With two of the strongest rosters in the league, it’s going to be tough for lesser-known players to make a splash in the matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams in Hawaii this weekend. With both of these teams expected to make deep playoff runs, however, this is a time to see which of these NFC teams is better equipped to deal with any injuries that might hamper them during the season.
The Rams have two key backups that could end up seeing serious playing time this season if things don’t go as planned. Backup quarterback Blake Bortles left the Jacksonville Jaguars in the offseason, following years of criticism that he was the one piece holding back the team from Super Bowl glory. After an uninspiring Week 1 performance, there is a question of whether Bortles can even be effective as a backup at this point.
Rams all-star running back Todd Gurley is a key piece of their post-season plans, but the team is hoping that third-round pick Darrell Henderson can shoulder some of the burden. If Gurley’s nagging health issues persist, Henderson could find himself a bell cow running back for stretches of the season.
The Dallas Cowboys have a similar situation. Running back Ezekiel Elliot is on the fourth year of his five year rookie contract, and he isn’t being paid anywhere near what his production demands. The Cowboys appear bearish on renegotiating his contract, possibly due to Elliot’s off the field issues. If fourth-rounder Tony Pollard turns into a workhorse back, then the Cowboys’ front office might have more leverage with Elliot.
In the Dallas backfield, rookie Donovan Wilson is showing promise at safety. He might be able to fight his way into playing time opposite Xavier Woods, even though he was just a sixth-round pick.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
- When: Saturday, Aug. 17 at 10pm ET
- Where: Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii
- Streaming: NFL Network (free trials with various streaming services)
How to watch the Cowboys vs. Rams online
The Cowboys vs. Rams game continues the NFL Network’s run of nationally televising the first week of the preseason, but even if you’ve cut the cable cord or you want to watch it on your mobile device, there are plenty of ways to accomplish that. But first, you’ll need to get acquainted with NFL Network.
What is NFL Network?
If you want to be immersed in pro football, NFL Network is the place to go. There’s plenty to love about NFL Network, including the ability to watch exclusive shows like Good Morning Football, NFL Total Access, A Football Life, Inside the NFL, and most importantly, Sunday’s NFL GameDay once the regular season begins. There’s also daily programming devoted to power rankings and fantasy football that football lovers will geek out over. NFL Network shows most Thursday night games during the regular season, and it’ll exclusively show some of the international games in 2019. Take note, though: NFL Network can no longer be seen via DirecTV Now.
The bottom line: If you want to get closer to the action and catch (almost) every Thursday Night Football game, you need NFL Network.
Cowboys vs. Rams live stream: How to watch NFL Network
1) Sling TV
- Cost: $25-$40 per month (40% off first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV,Android TV, Roku, Xbox One,Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
If you want to watch the Cowboys vs. Rams online via Sling TV, you’ll need to be subscribed to either Sling Blue ($25 per month) or Sling Orange + Blue ($40 per month). Both of those packages include NFL Network and a number of sports channels—like three ESPN channels, NBCSN, and FS1—and it’s still a nice perk that Sling subscribers can order a la carte packages. Sling TV also offers a special Latino package for bilingual viewers. Sling TV is currently offering a deal where you can subscribe for 40% off the regular price for the first month of your subscription. That means Sling Blue would cost $15, and Sling Orange + Blue would cost $25. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels and our Sling TV review.)
2) FuboTV
- Cost: $54.99 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- FuboTV devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- FuboTV local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
If you’re a big-time sports fan, FuboTV is your best streaming service option. If you love international soccer and you’re a Spanish speaker, FuboTV also offers various add-on packages, including Fubo Latino and Fubo Português. FuboTV’s basic plan showcases nearly 100 channels and includes NFL Network. At $54.99 per month, you’ll also get FS1, FS2, NBCSN, NBA TV, Big Ten Network, Pac 12 Network, BeIn Sports, and CBS Sports Network, along with premium channels like FX/FXX/FXM. The only notable omission for sports fans is ESPN. You can add Fubo’s Sports Plus package for an additional $8.99 per month, which allows you to stream NFL RedZone, (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
3) PlayStation Vue
- Cost: $44.99-$79.99 per month (after a 5-day free trial)
- PlayStation Vue devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire, Google Chromecast, Kodi, iOS and Android devices
- PlayStation Vue local channels: NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
If you’d like to watch live NFL games directly from your PS4, PlayStation Vue is your best bet. PlayStation also works with streaming devices like Roku and Amazon Fire products, but what separates PlayStation from the rest of the streaming services is that it’s also compatible with Kodi. No matter how you stream, you’ll get to choose from four tiers of channels—all but the cheapest include NFL Network. From there, you can also add NFL RedZone as part of the $10-per-month Sports Pack, which also unlocks ESPN Bases Loaded, ESPN Classic, Longhorn Network, Outside TV, and NBCUniversal regional sports networks. You can see the full list of PlayStation Vue channels here. Two other great perks: You can stream on up to five devices at once, and there’s also unlimited cloud DVR.
Other ways to watch NFL Network online
1) The NFL app
Cost: Depends on provider
Devices: Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, PS4, Roku, Android RV, iOS and Android devices
If you subscribe to NFL Network through a cable provider—or you know someone who does and they owe you a relatively large favor—you can also watch via the official NFL app. All you have to do is download it from your streaming device of choice—Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, PS4, Roku, or Android TV—and then enter in your cable credentials when prompted. You can also stream on any iOS or Android device, or on your desktop. Just visit nfl.com/watch.
The Cowboys vs. Rams game continues the NFL Network’s run of nationally televising the first week of the preseason, but even if you’ve cut the cable cord or you want to watch it on your mobile device, there are plenty of ways to accomplish that. But first, you’ll need to get acquainted with NFL Network.
Cowboys vs. Rams: Why it matters
Expectations are high for both the Rams and the Cowboys. Los Angeles made the Super Bowl last year and Dallas might have if they weren’t bounced from the playoffs by the Rams. Both teams have an exciting young core of players and both teams feel their Super Bowl windows might closing as notable players are coming to the end of their rookie contracts.
When it comes to the league’s elite teams, depth matters. The New England Patriots have established their dynastic dominance in part because they always seem to be able to find new offensive weapons for Tom Brady.
If the Cowboys and the Rams want to get over the hump, they will have to do the same thing, or get extremely lucky. Though names like Tony Pollard, Donovan Wilson, and Darrell Henderson might be new to you, one injury or suspension could make them essential to the fate of their teams.
Tune in on Saturday night to get a glimpse of which team might have the extra bit of roster strength to put them over the top when it counts.
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