Getty The New England Patriots will face the Houston Texans to kick off the preseason.
The Houston Texans and New England Patriots will kick off their respective 2023 preseason campaigns at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, August 10, at 7 p.m. ET.
If you live in the Patriots or Texans market, the game will be televised on a local channel, which varies depending on your city. If you live outside of those markets, the game will be televised on NFL Network.
No matter where you live (with a few exceptions, which are noted below), you can watch a live stream of the game with a free trial of FuboTV or DirecTV Stream.
Here’s a full rundown of how to do it:
If You Live in the US: FuboTV
Exceptions (areas where the game is on a channel that is not included on FuboTV): New Haven, CT (WCTX MyTV-9); Providence, RI (WNAC CW-64.2); Anchorage, AK (KYUR CW-13.2); Fairbanks, AK (KATN CW-2.2); Juneau, AK (KJUD CW-11.2)
You can watch a live stream of your local ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW or MyTV (select markets) channels, NFL Network and 100-plus other live-TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up, you can watch the Texans vs Patriots live on the FuboTV app or FuboTV website.
Compatible devices for the FuboTV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
If You Live in the US: DirecTV Stream
Exceptions (areas where the game is on a channel that is not included on DirecTV Stream): New Haven, CT (WCTX MyTV-9); Midland, TX (KMID ABC-2); Harlingen, TX (KVEO CBS-4); Tyler, TX (KETK NBC-56); Springfield, MA (WWLP NBC-22); Providence, RI (WNAC CW-64.2); Anchorage, AK (KYUR CW-13.2); Fairbanks, AK (KATN CW-2.2); Juneau, AK (KJUD CW-11.2)
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW and MyTV (select markets) are included in every one, while NFL Network is in “Choice” and up, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up, you can watch the Texans vs Patriots live on the DirecTV Stream app or DirecTV Stream website.
Compatible devices for the DirecTV Stream app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
If the Game is on CBS: Amazon Prime
Applicable areas: Boston, MA; Beaumont, TX; Burlington, VT; Corpus Christi, TX; Harlingen, TX; El Paso, TX
If the game is on CBS in your area and you’ve already used up your free trials for the above options, Amazon Prime subscribers (Prime comes with a 30-day free trial) can watch their local CBS channel via the Paramount+ Channel. You can try both Amazon Prime and the Paramount+ Channel at no cost with a free trial right here:
Once you’re signed up for the Prime Paramount+ Channel, you can watch the Texans vs Patriots live on the Amazon Video app or Amazon website.
Compatible devices for the Amazon Video app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, various smart TV’s, Xiaomi, Echo Show or Echo Spot, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
If the Game is on CBS: Paramount+
Applicable areas: Boston, MA; Beaumont, TX; Burlington, VT; Corpus Christi, TX; Harlingen, TX; El Paso, TX
Another option if the game is on CBS and you’ve used up the other free trials, you can watch your local CBS channel live via Paramount+ (“Premium” plan), which comes with a free trial:
Once signed up for Paramount+, you can watch the Texans vs Patriots live on the Paramount+ app or Paramount+ website.
Compatible devices for the Paramount+ app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Samsung Smart TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
If You Live in Canada: DAZN
Viewers in Canada can watch a live stream of every NFL game (preseason, regular season, postseason), NFL Network and NFL RedZone via DAZN, which comes with a free trial:
Once signed up, viewers in Canada can watch the Patriots vs Texans live on the DAZN app or DAZN website.
Compatible devices for the DAZN app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Samsung Smart TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Texans vs Patriots Preview
The Patriots had an 8-9 record last season, missing the playoffs for the second time since 2019. Bill Belichick enlisted former Texans coach Bill O’Brien to be New England’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, so it will be interesting to see his effect on the team, although it likely won’t be felt much during the preseason.
The Texans finished with a lowly 3-13-1 mark last season, the second-worst record in the NFL. They had the league’s 30th ranked defense and 31st ranked offense, and they also have several new faces on staff, led by a new coach and a rookie quarterback.
“Right now, as I see it, guys going out, hopefully getting a couple of series depending on how it goes,” Texans first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans said about his squad’s preseason contest against the Pats, before noting the team’s No. 2 overall pick, C.J. Stroud, will get the nod to start. “[Stroud] will go out there as well. Most of our guys will get work.”
Stroud and third-year QB Davis Mills are the top two signal-callers on Houston’s depth chart, so Stroud will need to look the part during the preseason to stay QB1.
“That’s when you can really judge on where a guy is based on game situations,” Ryans added, in reference to evaluating Stroud. “Practice is one thing, but guys have to get out and get the real competition in a game.”
On the other side, expect quarterback Mac Jones to get some playing time, with his likely backup Bailey Zappe getting the majority of the game’s snaps. Jones finished with 2,997 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his second season, and now, heading into Year 3, he’ll need to prove he can lead the Patriots.
So far, Jones says he’s loving the addition of O’Brien. “I’ve been very happy with Coach O’Brien and all of us have,” Jones said heading into the matchup against the Texans. “We’re just trying to raise the standard here and just do it right every day. I feel like just trying to be consistent is our biggest thing.”
The Texans and Pats last met in the preseason in 2017, with Houston winning, 27-23. Here’s a look at the preseason schedules for both teams:
Texans:
- Thursday, August 10 at 7 PM ET: at. New England Patriots
- Saturday, August 19 at 4 PM ET: vs. Miami Dolphins
- Sunday, August 27 at 8 PM ET: at New Orleans Saints
Patriots:
- Thursday, August 10 at 7 PM ET: vs. Houston Texans
- Saturday, August 19 at 8 PM ET: at Green Bay Packers
- Friday, August 25 at 8:15 PM ET: at Tennessee Titans