How to Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games in 2024
The 2023 NFL season began on September 7, 2023, and is poised to end on January 7, 2024. There are only minor rule changes this time around, and unfortunately, that also applies to how NFL games are broadcast. More precisely, out-of-market NFL games are still affected by the blackout restrictions across the US.
For those who wish to stream out-of-market NFL games, that means having to use more than a single streaming platform. To catch all Thursday, Sunday, and Monday night NFL games, you must cycle between NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV, NFL Game Pass International, NFL Plus Premium, and NFL Red Zone.
Paying for all those services can cost $1,000+ per season. That said, you’ll be happy to know that there’s an easier way to watch out-of-market NFL games using a VPN, which allows you to change your virtual location and bypass the NFL’s blackout restrictions.
Let’s talk about how to watch NFL out of market games in 2024, which streaming services to use, and when to watch the 2023 NFL season games, and we’ll answer some FAQs as well.
How to Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games with a VPN
To watch out-of-market NFL games with a VPN, you need to connect to a VPN server where the game you want to watch is being broadcast. Just follow these steps:
- Pick a VPN with many servers in the US (we recommend NordVPN).
- Download and install the VPN on your computer, phone, or streaming device.
- Open the VPN for the first time and log in to your account.
- Pick a streaming service that lets you watch NFL games (scroll below).
- Use the VPN app to connect to a suitable VPN server.
- Access your NFL streaming service and start watching. That’s it!
When using a VPN, it’s crucial to pick a suitable server, as mentioned above. For example, if you wish to watch an out-of-market NFL game unavailable in your state, just connect to a VPN server in another US state where the game is available. As easy as that.
Best Ways to Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games in 2024
The best (and the cheapest) way to watch out-of-market NFL games is to subscribe to NFL Game Pass International and then use a VPN when streaming. However, a range of US-based streaming services also allow you to watch out-of-market NFL games, with some limitations.
Those streaming services, aside from NFL Game Pass International, are NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL Plus Premium, and NFL RedZone (not a standalone streaming service, but an add-on). Here’s a quick comparison, but keep reading to learn more about each.
Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games with NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket used to be available through DirecTV in the US, but it’s now part of YouTube TV starting with the 2023 NFL season. As such, it’s the easiest way to watch live out-of-market NFL games if you’re a fan of a team but don’t reside in that team’s market.
YouTube TV’s NFL Sunday Ticket gives you access to Sunday afternoon games on Fox and CBS. When combined with NFL RedZone, which comes as a premium addon, you get up to 7 straight hours of live football weekly, with up to 8 games at once within the octobox.
A significant downside here is the price. NFL Sunday Ticket costs $349 ($389 with NFL RedZone included) per year. If you buy YouTube TV’s regular subscription plan ($72.99 per month), the cost is $249 ($289 with NFL Zone). Like in the past, the annual subscription is the only option.
PROS
- Lets you watch out-of-market NFL games.
- Access to Sunday afternoon NFL games.
- Access to CBS and FOX broadcasts.
- NFL RedZone is included (optional).
CONS
- No Thursday or Monday games.
- No monthly subscription.
- Quite pricey ($350+).
Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games with NFL Game Pass International
NFL Game Pass International is a non-US streaming service, now available through DAZN. You can sign up from practically any country, as DAZN is present in 200+ countries worldwide. For those in the US, we recommend DAZN’s Canadian version, priced at only $20 per month.
With NFL Game Pass International, you can access 200+ games live and on-demand on multiple devices. You also get full game replays and over 7 hours of NFL RedZone every Sunday. In many countries, NFL Game Pass International also provides access to NFL Network.
If you’re in the US, you can still subscribe to NFL Game Pass International, but you’ll need to use a VPN. Connect to Canada, access DAZN’s NFL offer, and subscribe to only $20 monthly, the most affordable way to watch out-of-market NFL games in 2024.
PROS
- Lets you watch out-of-market NFL games.
- Access to 200+ NFL games live.
- NFL RedZone included.
- Works on many devices.
- Affordable ($20+ per month).
CONS
- You’ll need to use a VPN.
Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games with NFL Plus Premium(On Demand)
Previously known as ‘Game Pass,’ NFL+ is a US-only streaming service that lets you watch out-of-market NFL games. However, it comes with a significant drawback. You won’t be able to watch out-of-market games live, but up to 24 hours once the games end.
In most cases, NFL out-of-market games are added to NFL Plus after the conclusion of their telecast, so you won’t have to wait too long. Also, you’ll get access to NFL Network, available 24/7. And if you pick NFL+ Premium, you’ll also receive NFL RedZone, giving you more content each Sunday.
