Texans vs Patriots Free Streams: TV Channels and Preview for NFL 2026 Divisional Round Game

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Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud fumbles the ball during an NFL playoff game
(Image credit: Joe Sargent via Getty Images)

If defenses alone win championships, that would make the Texans one of the favorites for the Super Bowl. However, CJ Stroud fumbled the ball five times on Monday and threw in a red zone interception to boot. You don't win anything with that level of ineptitude, no matter how good your defense is.

While the Patriots defense isn't quite as mean as the Texans', it's still amongst the best units in the NFL – they sacked Justin Herbert six times last weekend – and Mike Vrabel's team is far more balanced. The only concern is that Drake Maye isn't battle-tested, due to the Patriots' strength of schedule.

He's not had to overcome a good defense all year, let alone a Houston force that gave up the fewest yards in the NFL and is equally adept at stopping the pass as it is at holding off runners. This could well be an occasion for the football purists.

Read on for our guide on where to watch Texans vs Patriots live streams online, on TV and potentially for free wherever you are.

Can I watch Texans vs Patriots free of charge?

Yes. Texans vs Patriots is free-to-air in the UK, courtesy of 5 and the 5 streaming service, in Australia, courtesy of 7Mate and the 7Plus streaming service, and in New Zealand, courtesy of the TVNZ Plus streaming service.

5 registration requires a valid British postcode (e.g. NW1 8TT); 7Plus registration requires a valid Aussie postcode (e.g. NSW 2000); TVNZ registration doesn't require a postcode.

Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch all the action free of charge as if you were right at home. NordVPN is our top pick of the options.

Use a VPN to watch any Texans vs Patriots stream

How to watch Texans vs Patriots live streams in the US

US flag banner

The Texans vs Patriots game is available to watch on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Unlimited in the US. However, playoff games are also being shown on CBS, Fox, NBC, Paramount Plus, Fox One and Peacock.

If you're a cord cutter and wondering how you'll get access to the big TV networks, covering all your bases may not be quite as tricky as it looks.

Sling TV, for example, is an OTT service that gives access to a good proportion of games. Its Sling Blue package ($51/month) offers local NBC and Fox channels in most major markets, while Sling Orange ($46/month) carries ESPN. Or you can combine them with the Orange + Blue plan for $66/month ($35 for first month).

Alternatively, Fubo TV includes ESPN, ABC, CBS and Fox on its Sports + News plan, which costs $55.99/month, but you'll get a 7-day FREE trial and $10 off your first month.

YouTube TV will let you watch the Texans vs Patriots and every other game of the playoffs live. A subscription costs $82.99/month, but you'll get your first five months for $67.99/month.

Hulu + Live TV also carries ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. Prices start at $89.99/month after a 3-day FREE trial.

ESPN Unlimited starts at $29.99/month; Paramount Plus at $7.99/month after a 7-day FREE trial; Fox One at $19.99/month after a 7-day FREE trial; Peacock at $10.99/month.

Outside the US right now? Use NordVPN to access your preferred coverage of the Texans vs Patriots.

How to watch Texans vs Patriots live streams in the UK

UK flag

Free-to-air 5 is showing the Texans vs Patriots game in the UK, with live streaming available via the 5 platform.

The most comprehensive NFL coverage in the UK, however, comes courtesy of NFL Game Pass on DAZN, which is showing every game of the playoffs, including the Super Bowl. A subscription is down to just £14.99 for the rest of the season.

Every postseason game is also being shown on Sky Sports, which start at £35/month or £20 if you're an existing Sky subscriber. Alternatively, grab a Now Sports subscription from £14.99/day or £34.99/month.

How to watch Texans vs Patriots live streams in Rest of World

NFL Game Pass is the National Football League's dedicated streaming service, which allows die-hard football fans to watch every single game, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.

It's available via DAZN everywhere except for the US and China. Prices vary from country to country, and get progressively cheaper throughout the season.

Most countries also show games on TV and online through their domestic broadcasters, too:

Africa

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The NFL broadcast rights for Africa are held by ESPN, which provides coverage to sub-Saharan countries:

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Americas

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  • Canada

DAZN has the rights to broadcast every single game of the 2025 NFL season in Canada. The Texans vs Patriots game is also being shown on TSN.

