Getty Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans (10-5) attempt to avoid a third loss in their final four games and wrap up an AFC South division title, as well as a possible first round bye, when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) at NRG Stadium as the 2018 NFL regular season concludes with Week 17 action 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.
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.
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).
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
The Texans lost their first three games of the season and subsequently won nine in a row before dropping two of their past three games.
One, a home loss to the Indianapolis Colts — who are playing against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville in a “play-in” game on Sunday Night Football to wrap up the season — and a road loss against a rejuvenated Philadelphia Eagles squad (who have never lost to a Houston organization) last week, a game in which Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles threw for over 400 yards (for the second time in his career) and led the Eagles on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
Jacksonville, despite a massively disappointing season coming off an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2017, still ranks fifth in the NFL in total defense. The Jaguars only allow 19.7 points per game, but the strength of that statistic is because of the middling and banged-up offenses the Jaguars have seen at times this season — the offense still has struggles of their own.
The Jaguars are playing purely for pride, and likely job security heading into next season. After the Cody Kessler experiment lasted a few games, Blake Bortles returned under center last week after a five-game stretch of not seeing the field.
Bortles, who keeps a calm demeanor most of the time, made a light-hearted joke in regard to his availability for the team when called upon. He told reporters this week:
“I just work here, man. I signed up for three years and until those three years are up or they let me go, I’ll play when they need me.”
Bortles has two years left on the three-year, $54 million contract he signed in the offseason, although it is likely the team parts ways with him following the season.
Houston clinched a home playoff game with a win. With a win and (unlikely) New England Patriots’ loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, the Texans will earn a first-round bye.