Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter
The Atlanta Falcons (6-9) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-10) conclude their disappointing seasons in a NFC South matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Week 17 as the 2018 regular season comes to an end.
The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Fox 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:
Fox (live in all 32 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.
In addition to their extensive Netflix-like streaming library, Hulu now also offers a bundle of 50-plus live TV channels, including Fox (live in all 32 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).
Fox (live in 17 NFL markets) is included in the “Sling Blue” channel package. You can sign up for a free 7-day trial, and you can then watch a live stream of the game on your computer via the Sling TV website, or on your tablet or streaming device via the Sling TV app.
If you can’t watch live, you can get 50 hours of cloud DVR storage as an additional add-on.
Fox Sports Go
Additionally, you can watch a live stream of the game on your computer via the Fox Sports Go website, or on your tablet or streaming device via the Fox Sports Go app. You’ll need to log in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can still sign up for one of the above options and then use your FuboTV, Hulu or Sling TV credentials to sign in and watch on the Fox digital platforms.
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
There have been a few bright spots in a lowly Atlanta season, though. One of them being 2018 first-round pick (No. 26 overall) Calvin Ridley, who emerged as a legitimate complement next to perennial All-Pro Julio Jones at wide receiver.
Matt Ryan has statistically had one of his better seasons as a pro, but a lot of those stats have come up at empty times of games. Despite having no tangible playoff hope for a quarter of the season, Ridley has remained consistent and his play has been noticed by his former MVP quarterback.
“He has had a great year. He has done a lot of really good things for us. When he has gotten the opportunities, he has made plays.”
The Falcons defense was shattered by backbreaking injuries to key players — Deion Jones and Keanu Neal come to mind immediately — all season. Despite the losses on defense, the team has held together for head coach Dan Quinn and toughed it out with consecutive wins against the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, allowing just 14 and 10 points in each game respectively.
Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter is likely on the hot seat heading into NFL’s Black Monday. After a promising 9-7 finish in 2016, Koetter is staring at back-to-back 5-11 seasons in the face. New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles is staring his fourth in a row this season, and is reportedly going to be let go following Sunday. Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase joins Koetter as recent offensive-minded head coaching hires who haven’t panned out.
Tampa Bay will be without wide receiver DeSean Jackson again. This time, Jackson, who is listed as doubtful on the Buccaneers’ injury report will miss the team’s season finale with an Achilles injury. Assuming a shakeup happens for Tampa Bay in the offseason, especially with Chris Godwin and Adam Humphries already on the roster and a reported lack of rapport with quarterback James Winston, it is likely Jackson could be a salary cap casualty.