Have you been wondering how you can watch all the NFL playoff action this year without paying for an expensive cable TV subscription? Well, you‘re in luck, because I‘m going to walk you through exactly how to live stream the 2023 NFL playoffs on any of your devices without needing cable!
As a long-time NFL fan who cut the cord from cable years ago, I‘ve learned all the ins and outs of streaming NFL games online. In this guide, I‘ll be sharing with you the best streaming options to watch the playoffs, how to use them on any device like Roku or Firestick, and even a few tricks to stream the postseason games 100% free.
So whether you want to save money by ditching cable or just learn how to watch football from anywhere, let‘s dive in and I‘ll explain everything in a simple, step-by-step way. Here‘s what we‘ll cover:
Let‘s get started!
NFL Playoff Schedule 2023
Before we get into how to stream the games, let‘s quickly run through the NFL playoff schedule for 2023 so you can see which networks will be airing each matchup:
As you can see, CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and Nickelodeon will all be broadcasting playoff games this January.
- CBS will air AFC playoff games
- NBC will cover NFC playoff matchups
- Fox has rights to NFC games as well
- ESPN will show the ABC Saturday Wild Card game
- Nickelodeon joins in on the Wild Card weekend fun with a special kids-focused broadcast
Now let‘s look at how you can stream each of these networks online without cable.
How to Stream the NFL Playoffs Without Cable
Luckily, there are a lot of great options to stream the NFL postseason without an expensive cable subscription. Here are your best bets:
1. Stream on fuboTV (Best for NFL Playoffs)
If you want access to every NFL playoff game, your best choice is live TV streaming service fuboTV.
fuboTV‘s base plan includes CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, NFL Network, Nickelodeon and more for $74.99/month. So you can watch AFC playoff games on CBS, NFC matchups on Fox and NBC, plus the ESPN Wild Card broadcast all in one place.
I‘ve used fuboTV myself the past two years and it‘s worked flawlessly for streaming NFL games in 4K quality with no buffering. From the playoffs to the Super Bowl, fubo had me covered with 95% of the football content I would normally get through cable.
And if you want to test it out first, fubo offers a free 7-day trial so you can enjoy the NFL playoffs risk-free. Get the fuboTV free trial here.
2. Hulu + Live TV
Another excellent cable replacement with NFL playoff coverage is Hulu + Live TV. This streaming service provides over 75 channels including CBS, NBC, ESPN and Fox (in select markets). Plus you get access to Hulu‘s huge on-demand library.
Plans start at $69.99 per month, but you can try it free for 7 days first with Hulu‘s free trial. Learn more about watching NFL playoffs on Hulu in my guide.
3. DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as AT&T TV and DirecTV Now, DirecTV Stream provides live feeds of CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN and more for $69.99/month. Their coverage should have you set for every NFL playoff game.
New subscribers can take advantage of their 5-day free trial offer before deciding if you want to continue the service. Get more details in my full DirecTV Stream review.
4. Sling TV
Sling TV is one of the most affordable live TV streaming options with plans starting at just $40 per month.
While they don‘t offer CBS, Sling‘s Orange & Blue plan provides both FOX and NBC in select markets plus playoff games on ESPN for just $55/month. New users can test Sling TV free for 3 days.
Get all the details on watching NFL with Sling TV.
5. Paramount+
The Essential plan on Paramount+ now includes live CBS feeds in most markets for just $4.99 per month. This is the cheapest way to stream AFC playoff games airing on CBS, like the Divisional and Championship rounds.
Paramount+ also offers a free one week trial so you can watch live NFL action without paying upfront. Learn more about using Paramount+ for NFL games.
6. Peacock
NBC‘s streaming service Peacock will be streaming NBC‘s Wild Card and Divisional Playoff matchups live with a Peacock Premium subscription (starting at $4.99/month). Sign up using my link to get your first month free.
7. ESPN App
You can stream ESPN‘s NFL Wild Card broadcast on the ESPN app or ESPN.com if you already have the channel through a live TV streaming service or cable subscription. Just use your TV provider login.
Learn more about using the ESPN App.
8. NFL App & NFL Network
The NFL App and NFL Network provide some complimentary NFL playoff content like analysis shows, highlights and replays. While you can‘t live stream games here without a cable login, it‘s still useful for postgame coverage.
