It’s the surprise of the NFC versus the most dependable team in the conference.
The New Orleans Saints face off against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, in a matchup that could be a preview of the NFC Championship Game.
Outside of one loss to its division rival in Atlanta, the Saints have not lost this year when Drew Brees is playing quarterback. Brees has often been undermined in the past by weak defense and aging offensive weapons, but this year, he has a supporting cast to support his talents. In particular, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas have been two of the top offensive players in the league throughout the season.
San Francisco hasn’t had an explosive an offense as New Orleans, but late in the season, Jimmy Garroppolo has come into his own, forging a strong connection with receiver Deebo Samuel. And of course, the top-ranked 49ers defense has remained dominant week after week.
Along with the Seattle Seahawks, these two teams are the class of the NFC. While the 49ers are still fighting it out with the Seahawks for the top seed in the NFC West, there isn’t much at risk for the Saints in this game. But, nonetheless, fans around the NFL will be watching this game closely as a preview of where the true strength in the NFC lies. Here’s everything you need to know to live stream Saints vs. 49ers, including what to watch for on the field.
| HOW TO WATCH SAINTS VS. 49ERS WITHOUT CABLE | |
| SLING TV | TRY NOW |
| FUBOTV | TRY NOW |
| HULU WITH LIVE TV | TRY NOW |
New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers
- When: 1pm ET, Sunday, Dec. 8
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Streaming: FOX, NFL Sunday Ticket
There are a number of options for watching Saints vs. 49ers on streaming platforms that carry FOX. However, consult a coverage map to see what game your regional channel will be playing.
If a game is not being carried in your area, the only option might be an NFL Sunday Ticket package.
Saints vs. 49ers live stream: How to watch NFL online
1) 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, Fs1, FS2, 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 and YouTube TV. All those services have plenty of local channels.
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) 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.
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) NFL Sunday Ticket
Cost: $73.99 per month for four months, or one single payment of $293.96
There are two—and only two—ways of acquiring NFL Sunday Ticket without DirecTV.
There’s NFLSundayTicket.TV, which costs $73.99 per month for four months. It’s everything you love NFL Sunday Ticket but online-only. You can stream from pretty much any device that connects to the internet (but only on one device at a time).
You can also upgrade to the NFLST.TV Max bundle for a total of $99 per month for four months or one single payment of $395.99. You can also add on NFL Game Pass, which allows you to watch replays of every game after they air, for $50 for the full season.
There’s another way to watch NFL Sunday Ticket without DirecTV: Amazon Prime. While you can’t pay for the package using Amazon Prime, you can at least watch all of the games on the service. To start, first download the NFL Sunday Ticket channel on Amazon Prime. It’s free. From there, you’ll just need to sign in with your subscription credentials.
College students can purchase NFL Sunday Ticket at a discounted price through NFLSundayTicket.TV U.
TRY NFL SUNDAY TICKET ON AMAZON PRIME
New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers: What to watch for
With the seventh-ranked defense and the fifth-ranked offense, the Saints are the most complete team in the NFL. It’s hard to find something they do poorly.
The terrifying thing about the Sean Payton-coached Saints is that they continue to find ways to get better. Payton’s special project, trick-play backup quarterback Taysom Hill, keeps finding ways to make plays. Last week, he blocked a punt; it was a highlight in a week where the offense put up so-so numbers, but the defense and special teams shined. Cameron Jordan had four sacks and Shy Tuttle had a big interception capped with a nasty stiff-arm on Matt Ryan.
The only criticism Saints beat writers have had recently is the poor performance of the hands team on onsides kicks. If that’s your only complaint, you don’t have much to complain about.
Though they took a few games to find their footing offensively, the 49ers are now threatening the Saints as the most well-rounded squad in the league. Currently, they rank ninth on offense and second on defense.
San Francisco is coming off a tough loss to the Ravens, but they too continue to find ways to improve. In addition to the emergence of Deebo Samuel as a pass-catcher, Raheem Mostert has become a huge rushing threat, gaining 146 yards on the ground last week.
Defensive players who aren’t household names continue to make an impact as well. Linebacker Fred Warner and safety Marcell Harris were the standouts last week on a unit that features players like Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, and Richard Sherman.
Both of these teams feel destined for decent post-season runs, and may well meet up again in the NFC Championship game. While many will be watching this game closely for playoff seeding, it may also give us a glimpse at which of these teams can make a Super Bowl run.
Odds
The oddsmakers at William Hill have the Saints as 2.5 point favorites.
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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