How to Watch NFL Playoff Games Live For Free to See the Divisional Round

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The NFL regular season has ended, which means it’s time for playoffs. If you don’t have a cable subscription (or want a cheaper option), you may be wondering how to watch NFL playoff games live for free. Lucky for you, we’ve got the lowdown on the best services to stream the postseason.

The National Football League, also known as the NFL, consists of the American Football Conference (founded in 1970) and the National Football Conference (also founded in 1970). The entire NFL consists of 32 teams divided equally between the AFC and the NFC. In the 2023-2024 NFL regular season, each team plays 17 games from September 7, 2023 through January 7, 2024.

After the regular season ends, playoffs start on January 13 with six teams from each conference (12 total) competing. The divisional round is up next and features eight teams, with the conference championships following after that and featuring four teams. This round determines the winner of the AFC and the winner of the NFC. The two triumphant teams head to the Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs are the reigning champs; however, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers top the Super Bowl win leaderboard with six championship titles each. The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers trail right behind them with five each.

So where can football fans stream the NFL playoffs? Read on for how to watch NFL playoff games live for free to see which two teams make it to the Super Bowl LVIII.

2024 NFL Playoff Bracket

As it currently stands, the Browns and Texans, Dolphins and Chiefs, Steelers and Bills, Packers and Cowboys, Rams and Lions, and Eagles and Buccaneers are the Wild Card Weekend matchups. Between these 12 teams, which ones will move on to the next round of playoffs?

AFC

1. Baltimore Ravens – clinched division and bye
2. Buffalo Bills – clinched division
3. Kansas City Chiefs – clinched division
4. Houston Texans – clinched division
5. Cleveland Browns – clinched Wild Card
6. Miami Dolphins – clinched Wild Card
7. Pittsburgh Steelers – clinched Wild Card

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers – clinched division and bye
2. Dallas Cowboys – clinched division
3. Detroit Lions – clinched division
4. Tamba Bay Buccaneers – clinched division
5. Philadelphia Eagles – clinched Wild Card
6. Los Angeles Rams – clinched Wild Card
7. Green Bay Packers – clinched Wild Card

2024 NFL Playoff Schedule

• Wild Card Weekend: January 13-January 15
• Divisional Round: January 20-January 21
• Conference Championships: January 28
• Super Bowl LVIII: February 11

How to watch NFL playoff games live for free

Most NFL playoff games air on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN, which are available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends. Hulu+ With Live TV doesn’t have a free trial, however, it is cheaper per month than the other options. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $68.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.

• Best Overall Pick to Watch NFL Playoff Games: DirecTV Stream
• Best Free Trial Pick to Watch NFL Playoff Games: Fubo
• Best Upgrade Pick to Watch NFL Playoff Games: Hulu+ With Live TV

Best Overall Pick to Watch NFL Playoff Games: DirecTV Stream

Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch NFL playoff games live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NFL playoff games with DirecTV Stream’s free trial. 

1. Visit streamtv.directv.com
2. Click “Shop Packages”
3. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
4. Enter your information and payment method
5. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching NFL playoff games

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch NFL Playoff Games: Fubo

Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch NFL playoff games live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $99.99 per month.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NFL playoff games with Fubo’s free trial. 

1. Visit Fubo.TV
2. Click “Start Free Trial”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching NFL playoff games

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch NFL Playoff Games: Hulu+ Live TV

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch NFL playoff games based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NFL playoff games with Hulu+ Live TV.

1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
2. Click “Sign Up Now”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching NFL playoff games

What is the 2024 NFL playoff schedule?

See below for the full 2024 NFL playoff schedule.

Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Matchup	Time	TV Channel(s)	Streaming Service(s)
Browns @ Texans	4:30 p.m. ET	NBC	Peacock, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV
Dolphins @ Chiefs	8 p.m. ET	—	Exclusively on Peacock

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Matchup	Time	TV Channel(s)	Streaming Service(s)
Steelers @ Bills	1 p.m. ET	CBS	DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV
Packers @ Cowboys	4:30 p.m. ET	FOX	DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV
Rams @ Lions	8 p.m. ET	NBC	DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV

Monday, January 15, 2024

Matchup	Time	TV Channel(s)	Streaming Service(s)
Eagles @ Buccaneers	8 p.m. ET	ESPN, ESPN2, ABC	DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV, ESPN+

Divisional Round

Saturday, January 20 2024

Matchup	Time	TV Channel(s)	Streaming Service(s)
TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Matchup	Time	TV Channel(s)	Streaming Service(s)
TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

Conference Championships

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Matchup	Time	TV Channel(s)	Streaming Service(s)
TBD	TBD	CBS	DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV
TBD	TBD	FOX	DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV

Super Bowl LVIII

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Matchup	Time	TV Channel(s)	Streaming Service(s)
TBD	TBD	CBS	DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ Live TV