Can anybody beat the New England Patriots? It’s possible that the Baltimore Ravens could do it, but it will be difficult.
So far, the Patriots’ combination of a league-leading defense and savvy play from quarterback Tom Brady has been a winning combination. Though this hasn’t been Brady’s best season, his solid 281 yards per game and good decision making have gotten the job done.
Last week’s game against the Browns followed the general playbook of how the Pats have won this season. Brady threw for 259 yards, but did not turn the ball over. Meanwhile, the defense sacked Baker Mayfield five times and intercepted him as well. The D also forced some key fumbles which more than made up for their inability to stop running back Nick Chubb.
Though the Pats look unstoppable, one silver lining for the Ravens could be that New England hasn’t played any good offenses yet. The stiffest competition they’ve faced statistically speaking so far is Pittsburgh, only at 22nd in Offensive DVOA.
Before its bye week, Baltimore posted a big statement win against Seattle. Quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for 116 yards and a touchdown, while Mark Ingram II added another 46 yards on the ground. There aren’t a lot of run-first teams in the NFL, but Baltimore’s results speak for themselves. At 5-2 and leading the AFC North, the Ravens’ rushing attack is paying dividends.
If the Pats have had a defensive challenge, it has been the run. New England had trouble containing rushing yardage against the Bills, Jets, and the Browns. Since they haven’t faced much stiff competition, it is tempting to think that the Ravens could pull an upset here. so long as their ground game remains strong.
While an upset is possible, the Patriots still have the edge here. Jackson’s limited passing game has hurt Baltimore in their two losses, and the Ravens defense is middling (18th in Defensive DVOA) compared to New England’s elite unit (1st in Defensive DVOA). The Pats’ weaker unit, its offense, is still ranked a solid 13th by Offensive DVOA, not too far off from Baltimore (6th).
This game could be the most competitive that the Pats have had so far this year, but we still give Belichick and Brady the edge.
New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens stream
- When: Sunday, Nov. 3 at 8:20pm ET (coverage begins at 7pm ET)
- Where: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland
- Streaming: Sunday Night Football airs exclusively on NBC and is available on any platform that carries the network. Fans have a number of options for streaming the week’s marquee game.
How to stream Sunday Night Football online
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 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 showcases 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 allows 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
- Cost: $25-$40 per month (40% off first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Both Sling Blue ($25 per month) or Sling Orange + Blue ($40 per month) include NFL Network and a number of sports channels—like three ESPN channels and NBCSN—and it’s still a nice perk that Sling subscribers can order a la carte packages. Sling TV also offers a special Latino package for bilingual viewers. Sling TV is currently offering a deal where you can subscribe for 40% off the regular price for the first month of your subscription. That means Sling Blue would cost $15, and Sling Orange + Blue would cost $25. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels and our Sling TV review.)
For $10 extra per month, you can get NFL RedZone via the Sling Blue Sports Extra package.
How to use AirTV with 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. While select NFL and college football games (on Fox, FS1, and FS2) are no longer on Sling, you can still catch Fox games with AirTV.
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) NBC Sports app
Devices: Roku, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox, iOS and Android devices
If you have cable or one of the aforementioned live TV streaming services, you can download the NBC Sports app and watch Sunday Night Football there in HD. If you’re using a web browser, you may need to install the latest version of Adobe Flash and your browser will need to be current enough to support HTML5 Media Source Extensions. You’ll also need a minimum internet connection of 10-plus Mbps. (Here are some tips for faster Wi-Fi.)
Fantasy football: Who should I start?
Patriots
Julian Edelman, Wide Receiver: Edelman fantasy owners can breathe easy after last week. Despite the addition of Mohamed Sanu, Edelman still looks like the number one option in a passing game that could still use some more weapons. After he put up 78 yards and two touchdowns last week, trust Edelman until he gives you a reason not to.
Ravens
Lamar Jackson, Quarterback: Though New England has a top-tier defense, the Ravens should still be able to run here. Jackson and Mark Ingram II could still have good days on the ground even if the Pats stifle Baltimore’s passing attack.
New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens stream: What to watch for
This should be one of the most exciting games of the week. There is no other offense like the Ravens in the NFL, and if an attack is going to give the Pats trouble, it could be this one.
Even if Baltimore’s soft defense and weak passing game make them too one-dimensional to defeat the Patriots, this could be a good, close matchup.
Since both teams are sitting comfortably at the top of their divisions, this game is more about playoff picture than immediate urgency. The Pats could drop a couple of games and still retain home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs, but a Baltimore victory would be a statement win and would help move it toward at least some rounds at home. Simply put, if they want to go far in the post-season, the Ravens are going to have to beat New England sooner or later.
It could happen. But we think the Pats are the safe choice here. Odds are they keep their perfect season alive against a Ravens team that isn’t quite dynamic enough to be considered truly elite.
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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