Times, they are a-changin'.
Once upon a time, football fans had to fire up bulky cable boxes to watch their favorite teams square off with one another. It was an age of blissful inefficiency; commercials and stoppages did little to deter onlookers, as that was simply the way of life when it came to entertainment.
That was then. This is now. The NFL has gotten increasingly faster in the decades since cable TV's heyday. That has translated to the services that showcase the league, as well. There's a treasure trove of platforms to find your favorite team on. Many of them don't even require you to have cable.
What better way to experience the action of Saturday night football, for example, than to use a streaming service? There really isn't anything quite like it.
With that, here's what you need to know to follow along with Week 16's contest between the Bills and the Chargers without a cable subscription.
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture for Week 16
Bills vs. Chargers live stream
- Live stream: Peacock
Saturday's primetime clash between the Bills and Chargers will be shown exclusively on Peacock, which is NBC's streaming service.
It's a new wrinkle in the NFL's broadcast schedule. NBC opted out of its usual Sunday night spot for Week 16 in order to score a Saturday doubleheader and is hoping a streaming exclusive can help drive Peacock subscriptions.
The Bills vs. Chargers game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET following Bengals vs. Steelers (4:30 p.m. ET), which will be shown on NBC.
NBC's "Sunday Night Football" crew will perform the honors of soundtracking Saturday's night game, with Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (color commentator) offering reflections from the broadcast booth, and Lisa Salters reporting from the sideline.
NBC also plans a unique "commercial-free" fourth quarter for the game. Instead of commercials, "the broadcast will feature special content takeovers and game features, seamlessly integrating relevant booth and studio updates and analysis," according to the network.
How much does Peacock subscription cost?
- $5.99 per month (with ads)
- $11.99 per month (no ads)
Peacock offers subscription plans starting at $5.99 per month (with ads) or $11.99 (without ads). It does not offer a free trial.
How to watch NFL 'Sunday Night Football' games without cable
"Sunday Night Football", the crown jewel of the NFL's primetime coverage, returns to NBC for yet another season in 2023.
Cord-cutters can find the weekend action on a host of different streaming platforms, from Peacock and fubo to NFL+.
One thing that is important to not, however: Sling TV only offers NBC (and therefore, "Sunday Night Football") in select markets.
| Streaming option | Cable subscription needed? | Free? | Cost | Free trial? |
| Peacock | No | No | $5.99/month | No |
| NFL+ (mobile only) | No | No | $6.99/month | Yes |
| NFL+ Premium | No | No | $14.99/month | Yes |
| Fubo | No | No | $74.99/month | Yes |
| DIRECTV STREAM | No | No | $74.99/month | Yes |
| Hulu Plus Live TV | No | No | $69.99/month | Yes |
| Sling TV (select markets) | No | No | $40/month | No |
| YouTube TV | No | No | $72.99/month | Yes |
NFL Saturday game schedule 2023
Saturday, Dec. 16 (Week 15)
| Game | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| Vikings vs. Bengals | 1 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Steelers vs. Colts | 4:30 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Broncos vs. Lions | 8:15 p.m. | NFL Network |
Saturday, Dec. 23 (Week 16)
| Game | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| Bengals vs. Steelers | 4:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Bills vs. Chargers | 8 p.m. | Peacock |
Saturday, Dec. 30 (Week 17)
| Game | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| Lions vs. Cowboys | 8:15 p.m. | ABC/ESPN |
NFL schedule Week 15
Thursday, Dec. 14
| Game | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| Chargers vs. Raiders | 8:15 p.m. | Prime Video |
Saturday, Dec. 16
| Game | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| Vikings vs. Bengals | 1 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Steelers vs. Colts | 4:30 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Broncos vs. Lions | 8:15 p.m. | NFL Network |
Sunday, Dec. 17
| Game | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| Bears vs. Browns | 1 p.m. | FOX |
| Buccaneers vs. Packers | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Texans vs. Titans | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Jets vs. Dolphins | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Chiefs vs. Patriots | 1 p.m. | FOX |
| Giants vs. Saints | 1 p.m. | FOX |
| Falcons vs. Panthers | 1 p.m. | FOX |
| Commanders vs. Rams | 4:05 p.m. | CBS |
| 49ers vs. Cardinals | 4:05 p.m. | CBS |
| Cowboys vs. Bills | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Ravens vs. Jaguars | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
Monday, Dec. 18
| Game | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| Eagles vs. Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. | ABC/ESPN |
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