Despite all the options, streaming football games can be a hassle if you previously relied on Reddit NFL Streams. So, what are the best free alternatives?
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A Promising Week 14
Week 14 of the NFL season has massive playoff implications. As most teams enter their final quarter of the season, the playoff picture and narrative are constantly changing.
The Rams kicked off the week with a commanding win over New England, putting them on top of the NFC West. The division is a lot more tightly contested than anticipated at the beginning of the season when the Seahawks looked to be clear favorites.
However, the team which comes second in the division may actually be in a more favorable situation. Most likely, they will be the first wildcard (or 5th seed) and will play the winner of the extremely poor NFC East.
The other 2 wildcard spots in the NFC will probably come from the North and South divisions. One game this week, the Buccaneers-Vikings game, can hugely affect the wildcard standings.
The Vikings are currently the 7th seed and the Bucs are the 6th seed. To make things more interesting, a win for the Vikings would put them on par with Tampa and would also be the first time the team has had a winning record all season.
On the other hand, if Brady and the Bucs can beat the Vikings at home, they’ll be 2 games clear and in a good position to secure a place in the playoffs.
Almost every Sunday game this week will be broadcasted on CBS or Fox, except the Bills-Steelers SNF game which will be on NBC. As usual, MNF will be on ESPN
If you don’t have cable, you might be concerned about missing the action now that Reddit banned r/nflstreams. Read on to find to why Reddit NFL streams was banned and what the best alternatives are.
Also read: NFL Pro Bowl Voting: Where to Vote For Your Favorite NFL Players?
Why Was Reddit NFL Streams Banned?
The r/nflstreams subreddit was one of the most valuable resources for NFL fans around the world. Links, which were reliable for the most part, were posted for every single NFL game.
Fans were also spoiled for choice, considering they could watch NFL Redzone and NFL Network. And the best part about all of this was that the streams were completely free. No payment, no account, just a link with a couple of pop-ups here and there.
However, the free ride came to an end when Reddit banned the page. So, why did Reddit ban one of their most popular pages?
The short answer to this question is that the subreddit was technically illegal. If you watch other sports, you probably weren’t too surprised to see Reddit make this decision. Before the ban, the page for NBA and Soccer streams were also taken down.
The basic problem is that posting free links is a clear case of copyright infringement and leagues were starting to take notice. Interestingly though, Reddit was never forced to ban the subreddit, but rather chose to do so according to their own repeat infringement policy.
The policy reads:
Our policy is to close the accounts of users, in appropriate circumstances, who have repeatedly been charged with copyright infringement. Sometimes a repeat infringement problem is limited to one user and we close just that user’s account. Other times, the problem pervades a whole subreddit community and we close the subreddit.
Also read: How To Watch NFL Games Without Cable: Streaming options for every 2020 NFL game
What is the Best Way to Stream NFL Games For Free Now?
Of course, there are very few truly free ways to watch the NFL. One of the best way is with the Yahoo! Sports App. Users can livestream games for free on their phones or tablets.
This includes MNF and TNF games too. However, fans can only watch games which are broadcast in their local TV market. The official NFL app also works in a similar way.
Keep in mind, these are option for streaming local games, and are not available for fans outside of the United States.
Also read: Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Nominees
Other Paid Options with Free Trials
Amazon Prime Video
All Thursday Night Football games can be live-streamed using Amazon prime video. If you already have a prime subscription, you can stream the games at no additional charge.
Hulu
This year, fans can watch NFL games live with Hulu+LiveTV. The normal Hulu package doesn’t include NFL coverage, but users can watch ESPN, NBC, Fox, and CBS for a fee.
Price: $54.99/month
What’s missing?: NFL Redzone and NFL Network
FuboTV
Subscribers will have access to sports channels including ESPN and NFL Network. Additionally, there is an option for a 7 day free trial and for an extra $10.99, you can watch NFL Redzone too.
Price: $64.99
What’s missing?: ABC
YouTube TV
This may be the most comprehensive option for streaming NFL in 2020. With Youtube TV, you can access every channel you need for the NFL (and more). However, you will have to pay an additional $10.99 for Redzone similar to FuboTV.
Both streaming services will be available via mobile apps on Android and IOS. Moreover, fans can watch the games on their TVs using Roku, Chromecast, Android TV, Apple TV and Fire TV with both Youtube TV and FuboTV.
Price: $64.99
What’s missing?: Technically, nothing. You’ll have to pay an additional fee for Redzone, though.
Other Streaming Services
Fans can also stream games on a number of other platforms including Sling, AT&TV Now, Vidgo, and CBS All Access.
Thursday Night Football has also been available for Amazon Prime users since week 4. Not the worst option for casual fans who don’t need a full blown cable replacement.
Finally, DirecTV will offer a non-satellite version of NFL Sunday ticket to people living in apartments or condos. These fans will be able to watch every Sunday afternoon game live.
