The Houston Texans will look to build on their recent momentum as they face the Buffalo Bills tonight in a crucial AFC showdown that could have significant playoff implications. The Texans, who have won their last two games to even their record at 5-5, are fighting to stay relevant in the tightly contested AFC playoff picture. However, they will face a major challenge tonight without their starting quarterback, C.J. Stroud, who is sidelined for the third consecutive game due to a concussion. In his absence, Davis Mills will once again take the helm under center as Houston aims for a third straight victory.
On the other side of the field, the Buffalo Bills enter the game with a strong 7-3 record, currently sitting in a favorable position in the AFC playoff race. Despite their success, the Bills trail the New England Patriots in the AFC East division and need a win tonight to keep their hopes alive for an impressive sixth consecutive division title. Quarterback Josh Allen, fresh off an outstanding performance in his last game where he threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another three, will be tasked with leading the Bills offense against a resilient Texans defense that has proven tough to crack.
Tonight’s game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time (5:15 p.m. Pacific Time) and will be nationally available via streaming platforms. Fans across the country can watch the game on Prime Video or for free on Twitch, both of which are owned by Amazon. Local viewers in the Buffalo and Houston markets can tune in through their respective regional TV stations, ABC 7 (WKBW) in Buffalo and Fox 26 (KRIV) in Houston. For those outside these markets, streaming is the way to go.
For NFL fans interested in streaming the game on Prime Video, there are several options. Amazon Prime subscribers have access to the game at no additional cost as part of their membership, which costs $15 per month or $139 per year. Alternatively, those who do not want a full Amazon Prime subscription can opt to subscribe to Prime Video alone for $9 per month. For viewers who prefer not to pay, Prime Video’s Twitch channel offers free streaming of Thursday Night Football games, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Another streaming option is NFL Plus, the league’s own streaming service, which costs $7 per month or $15 per month with the addition of Red Zone. NFL Plus allows fans to watch games on mobile devices like phones or tablets, but it does not support viewing on computers or TVs, which may be a limitation for some viewers.
For fans who prefer traditional television viewing without a cable or satellite subscription, there are two primary ways to watch local broadcasts: live TV streaming services or over-the-air antennas. Live TV streaming services offer ABC and Fox channels in many regions, but availability varies by location, so it is important to verify which networks are included in your area before subscribing. Over-the-air antennas provide free access to local stations, provided the viewer lives in an area with good signal reception.
Looking beyond tonight’s game, football fans should be aware of potential blackout restrictions that can sometimes affect local game broadcasts, especially on Sundays. In such cases, using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can be a useful workaround. A VPN allows users to virtually change their geographic location by masking their real IP address, which can help bypass blackout restrictions tied to specific regions. VPNs also offer the added benefit of encrypting internet traffic, thus preventing internet service providers (ISPs) from throttling streaming speeds on game days. This can be particularly helpful for fans who travel or connect to public Wi-Fi networks and want to maintain privacy and security.
ExpressVPN is currently one of the best VPN options, known for its reliability, security, and ease of use across various devices. Pricing starts at $3.49 per month with a two-year plan and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. While using VPNs to stream sports is legal in countries where VPNs themselves are legal, it is important to note that streaming services may terminate accounts found circumventing blackout policies.
Looking ahead to the upcoming weekend's NFL schedule, Sunday will feature seven games starting at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on CBS and Fox, followed by four late-window games, and culminating in the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, broadcast on NBC and Peacock. This week, four teams have a bye: the Denver Broncos