Can Texans’ Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson take the great leap into greatness, as many predict?
The reality of the Houston Texans (11-5 last season) is that they have four spectacular players – Watson, DE J.J. Watt, OLB Jadeveon Clowney, and WR DeAndre Hopkins — and then the rest of the team. The majority latter, especially the offensive line, will need to firm up heading into the season.
The Cowboys, though, have their own issues, starting with the status of running back Ezekiel Elliott. Could the resigning of linebacker Jaylon Smith (and the timing of the agreement) be owner Jerry Jones’ way of sending a subliminal at his star back?
It’s the other team in Texas vs. America’s Team. Here’s everything you need to know to find a Cowboys vs. Texans live stream.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans
- When: Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7pm ET
- Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
- Streaming: NFL Network (free trials with various streaming services)
How to watch the Cowboys vs. Texans online: NFL preseason live streaming
The Texans vs. Cowboys 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. Texans live stream: How to watch NFL Network
1) Sling TV
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. 49ers 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 packagefor 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 Pluspackage 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.
Cowboys vs. Texans: Why it matters
No matter how good the explosive Deshaun Watson ends up being, Houston’s lack of depth will need to be shored up on both sides of the ball. Good news? The Texans can get consistent pressure on the quarterback with Watt and Clowney, and help create shorter fields for the offense. The bad news, however, is that the offensive line has yet to prove it can adequately protect its Pro Bowl quarterback on a regular basis, at least not to the extent necessary for a deep playoff run. The preseason will be a proving ground for the line, anchored by the oft-injured tackle Matt Kalil.
DeAndre Hopkins remains, at minimum, one of the top three to five receivers in the league, but can burner Will Fuller IV and all-purpose back Duke Johnson stay healthy enough to keep coverages honest? If they can (and even if they can’t), Watson will likely become an MVP candidate.
Signing Jaylon Smith, frankly, was one of the best moves the Cowboys could’ve made. They keep, in the fold, a supremely talented (and grateful) player they took a chance on when some other teams might not have – with good reason. The knee injury Smith suffered at Notre Dame probably should’ve ended his career. Now, he will be an All-Pro level force, guiding Dallas’ defense through his prime.
There’s no way to overrate Jason Witten’s return to Dallas after a season away, simply from the standout of QB Dak Prescott’s development. He provides a tremendous security blanket and an underneath threat that perfectly complements Amari Cooper and new arrival Randall Cobb – a sneaky great pickup.
But the best pickup for the Cowboys isn’t a free agent. Four-time Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick returns to anchor one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
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