When to watch the Ravens vs. Texans?

• Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT).

Where to watch?

• The Ravens-Texans game will stream nationally and worldwide on Netflix. In Baltimore and Houston, it will also air on CBS.

After the Chiefs and Steelers open Netflix’s doubleheader of Christmas Day football, the action continues on Wednesday with the Ravens and Texans in Houston. Kickoff in the day’s second game is called for 4:30 p.m. ET, with Houston’s own Beyoncé set to perform at halftime.

Like with the Chiefs and Steelers game, this matchup will air worldwide on Netflix, though they will also be available on phones and tablets to those who subscribe to NFL Plus. If you live in one of the teams’ local markets you can also catch the action on your local CBS station or on Paramount Plus (if you have the pricer “with Showtime” option).

So if you’re in Houston or Baltimore, you won’t actually need to open up Netflix if you already have cable, satellite, an antenna or a live TV streaming service that has CBS. There may be cases where you’re blocked because of an internet location glitch. There is an option that doesn’t require subscribing to Netflix or NFL Plus or searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a virtual private network.

Here’s how you can watch the game from anywhere in the US on Netflix or with a VPN.

Read more: NFL 2024: How to Watch and Stream Games and RedZone With or Without Cable

Ravens vs. Texans game: When and where?

This Week 17 NFL matchup sees the Texans host the Ravens at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Dec. 25. The game will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston, home of the Texans. It will be streamed worldwide and in the US on Netflix.

Is Beyoncé performing?

Yes, Beyoncé is performing at the halftime show.

Do I need a special Netflix plan to watch the games?

Any Netflix plan should work for watching both Christmas Day NFL games as well as the halftime shows. This includes Netflix’s cheapest Standard with ads option that runs $7 per month.

Netflix will be the home of two Christmas Day NFL games this season. The games will be viewable regardless of which Netflix plan you have, including the company’s cheapest $7 per month Standard with ads option.

How to watch the Ravens vs. Texans game online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the game locally due to incorrectly applied blackout restrictionsyou may need a different way to watch the game and that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, it’s also a great idea for when you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPNmake it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US and Canada, as long as you’ve got a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

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ExpressVPN has servers in Houston, where this game is being shown. The service is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of a little over $6 a month.

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How to watch the Ravens vs. Texans game in the US

This week’s Ravens-Texans game is going to stream on Netflix in the US and worldwide, but it will also air on CBS if you’re in either of the teams’ local markets and don’t have Netflix. If you are looking to watch using this route, there are a few things to keep in mind.

In addition to a VPN, you’ll need a live TV streaming service that carries a local CBS affiliate that’s broadcasting the game. The good news for football fans is that CBS is available on most of the major streaming services. The least expensive option is Paramount Plus with Showtime.

At $13 per month, this Paramount Plus is pricier than Netflix’s Standard with ads option that runs $7 per month. Paramount Plus does, however, offer a free trial.

If you live in the Baltimore or Houston areas you can use Paramount Plus to watch the Netflix game, so long as you are subscribed to the Paramount Plus with Showtime plan.

Read our Paramount Plus review.

Most of the major streaming services carry CBS stations, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. They all cost far more than Paramount Plus or Netflix, but they also carry many live channels, including football broadcasting channels like ABC, NBC, Fox and ESPN. Check out our live TV streaming services guide for details.

If you live in an area where the game is being broadcast, an over-the-air antenna connected to your TV provides another option for CBS. The best part about antennas is that there are no streaming or monthly fees required, although you will need to make sure you have good reception.

Quick tips for streaming the Ravens vs. Texans game using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — experience and success may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try to fix it quickly. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.