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Reading Time: 5 minutesLoad up on beer, prime the snacks, and get those grills ready. Football season commences with the NFL Kickoff Game on 9/9, when Dallas takes on defending champion, Tampa Bay.
These days there are numerous ways to keep up with the action, from local and national TV broadcasts to streaming services and premium subscriptions.
Here’s a guide to help you skip the confusion and get straight to the action. You’ll get information on a special promotion for live NFL coverage and tips on how to prepare for the season ahead of your favorite team’s big game.
The Best Way to Watch the NFL Live
Credit: DirecTV
When hunting for coverage of a particular NFL game, the main thing to be aware of is the distinction between in-market and out-of-market events. In-market games are those that are being broadcast on regional sports networks. These typically include games featuring your local team, which makes in-network games easier to access.
These channels are available via most TV subscription services. For example, some DIRECTV packages include ESPN, NBC, Fox, and NFL Network access. And the best way to keep track of where to watch each game is via the official NFL Schedule chart, which shows when and where to watch each event.
Out-of-market games are subject to regional restrictions based on your location, and are therefore games that are not broadcast on local sports networks.
Luckily, there’s a way to make sure you have live access to every Sunday afternoon game, all season. NFL SUNDAY TICKET, offered exclusively via DIRECTV, is a premium package that gets you access to every out-of-market (non-local) Sunday afternoon game live on your TV, mobile device, or PC (select International games excluded).
A subscription to NFL SUNDAY TICKET will give you access to streaming live out-of-market Sunday afternoon games via the NFL SUNDAY TICKET app*.
This makes NFL SUNDAY TICKET perfect for hardcore football fans who want to be able to watch every game no matter their location, or for anyone who simply lives in a different state from their favorite team.
Shop NFL SUNDAY TICKET via DIRECTV
Get NFL SUNDAY TICKET and a Free $50 VISA Reward Card
Credit: DIRECTV
Thanks to a special promotion currently available via DIRECTV, you can get the NFL SUNDAY TICKET 2021 season package included at no additional cost for new customers who subscribe to CHOICE package or above with a 24-month commitment. Place your order with the code SUMMERTV, and you will also get a $50 Visa Rewards Card (promo valid 8/5—12/31).
For existing DIRECTV customers, the 2021 NFL SUNDAY TICKET package can be added to your account for a fee. You can do this via the DIRECTV or My AT&T web portals, or via text messaging—see instructions here.
Shop NFL SUNDAY TICKET via DIRECTV
Maximize Your NFL Coverage
Credit: DirecTV
As detailed above, the best way to access games live is with an NFL SUNDAY TICKET package via DIRECTV. However, there are even more ways you can get the most out of your NFL coverage.
View Eight Games at Once
The NFL SUNDAY TICKET package includes dedicated Game Mix Channels, which show up to eight broadcasts on screen at once via a single HD broadcast**.
This means there’s no need to flick back and forth between channels, and no need to set up multiple TVs in your living room (although doing the latter is kinda fun).
Never Miss a Game
Making use of your DVR recording feature is essential if you want to make sure you catch multiple games taking place at the same time.
This is handy for those times when life gets in the way and you aren’t able to watch the game live. Simply program your DVR to record the game and watch it whenever you want, wherever you want.
Catch All the Best Action in One Place
The RED ZONE CHANNEL® offers a unique experience because it presents live broadcasts that follow the biggest scoring plays of every game taking place on a Sunday afternoon. That’s up to eight games simultaneously! Only available in HD.
The RED ZONE CHANNEL® is available with 2021 season NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX, which can be added to your DIRECTV subscription for $65.99 per month, or one payment of $395.94 for one year.
Enhance the Fun with Fantasy Football
Joining a fantasy football league can also be a great way to expand your enjoyment of the NFL.
The aforementioned RED ZONE CHANNEL® is one tool for fantasy football fans to keep tabs on all of the big-scoring plays that will affect their league, but the NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX package also comes with access to the DIRECTV FANTASY ZONE® CHANNEL.
DIRECTV FANTASY ZONE® CHANNEL aims to give fantasy football fans the edge with real-time stats, player updates, replays, expert analyses, and more via live broadcasts on Sunday evenings.
Gear Up for the Game
Credit: iStock
Game Day gatherings aren’t the same without a show of home-team pride. If you’re looking to grab a new jersey or decorate your man cave with merchandise in support of your favorite team, here are some good places you can search for deals on top NFL gear.
Fanatics
As you might expect from a partner of the NFL, Fanatics.com has an absolutely immense selection of products, from jerseys and caps to memorabilia and other apparel. The site also has a handy filter, so you can just get right to items for your team of choice. You might also check out Fanatics Outlet for discounted NFL gear.
DICK’S Sporting Goods
DICK’S is another great place to shop for sporting apparel, with NFL fans well catered for. Check out this page dedicated to deals on NFL gear, and check back regularly for updates as new sale items join the rotation.
NFL Shop
And you just can’t go wrong with the official NFL Shop. You might not necessarily find the biggest selection here, but you can shop with the knowledge that your stuff is coming straight from the source.
*Only one game may be accessed remotely at any given time. Compatible device/operating system required for online/mobile access. Additional data charges may apply. Visit directv.com/nfl for a list of compatible devices/system requirements.
Short Cuts are available from midnight Sunday ET through midnight Wednesday ET via the NFL SUNDAY TICKET App.
**For full Mix Channel and interactive functionality, HD equipment model H/HR 21 or later is required. NFL, the NFL Shield design and the NFL SUNDAY TICKET name and logo are registered trademarks of the NFL and its affiliates. NFL team names and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated.
Mike Jackson
Mike Jackson has been writing for high-profile publications for 16 years, primarily in the video game industry, but also covering tech. Mike is an obsessed video game hoarder with hundreds of games spanning a 30-year collection. An entire room in his house is dedicated to Super Mario, and he thinks the Nintendo Switch is “the best invention in human history.” Counseling may be necessary.