Just two weeks are left in the regular season, and there is still much to be decided. Only the Eagles have clinched a division title, leaving the other seven divisions still up for grabs.
The last Wild Card spot in each conference remains undecided. The Texans have the inside track for the seventh seed in the AFC and could also catch the Jaguars in the AFC South, leaving the Colts and Ravens each clinging to long odds to make the playoffs. In the NFC, the Packers have lost their last two games, keeping the Lions' slim chances alive for the conference's final playoff spot.
The weekend slate begins on Saturday with the Chargers taking on the Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) on NFL Network, followed by the Packers and Ravens at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on Peacock.
On Sunday, we have the usual lineup of games on CBS and Fox, concluding with Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock. The biggest game on Sunday is probably the Eagles and Bills in Buffalo at 4:25 p.m. ET (1:25 p.m. PT) on Fox. The Eagles have already won the NFC East, but the Bills still have much to play for as they try to catch the Patriots in the AFC East.
If you find yourself less interested in the games that are being broadcast in your area or your access is blocked because of an internet location glitch, you have another option to watch another game that doesn't require subscribing to something like NFL Sunday Ticket or NFL Plus or searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a virtual private network. With a VPN, you can watch any of this weekend's games from anywhere.
C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans bring a seven-game winning streak into their game on Saturday in Los Angeles against the Chargers. David Eulitt/Getty Images
How to watch NFL Week 17 from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view this weekend's games locally because of incorrectly applied blackout restrictions, you may need a different way to watch. That's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic. Plus, it's a great idea for when you're traveling and find yourself needing to connect to a public Wi-Fi network, where you'll want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
... continue reading