NFL+ Premium starts at $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year. If you’re not a fan of NFL RedZone, you can get the basic NFL+ subscription, priced at $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
PROS
- Lets you watch out-of-market NFL games.
- Available through the NFL app.
- 24/7 access to NFL Network.
- Highly affordable.
CONS
- You can’t stream games live.
- Only available in the US.
Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games with NFL RedZone
NFL RedZone won’t allow you to watch full individual NFL games, but it’s an excellent solution if you’re after simulcast coverage of all Sunday afternoon games. It’s especially popular among fantasy football fans as well as die-hard NFL games.
Also, NFL RedZone isn’t a standalone streaming service. Instead, it’s offered as an add-on to various cable TV and OTT subscriptions. Since we’re talking about streaming out-of-market NFL games, you can find NFL RedZone via Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.
In other words, to access NFL RedZone, you need to subscribe to one of the streaming services listed above. That means you’ll also access your local CBS and Fox stations for watching in-market NFL games online.
PROS
- Simulcast coverage of Sunday games.
- Access to your local CBS and FOX.
- Great for fantasy football fans.
CONS
- No access to full individual games.
- Not a standalone service.
- Expensive.
Can You Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games without DirectTV?
Yes, you can watch out-of-market NFL games without DirectTV by using one of its alternatives, such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
- YouTube TV: The best place to catch all the 2023 NFL season action is YouTube TV, as it gives you access to NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL RedZone. It starts at $72.99 per month, but you’ll want the ‘Sports Plus’ addon as well, priced at $10.99 per month.
- Sling TV: With this streaming service, you gain access to Fox and NFL Network using its base plan ($40.00 per month), but you’ll also need the ‘Sports Extra’ add-on, priced at $11.00 per month. As such, this is the most affordable way to stream NFL games.
- Amazon Prime Video: Amazon’s streaming service is a great place to catch Thursday out-of-market NFL games. It’s priced at $14.99 per month, and unlike other services mentioned here, Prime Video is available globally.
- Hulu with Live TV: The lowest you can pay for Hulu with Live TV is $69.99 per month, which includes Disney+ and ESPN+ as well. However, you’ll need the $9.99 per month ‘Sports’ addon to gain access to NFL RedZone.
- FuboTV: Known as one of the best sports-focused streaming services, Fubo TV is available at $74.99 per month, giving you access to CBS and FOX. On top of that, you’ll need to pay $10.99 per month for NFL RedZone.
- Paramount Plus: CBS’ Paramount+ is priced at only $5.99 per month. It gives you access to your local CBS channel, so you’ll catch only a small portion of Sunday NFL games. You can bypass local geo-blocks on Paramount+ by using a VPN.
Why Are Some NFL Games Out of Market?
Some NFL games are out-of-market due to broadcast rights. More precisely, the NFL sells broadcast rights to CBS and FOX, which means other TV channels or streaming services are not allowed to air out-of-market games.
When it comes to streaming, know that your IP address determines your location. As you access websites and NFL-related streaming services, they scan and read your IP address. So, they know your location, which is why you’ll encounter blacked-out games.
To bypass that obstacle, you need a streaming service that gives you access to as many NFL games as possible. However, you’ll also need to use a VPN. By using one, you’ll obtain an IP address from a different US state, which is how you can watch out-of-market NFL games.
Can You Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games Without Cable?
Yes, you can watch out-of-market NFL games without cable, as many streaming services now come with live TV channels that air NFL games. You’ll want a streaming service with CBS and Fox, as well as NFL Network and NFL RedZone.
For the 2023 NFL season, YouTube TV is the best option. That’s the only streaming service that comes with NFL Sunday Ticket, so you’ll get to catch your local game broadcasts on CBS and Fox. The main obstacle is that NFL Sunday Ticket is an annual subscription.
NFL 2023-2024 Season Week 1 Schedule
The 2023 NFL season starts strong with the Thursday kick-off, followed by matches just a few days after the initial one. Here’s the schedule for the first week of the 2023-2024 NFL season.
Final Thoughts
One thing is sure – you’ll need to put in some serious effort if you watch to catch every NFL game, and that especially applies to out-of-market NFL games. That said, paying for multiple streaming services seems like a bulletproof idea, but it comes at a (very high) cost.
So, our recommendation is to use NFL Game Pass International, which you’ll need to pair with a VPN service. That’s how you’ll get to stream out-of-market NFL games for only $20 per month, which is how much DAZN (offering NFL Game Pass) is priced.
That’s all for our guide on how to watch out-of-market NFL games in 2024. If you have any questions, let us know via the comments section below. Thanks for reading!