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On Sunday, Jan. 18, the Houston Texans will take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, with kickoff at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET. The playoff game will be televised on both ESPN and ABC — and for cord-cutters, Sling TV offers one of the most wallet-friendly ways to watch without traditional cable.
Here’s what the streaming service has to offer NFL fans and the most affordable way to get in on the action.
At a Glance: How to Watch Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots Playoff Game 2026
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 18, 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN, ABC
- Stream online: Sling TV
How to Stream Patriots vs. Texans Online Without Cable
The AFC Divisional Playoffs between the New England Patriots and Houston Texans takes place at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET. Since the game will be broadcast on both ESPN and ABC, cord-cutters have multiple Sling TV plan options available.
Sling Orange includes ESPN in addition to 30+ other sports, news and entertainment networks. The plan starts at $50.99 per month, but also has the option for a 1-Day Pass, ringing up at just $4.99.
Alternatively, ABC is included in Sling‘s Blue Plan, which starts at $45.99 per month. It’s another great streaming options for NFL games as it includes Fox (just confirm it’s in your local TV market), NFL Network and dozens of other sports, news and entertainment networks (see full list here).
For the best bang for your buck — along with the most channel options — new customers can sign up for Sling’s Orange & Blue plan, which is currently half off for the first month: starting at $29.99 for the first month and $60.99 monthly thereafter.
For even more sports coverage, opt for one of the above base plans and add the Sports Extra plan, an additional $11 per month. The add-on includes channels like NFL RedZone for highlights, updates, scores, standings and stats. To sign up for this add-on (and see everything it has to offer), navigate to your base plan of choice on the Sling homepage. Then, add the “Sports Extra” option when customizing the plan.
Pricing and channel availability depends on your local TV market. Learn more about Sling TV here.
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