9. Locast
This free streaming service (with optional donations) offers access to local CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox affiliates in certain markets. Great option to stream playoff games airing on local channels.
Check out if Locast is available in your area for NFL playoff streaming.
10. Use an antenna
Don‘t forget an over-the-air (OTA) antenna can pull in local CBS, Fox and NBC broadcasts for FREE. You‘ll get any playoff games shown in your area in crystal clear HD, saving you tons of money.
Here‘s my guide for how to choose the best HDTV antenna.
As you can see, with the right streaming setup you can cut cable and still enjoy every NFL playoff matchup live.
Now let‘s go over how to watch on some of the most popular streaming media devices:
How to Stream NFL Playoffs on Roku, Firestick, Apple TV & More
One of the great things about streaming the NFL postseason is you can watch on virtually any device you own.
Here‘s a quick rundown of how to watch on some of the most popular platforms:
- Fire TV Stick – Install apps like fuboTV from the Amazon Appstore. Here‘s how to add channels on Firestick.
- Roku – Add streaming channels via Roku‘s app store. The free Roku mobile app makes setup easy.
- Apple TV – Download fubo, Hulu, Paramount+ and others from the tvOS App Store. Also use AirPlay to mirror iPhone/iPad.
- Android TV Box – like Firestick but powered by Android. Get streaming apps from the Google Play Store.
- iPhone & iPad – Stream directly in fubo, ESPN, and NFL streaming apps available on iOS app store.
- Android Phone – Same as above but for Android devices like Samsung Galaxy.
- Gaming consoles – PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S all have streaming apps you can install for NFL playoffs.
- Smart TVs – Modern smart TVs have most major streaming apps built-in or available to add from their app store.
- PC and Mac – Stream NFL playoff games directly from fuboTV, Paramount+ and others using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.
I hope these instructions help explain how easy it is to stream the NFL postseason on virtually any device without cable. The same services and steps work great for streaming the Super Bowl as well.
Now let‘s go over a few ways to watch the NFL playoffs for free or cheap:
Stream NFL Playoffs for Free
While streaming does require subscribing to services like fuboTV and Paramount+, there are also options to stream NFL postseason games entirely free or very low-cost:
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Use the 7-day free trial options available on fuboTV, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Peacock Premium and other services. This lets you stream 7+ days of the playoffs 100% free! Just be sure to cancel before getting charged.
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An over-the-air antenna can pull in CBS, NBC and local Fox broadcasts airing playoff games for free in crystal clear HD. No ongoing costs – just a one-time purchase for the antenna.
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NFL app & NFL Network provide free podcasts, analysis shows, press conferences and other NFL playoff content. Great for postgame breakdowns.
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Locast is a nonprofit streaming service that offers local channels like CBS, Fox, NBC and more for free on the web and supported devices.
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Use a friend or family member‘s login info – Many streaming services allow streaming on multiple devices, so you may be able to use a login from someone close to you temporarily.
I always recommend paying for services when possible to support their great NFL coverage. But when money is tight, these options can help you stream the big games.
Now let‘s wrap up with answers to some common NFL streaming questions:
NFL Playoffs Streaming FAQ
Here are quick answers to some of the questions I hear most about watching the NFL playoffs without cable:
What‘s the cheapest way to stream NFL playoffs online?
Using free trials and an HD antenna you can stream many games for free. Paramount+ at $4.99/month for CBS plus an antenna will cover a lot of games cheaply.
Can I use my parents‘ cable login info to stream games?
If your parents have cable and login access to channels like ESPN, you can absolutely use their TV provider credentials to stream through the ESPN app, NBC Sports app, and more.
What NFL playoff games will be on antenna TV?
An over-the-air antenna can pick up CBS, NBC, Fox and other local channels airing NFL playoff games in your area for free.
Can I stream NFL playoffs in 4K resolution?
Yes! Select playoff games will be available in 4K HDR on the Fox Sports and fuboTV streaming apps. Just make sure you have a compatible 4K device.
Is it legal to stream NFL playoff games online?
Yes, using services like fuboTV, Hulu Live, DirecTV Stream, Peacock and Paramount+ to stream NFL games is 100% legal according to the leagues‘ broadcast rights.
I hope this guide was helpful explaining exactly how to stream the 2023 NFL playoffs online without cable using various services across all your devices.
If you have any other questions feel free to reach out! Enjoy the NFL postseason and all the great football action.
