How to Watch Texans vs. Patriots Playoff Game Online for Free

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The No. 5 Houston Texans and the No. 2 New England Patriots kick off Sunday’s NFL playoff action with an AFC Divisional Round game at Gillette Stadium. Both teams put on a masterclass in defence during Wild Card Weekend, with the Texans allowing Pittsburgh two field goals and the Pats allowing the Chargers just one.

Houston and New England didn’t play this season; their most recent game was in October of 2024, when the Texans beat the Patriots 41-21 at Gillette.

At a Glance: How to Watch Texans vs. Patriots Game

Looking to watch the Texans vs. Patriots playoff game? Read on for everything you need to know about tuning into the game, including where to livestream the Texans vs. Patriots game online for free.

How to Watch Texans vs. Patriots Playoff Game Online

Sunday’s Texans vs. Patriots playoff game will be broadcast on ESPN. If you don’t have cable, you can stream the Texans vs. Patriots game online using any of the streaming services below. Some services also offer free trials — use those to get a free Texans vs. Patriots livestream.

DirecTV carries ESPN in a few of its top-rated cable streaming packages for a Texans vs. Patriots stream. The most affordable DirecTV plan with ESPN is the MySports Genre Pack, which delivers 20+ key sports channels. It costs $69.99 a month but starts with a five-day free trial.

Another one of our favorite live TV streaming services to use for the Texans vs. Patriots game is Fubo, which carries ESPN livestreams in all of its packages. Plans start at $55.99 a month, but new subscribers can get a five-day free trial and a discount on their first month.

Texan and Patriots fans can also watch Sunday’s game with Sling. This service carries ESPN in its Orange package, which streamers can get via a monthly plan ($45.99+) or a short-term pass. These short-term passes are $4.99 for a one-day pass, $9.99 for a three-day pass, or $14.99 for a seven-day pass.

Hulu + Live TV is another great way to watch Sunday’s Texans vs. Patriots game without cable. For $89.99 a month, you get 95+ channels, Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN Select. Plus, Hulu + Live TV starts with a three-day free trial.

ESPN recently launched ESPN Unlimited, a standalone subscription service that delivers everything ESPN, including livestreams of its channels and on-demand content. That means you can watch the Texans vs. Patriots game and any other airing on ESPN channels. The service costs $29.99 a month.

Texans vs. Patriots Playoff Game Date, Start Time

The Texans vs. Patriots Divisional Round game will take place Sunday, Jan. 18. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. ET.

Texans vs. Patriots Odds

The Patriots are a -174 favorite at home on Sunday. The Texans are a +146 underdog, and the spread is 3 points.