  • Latin America

ESPN has the broadcast rights to the 2025/26 NFL season across Latin America.

  • Argentina

ESPN and Fox Sports share the rights to NFL coverage in Argentina.

  • Mexico

The 2025/26 NFL rights are split between ESPN, Fox Sports, TV Azteca Deportes and TelevisaUnivision in Mexico.

  • Caribbean

You can watch the 2025/26 NFL season unfold on ESPN and Rush Sports across the Caribbean.

Europe

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DAZN holds the exclusive broadcast rights to stream the NFL in many countries across Europe:

Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland.

Many countries, including some of those listed above, also have Texans vs Patriots coverage on traditional TV networks:

  • France

Free-to-air M6 shows one 2025/26 NFL game per week in France, plus three playoffs games and the Super Bowl.

Further coverage is available via beIN Sports.

  • Balkans

Pay TV provider Arena Sport holds the NFL rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.

  • Bulgaria

You can watch NFL action on Max Sport in Bulgaria.

  • Czech Republic & Slovakia

Premier Sport has the rights to show NFL 2025/26 games on television in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

  • Denmark

You can watch the 2025/26 NFL season on TV 2 Sport in Denmark.

  • Finland & Sweden

TV4 Media holds the rights to the NFL in these Scandinavian countries.

  • Germany

While DAZN is the main NFL rights-holder in Germany, select games are also shown on RTL.

  • Greece

Greeks can watch NFL coverage on Cosmote Sport.

  • Hungary

Arena4 airs coverage of the 2025/26 NFL season in Hungary.

  • Iceland

Select NFL games are shown on Stöð 2 Sport in Iceland.

  • Netherlands

ESPN holds the rights to the NFL in the Netherlands.

  • Norway

NFL fans in Norway can watch select matchups on VG+.

  • Poland

DAZN is the main NFL rights-holder in Poland, but select games are also shown on Polsat Sport.

  • Romania

VOYO is set to stream regular season games, playoffs and the Super Bowl in Romania.

  • Spain & Andorra

Movistar Plus+ and Vamos both carry free streams of NFL games during the 2025/26 season, with Movistar Deportes showing others from behind its paywall.

  • Turkiye

S Sport is showing the 2025/26 NFL season unfold in Turkiye.

Asia

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  • China

Tencent is the main NFL rights-holder in China, showing seven live games per week. Regional coverage will also be provided by SMG Great Sports (in Shanghai) and GDTV Sports (in Guangdong Province). BesTV will also have coverage through selected providers.

  • Hong Kong

The NFL is available to watch via Now Sports in Hong Kong.

  • India

Star Sports has the rights to the NFL in India.

  • Indonesia, Malaysia & Singapore

The Mola service has the broadcast rights for the 2025/26 NFL season in these countries.

  • Japan

Broadcaster Nippon TV has the rights to show NFL live streams in Japan.

  • Middle East

The Shahid streaming platform will show NFL action in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq.

  • Philippines

Viewers in the Philippines can watch plenty of the action on Premier Sports.

  • South Korea

Viewers in South Korea can watch the NFL on Coupang Play and MBC Sports+.

  • Taiwan

Chunghwa Telecom MOD and OTT services ELTA.tv and Hami Video have the coverage.

  • Thailand

Thai NFL fans can watch a huge number of games on TrueVisions.

  • Vietnam

FPT Play has regular season action with K+ showing the Super Bowl.

Oceania

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  • Australia

The Texans vs Patriots game is free-to-air on 7Mate and 7Plus in Australia. It's also being shown on ESPN and Kayo Sports.

  • New Zealand

In New Zealand, Texans vs Patriots is free-to-air on TVNZ Plus. Select games are available to watch on ESPN.

When time does the Texans vs Patriots start?

The Texans vs Patriots game is scheduled to start at 3pm ET / 12pm PT / 8pm GMT on Sunday, January 18. That's 7am AEDT on Monday, January 19 in Australia.

Can I watch Texans vs Patriots on my mobile?

Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser. For example, 5 in the UK.

You can also stay up-to-date with the latest NFL news and plays on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@NFL), Instagram (@NFL), TikTok (@NFL) and YouTube (@NFL).

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.

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