preinstalled. You’ll still need to own an HD antenna because even though AirTV gets you access to your local channels, it doesn’t actually physically show them to you.
But AirTV—which has no monthly fee—serves to strengthen one of Sling’s biggest weaknesses compared to other live streaming services like Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, and PlayStation Vue. All those services have plenty of local channels.
4) YouTube TV
- Cost: $50 per month
- YouTube TV devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- YouTube TV local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV is a great option for college football fans, including ESPN and FS1. (Take a look at the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
5) Amazon Prime Video
- Cost: $8.99 a month, or $12.99 a month/$119.99 per year (includes Amazon Prime service)
- Devices: Amazon Fire Stick, Fire TV, Fire tablets, and Fire phone; Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS, and Android devices
Amazon Prime Video allows you to stream Thursday Night Football every Thursday this season (starting Sept. 26 through Dec. 12), save for Thanksgiving. It’s also possible (not obvious, but that’s what we’re here for) to watch NFL RedZone through the service.
Other ways to stream Thursday Night Football
The NFL app
Cost: Depends on provider
Devices: Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, PS4, Roku, Android RV, iOS and Android devices
If you subscribe to NFL Network through your cable provider—or you know someone who does and they owe you a sizable favor—you can also watch via the official NFL app. All you have to do is download it from your streaming device of choice—Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, PS4, Roku, or Android TV—and then enter in your cable credentials when prompted. You can also stream on any iOS or Android device, or on your desktop. Just visit nfl.com/watch.
Fantasy football: Who should I start?
49ers
George Kittle, Tight End: While Tevin Coleman has emerged as the go-to option in the backfield the past few weeks, don’t let recency bias sway you too much. This is still a committee backfield and Coleman has only had one truly amazing week. Kittle remains the only surefire bet on this limited offense, while Coleman remains no guarantee.
Cardinals
No One: With a banged-up backfield that could possibly feature Alfred Morris and a passing game that doesn’t have a week-to-week standout, you may not be able to start anyone against San Francisco’s top-tier defense.
READ MORE:
- Smoke ’em, pass ’em Week 8: The Soldier Field blues
- Fantasy football 2019: Your team-by-team NFC preview
- Fantasy football 2019: Your team-by-team AFC preview
- Our definitive, undisputed top-35 PPR rankings
49ers vs. Cardinals stream: What to watch for
The Cardinals would need to get very lucky to win this game. The 49ers will likely lose at some point this season, but it isn’t going to happen on Thursday barring a catastrophe.
Arizona is going to continue to get better and this is a team that might compete in future seasons. Kyler Murray really does look like the answer for the Cardinals, just not this week. This team is too young and missing too many pieces to beat a team like San Francisco.
Look for the 49ers defense to win this game single-handedly, and if their running game clicks as well as it did last week, this could be another massive blowout.
READ MORE:
- How to watch NFL RedZone without cable
- How to watch NFL Sunday Ticket without a DirecTV satellite
- How to watch NFL Network online (without cable)
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