The second weekend of the 2019 NFL Playoffs will open with the upset-minded Minnesota Vikings visiting the NFC West-winning San Francisco 49ers in Saturday’s early game.
A healthy Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen made the Minnesota Vikings looked like a completely different team than the one that finished the regular season. They were both instrumental in the Vikings’ surprise 26-20 overtime win over the Saints last weekend.
After missing the two previous games with a shoulder injury, Cook came back fresh, rushing a season-high 28 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Thielen, just returning from a hamstring injury, grabbed seven receptions for 129 yards and stunned the Saints secondary by catching a deep Kirk Cousins dime, which set up the game-winner to tight end Kyle Rudolph.
Cousins played arguably the best half of football in his career in the second half, leading the efficient Vikings offense to converted 10 of- 8 third downs and TDs on three of four red zone trips.
The 49ers, meanwhile, come in rested and ready. Whatever flaws might exist for the Niners are mitigated with the returns of defensive end Dee Ford, who had a hamstring injury, and linebacker Kwon Alexander, who missed eight games with a torn pec muscle.
Of course, the main matchup advantage for the 49ers offensively will be All-Pro tight end George Kittle (85 catches, 1,053 yards, 5 touchdowns), against whoever in the Vikings secondary tries to cover him.
Here’s everything you need to know to live stream Vikings vs. Niners, including what to watch for on the field.
HOW TO STREAM VIKINGS VS. NINERS | |
HULU WITH LIVE TV | TRY NOW |
SLING TV | TRY NOW |
AT&T TV NOW | TRY NOW |
Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers
- When: 4:35pm ET, Sunday, Jan. 5
- Where: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
- Streaming: NBC
Vikings vs. Niners live stream: How to watch the NFL Playoffs online
This game will be on NBC and is viewable via the following streaming services.
1) FuboTV
- Cost: $44.99 for your first month and $54.99 per month thereafter
- FuboTV devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS, the CW (in some markets) (check local availability here)
FuboTV is a solid TV streaming service option, whether your tastes run to entertainment (AMC, Syfy, FX), news (MSNBC, CNN), or sports (NBA TV, NFL Network). If you’re a soccer fan, however, it will appear tailor-made for you, with NBC and NBCSN, 10 beIN SPORTS channels, FS1, FS2, UniMás, and Champions League actions via TNT all on tap. If you can’t watch a match live, FuboTV offers a three-day replay for each match and 30 hours of cloud DVR. (Check out the complete FuboTV channels list.)
FuboTV also has bilingual families in mind; each subscription comes with UniMás, Galavisión, NBC Universo, beIN SPORTS, Univision, and Fox Deportes. An extra $7.99 per month will bring you Latino Plus, which includes CNN en Español and TyC Sports among its offerings.
2) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $54.99 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Hulu with Live TV includes sports programming among its offerings, including ESPN and FS1, and as a subscriber to the service, you’ll get free access to Hulu’s sizable on-demand library. (Check out the full list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
3) Sling TV
- Sling TV pricing: $30-$45 per month (New subscribers get $10 off the first month.)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV,Roku,Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, Microsoft Edge, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Sling offers a ton of live sports. Sling TV provides two base channel package options, each priced at $25 per month. Sling Orange includes three ESPN channels – including ESPN3, which will simulcast ABC sports broadcasts, while Sling Blue includes sports channels like NFL Network, NBCSN, and local channels. If you’re Team “Why Not Both,” Sling Orange + Blue combines the two for just $45 per month. Sports Extra: Sling Blue ($10 per month) also includes NFL RedZone.
How to use AirTV with Sling
AirTV solves one of Sling’s biggest problems: The inability to receive all of your local channels. By purchasing a basic AirTV for $79.99 or the AirTV Player for $119.99, you can merge those local channels into your Sling TV (or on your mobile device if you have the basic AirTV). As the Daily Dot wrote in its AirTV review, “It’s practically magic.”
The basic AirTV is a dual-tuner streaming device, while the AirTV Player is basically an upgraded Chromecast that has Netflix preinstalled. You’ll still need to own an HD antenna because even though AirTV gets you access to your local channels, it doesn’t actually physically show them to you.
But AirTV—which has no monthly fee—serves to strengthen one of Sling’s biggest weaknesses compared to other live streaming services like Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV. Those services have plenty of local channels.
4) AT&T TV Now
- Cost: $50-$135 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
AT&T TV Now is a bonus for AT&T wireless customers. It provides instant access to more than 45 channels, including local channels. That means NBC and Fox for NFL games, NBCSN, FS1, and FS2 for soccer and other sports, and ESPN and ESPN2 for its array of sports programming. It even offers free HBO on PLUS and MAX channel suites. Plus, it comes with CloudDVR for up to 20 hours of TV recording per month. One account works on two devices, but you can add more devices for only $5.
5) YouTube TV
- Cost: $50 per month
- YouTube TV devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- YouTube TV local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV is a great option for college football fans, including ESPN and FS1. (Take a look at the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers live stream: What to expect
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had solid numbers in the regular season (329-476, 3,978 yards, 27 touchdowns, 13 interceptions), but how will he fare in the playoffs? This will be his first post-season start. He’s only had two snaps of mop-up duty in one playoff game in his career, when he was still backing up Tom Brady in New England.
“I’ve been a part of some playoff games and seen the atmosphere of the building ramp up, the atmosphere of the coaches, players, everyone,” said the former Patriot in a Friday press conference. “Obviously being the starter and backup is a little different. Yeah, I’m trying to prepare the same I have this whole season, treat this week, just go through my routine and everything like that like I normally do. Yeah, like I said before, the energy I think, especially on Saturday in that stadium, will be pretty special.”
READ MORE:
- How to watch the NFL Playoffs live online
- How to watch NFL RedZone without cable
- How to watch NFL Sunday Ticket without a DirecTV satellite
- How to watch NFL Network online (without cable)
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