Colts quarterback Andrew Luck
It’s make-or-break time for Bill O’Brien and the rest of the Houston Texans (0-3). After allowing the lowly New York Giants to come into Houston last week and win, something has to give.
You can say the same thing about first-year head coach Frank Reich and the Indianapolis Colts (1-2), who host the Texans in a crucial early-season matchup of AFC South teams on Sunday afternoon.
The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBS in select areas (coverage map here). If the game is on in your market and you don’t have cable or can’t get to a TV, you can still watch a live stream of the game (or DVR it) on your computer, phone or streaming device by signing up for one of the following cable-free, live-TV streaming services:
If you have Amazon Prime or start a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, you can watch all CBS content (both live and on-demand) via the CBS Amazon Channel, which also comes with a 7-day free trial.
Once you’re signed up for both Amazon Prime and the CBS channel, you can then watch a live stream of the game on your computer via the Amazon website, or you can watch on your tablet or streaming device via the Amazon Video app.
This service is available live in all 32 NFL markets.
In addition to their extensive Netflix-like streaming library, Hulu now also offers a bundle of 50-plus live TV channels, including CBS (live in 29 NFL markets). You can sign up for “Hulu with Live TV” right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the game on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your tablet or streaming device via the Hulu app.
If you can’t watch live, “Hulu with Live TV” also comes with 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of DVR space and the ability to fast forward through commercials).
CBS (live in 28 NFL markets) is included in FuboTV’s main package, which includes 85 total channels and is largely tailored towards sports fans. You can sign up for a free 7-day trial right here, and you can then watch a live stream of the game on your computer via the FuboTV website, or on your tablet or streaming device via the FuboTV app.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV comes with 30 hours of Cloud DVR (with the ability to upgrade to 500 hours), as well as a handy “72-Hour Lookback” feature, which will allow you to watch the game on-demand up to three days after it airs even if you forgot to record it.
Watch on Your Phone: NFL Mobile
Streaming of in-market and prime-time games can be watched on phones via the NFL Mobile app.
If the Game is Out of Your Market
SundayTicket.TV allows you to watch a live stream of games that are out of your market and aren’t nationally televised. The service is available for people who live in residences that can’t get satellite (apartments, condos, etc.), as well as residents of San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York City. You can check here to see if you’re eligible.
Additionally, most college students may watch out-of-market games via SundayTicket U.
Once signed up, you can watch games on your computer via the NFL Sunday Ticket website, or you can watch on your phone, tablet or other streaming device via the NFL Sunday Ticket app, which is free to download on many different devices.
Watch On-Demand: NFL Game Pass
If you’re fine watching games on-demand, another option is NFL Game Pass Domestic, which allows you to watch replays of every NFL game for a fee of $99.99 for the season. No live games are available under this service, but you’ll be able to watch them following the conclusion of games for the day.
Once signed up, you can watch games on-demand on your computer via the NFL Game Pass website, or on your tablet or streaming device via the NFL Mobile app, which can be downloaded for free on a handful of different devices.
If You’re Outside the United States & Mexico
If you’re not in the United States, surrounding territories, or Mexico, you can watch NFL games live via NFL Game Pass International. The cost of the package depends on which country you’re in.
Once signed up, you can watch games on your computer via the NFL Game Pass website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the NFL Mobile app, which can be downloaded for free on a handful of different devices.
Preview
For the Texans, starting 0-4, with two of those losses coming in the division, would be disastrous. It would be enough to contemplate sending O’Brien his walking papers this week.
As bad as the Texans’ record looks, their on-field performance isn’t necessarily as reflective of their current record. Deshaun Watson has otherwise played well, but had to scramble for his life behind an offensive line that is arguably the worst in the NFL. Defensive end J.J. Watt finally looks like his old self after season-ending knee surgery last season; after recording no sacks in his first two games, he had three last week against the Giants on top of another forced fumble (his second of 2018).
The Colts could very well be 3-0. A late Jack Doyle fumble against the Cincinnati Bengals and a failed fourth down last week against the Philadelphia Eagles are the two plays that are separating Indianapolis from an unbeaten start and first place in the AFC South.
Much was made about Jacoby Brissett filling in last week and attempting the last-ditch Hail Mary attempt instead of Andrew Luck in the loss to the Eagles, but head coach Frank Reich stated there was nothing to see there. Luck has looked fine through the season’s first three weeks, and he is in a classic rebound spot at home against a division rival.
Indianapolis placed right tackle Joe Haeg (ankle) on injured reserve Friday. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo (hamstring) remains “week to week,” which means the Colts will be without both their starting tackles against the Texans front seven on Sunday.
SPOILER: It won’t be pretty for Luck and company.