August is just a few hours old and Starbucks is still weeks away from launching pumpkin spice lattes, but the new NFL season will officially get underway Thursday night.
The Houston Texans will face the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame game, but it won’t be the players that everyone’s watching. It will be the kickoffs.
This will be the first time that teams have played under the NFL’s new kickoff rule and every team will be trying to find out how far they can push things, without giving opponents an idea of what they have in store when the regular season begins.
Does the game mean anything? No. Will big-name players, or any member of the starting lineup for either team, take the field? Probably not. Does that matter to NFL fans? Nuh-uh.
This is the amuse-bouche of football—a whetting of the appetite before the regular pre-season gets underway next weekend. But it’s football. And to many fans, that’s all that matters.
Here’s how best to catch the game.
Which NFL teams are playing this week? And what channels are airing the games?
There’s just one game this week. Next Thursday through Sunday, though, will see all of the league’s teams on the field (The home team is listed second.)
Thursday, Aug. 1
Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears, 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN
How can I watch NFL games for free—even if I am out of market?
The best way to watch any sort of network programming for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. And since the Hall of Fame game will be carried by ABC, watching will be fairly simple. To ensure you’re getting the most reliable signal, be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.
Can I stream NFL games live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
There are several options, though not all of them will work for tonight’s game:
Peacock
NBC’s streaming service will give you access to several games, including all upcoming Sunday night matchups. You can get a seven-day free trial, followed by a $8 or $14 monthly charge. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $15 per month for all three combined (or $25 per month for no ads on Hulu).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service is no longer offered, as well. It will now cost you $77 per month.
YouTubeTV
After a free trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, unfortunately.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $80 per month and up after the free trial option. (The package that includes NFL Network will run you $99 per month.)
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $80 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch NFL games on Amazon?
Amazon once again has the exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football—but that exclusivity again has a few caveats. Tonight’s game (and all pre-season games) will not air on the streaming service, nor will the Week One game of the regular season. And, like last year, it won’t carry any games on Thanksgiving, though it will on Black Friday. The first matchup on Amazon this year will be the Buffalo Bills facing the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 12.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the games I want?
A trio of them.
NFL App
The NFL App will let you stream games that are being broadcast locally in your market on Sundays. If you want to watch an “out of market” game, you’ve got two choices.
NFL+
Watch live local and out of market games and (with the premium subscription) replays. You’re looking at a $50 charge per season. ($100 for premium.)
NFL Sunday Ticket
YouTube once again is the home for this channel. Prices this year start at $73 per month for Sunday Ticket and YouTubeTV or $449 for just Sunday Ticket (spanning the entirety of out-of-market games this season).
What’s this new kickoff rule all about?
The NFL is trying a one-year experiment this season, putting all members of the kicking and receiving teams (except the kicker and returners) within a 10-yard zone down the field. Only the kicker and two returners will be allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a returner inside the 20.
Kicks that reach the end zone in the air can be returned, or taken as a touchback and possession at the 30. If a ball hits the ground (or a player) before the end zone and goes into the end zone, the touchback will be at the 20. The kick can also still be returned.
Onside kicks, meanwhile, can no longer be surprises, as the trailing team will have to declare plans to attempt one—and only in the fourth quarter.
The idea is to make kickoffs more exciting, but there will be some kinks to work out.
