The Chargers have to travel across the country to face the Ravens in a game that will start at 10am body time for the Los Angeles players. But the Chargers have been one of the best teams in the league this year, they’re 3-0 in games played on the East Coast in 2018, and they’ve never lost a wild card playoff game on the road. The Chargers vs. the Ravens might be the most fun playoff game this weekend, and even if you’ve cut the cord, you have plenty of options to watch a live stream of it on Sunday.
Chargers vs. Ravens
- Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
- Date: Jan 6, 1:05pm ET
- Streaming: CBS
Chargers vs. Ravens: How to watch online for free
1) FuboTV
- Cost: $39.99 for your first month and $44.99 per month thereafter (after a 7-day free trial)
- Devices:Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
- ESPN: No
- NFL Network: Yes
- NFL RedZone: Yes (FuboTV + Sports Plus)
FuboTV specifically caters to sports fans, as you’ll note by the abundance of sports channels in its basic lineup, which includes regional sports networks, Big Ten Network, BeIn Sports, and FS1 and FS2. It’s the best streaming service for international soccer and, with a standard package that includes access to all four major broadcast channels and NFL Network, which you might need to watch Thursday Night Football, it’s a solid choice for streaming NFL games, too, especially if you add NFL RedZone to your package. The major asterisk to FuboTV is that it doesn’t include ESPN, but you’ll get free three-day replay for games and 30 hours of cloud DVR storage. (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
2) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $40 per month (after a seven-day free trial)
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
- Local channels: Yes (check your local availability here)
- ESPN: Yes
- NFL Network: No
- NFL RedZone: No
Hulu with Live TV has all of the essentials when it comes to streaming NFL games today. Even better, its 50-plus channel lineup includes six ESPN channels, seven if you include SEC Network. (Here’s the complete list of Hulu Live TV channels.) While you won’t be able to add NFL RedZone or NFL Network, Hulu has one thing none of its competitors can match: a massive library of on-demand entertainment you can watch anytime. Here are guides to the best movies, documentaries, anime, and Hulu original series to watch to get you started.
3) Sling TV
- Cost: $25-$40 per month (after a seven-day free trial)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here.)
- ESPN: Yes
- NFL Network: Yes (Sling Orange, Sling Orange + Blue)
- NFL RedZone: Yes (Sling Blue + Sling Blue Sports “Sports Extra”)
Sling TV is your cheapest option for watching NFL RedZone. You can add it to the Sling Blue or Sling Orange + Blue packages for just $10 per month. You’ll want the latter, which costs $40 per month, if you want to get ESPN channels in addition to regional sports networks and FS1 and FS2. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels.) The one drawback: When it comes to network channels, Sling TV only offers NBC and Fox (and here again, you’ll need either Sling Blue or Sling Orange + Blue), but the company is currently offering new subscribers a free HD antenna, so you can at least watch some games that way (just not this week). For what it’s worth, ABC games are typically simulcast on ESPN3.
4) DirecTV Now
- Cost: $40-$75 per month (after a seven-day free trial)
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Amazon Fire Stick
- Local channels: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check local availability)
- ESPN: Yes
- NFL Network: Yes (Just Right package and above)
- NFL RedZone: No
By far the most comprehensive option, DirecTV Now is the online version of DirecTV, and it offers five distinct channel packages at prices that are still far below cable. The entry-level Live a Little package ($40 per month) has pretty much everything you need to stream NFL games today, plus cable essentials like CNN, ESPN, and MTV. But you get have a whopping 125 channels if you upgrade to the $75-per-month Gotta Have It package. Worth noting: If you’re an AT&T Unlimited customer, you’ll save $25 a month on any DirecTV Now package. (You can view the full DirecTV Now channels list here.)
5) YouTube TV
- Cost: $40 per month (after a seven-day free trial)
- Devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
- ESPN: Yes
- NFL Network: No
- NFL RedZone: No
YouTube TV offers a simple and compelling package for sports fans. In addition to all of the local channels, you’ll get ESPN, a couple of college sports networks, and specialty channels like NBA TV and MLB Network. While it’s light on extras like NFL RedZone, YouTube TV is great if you have roommates you’re looking to split the cost with. Each subscription supports up to six accounts per household, and each comes with unlimited cloud DVR. (You can find the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
6) PlayStation Vue
- Cost: $44.99-$79.99 per month (after a seven-day free trial)
- Devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire, Google Chromecast, Kodi, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
- ESPN: Yes (PlayStation Vue Access and above)
- NFL Network: Yes (PlayStation Vue Core and above)
- NFL RedZone: Yes (PlayStation Vue Sports Pack)
PlayStation Vue offers a comparable channel list as Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV at a slightly higher price point. One thing that sets it apart: You can stream on up to five devices at once, and you can upgrade your account to include nearly 80 channels. (Here are all of PlayStation Vue channels.)
Other ways to watch NFL playoff games today on TV
1) CBS All Access
- Cost: $4.99 per month
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Android and Android TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, select smart TVs
If you’re looking for CBS games in particular, CBS All Access will let you catch all of the action live. You can also add CBS All Access as an Amazon Prime channel, which comes with a free seven-day trial. No matter what device you subscribe on, you’ll also get access to all of your favorite CBS shows and Star Trek: Discovery.
2) Locast
Locast is a not-for-profit service offering a completely free way to stream your local broadcast channels (though donations are encouraged). It’s a godsend for football fans, especially during the NFL playoffs. There’s one catch. The service is only available in a handful of cities at the moment: New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Boston, and Dallas. If you happen to be in one of those areas, it’s worth trying.
Chargers vs. Ravens: Why it matters
One of the factors that can allow you to pick a Super Bowl contender is how a team finishes the year and if it’s peaking at the end of the year. It’s why the Giants team from 2011 which barely made the playoffs ended up winning the NFL title by upsetting the Patriots. It’s because New York got hot at the right team and peaked as it hit the postseason. Baltimore seems to be peaking at the moment, stealing the AFC North title from Pittsburgh and winning six of its last seven games. It’s got breakout rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is even more dangerous running the ball than throwing it, and the Ravens statistically have the best defense in the league. Los Angeles’ Philip Rivers—one of the best (and most underrated) quarterbacks of his generation—will be happy to test them, however. And he’s good enough to pull off the upset.
NFL playoff games today: The Wild Card TV schedule
Saturday, Jan. 5
4:35pm, Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans | ABC/ESPN3
8:15pm, Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys | FOX
Sunday, Jan. 6
1:05pm Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens | CBS
4:40pm, Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears | NBC
New to cord-cutting? Here are our picks for the best movie streaming sites of 2018 and free live TV apps and channels. If you’re looking for a specific channel, here’s how to watch HBO, Showtime, Starz, Sundance TV, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, AMC, FX, Fox News, Freeform, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FS1, TBS, TNT, Tennis Channel, Golf Channel, Syfy, HGTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Bravo, Lifetime, Discovery, PBS, the CW, BBC, CSPAN, NBA TV, MTV, Comedy Central, Food Network, TLC, HLN, A&E, Animal Planet, National Geographic, the Weather Channel, the History Channel, and NFL RedZone without cable, as well as free movies on YouTube. If you’re on the move, here’s how to watch Fox Sports Go and live stream NBC Sports.