Very few things are more annoying than not being able to watch an out-of-market NFL game. Occurrences such as state blackouts are detrimental to your enjoyment, as they prevent you from watching the game you want from your home. Sounds a bit odd.
Out-of-market NFL games are not broadcast in your state. If Arizona Cardinals is playing on home turf, the live stream of that match won’t be available in the 75-mile radius of its stadium. If you can’t make it to the stadium and watch the match live, that’s your issue.
Well, not anymore. There’s a way to watch out-of-market NFL games despite your location. We’ll examine a few methods but know that you’ll need a VPN for most of them. However, we’ll use a VPN with a free trial, which means our workarounds don’t have to cost you a quid.
How to Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games With a VPN: Quick Summary
You can unblock any out-of-market NFL match with a VPN. We recommend NordVPN because it’s the fastest and offers servers in 111 countries worldwide. Follow these steps to access out-of-market NFL games and watch them without blackouts:
- Subscribe to NordVPN. Its 2-year plans are discounted by at least 73% and come with 3 extra months.
- Download and install NordVPN’s app.
- Open NordVPN and connect to a server outside the home market of the NFL team you want to watch or other eligible locations (explained in the article).
- Subscribe to an official NFL broadcaster like YouTube TV, Prime Video, or DAZN.
- Get the NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube TV) or Game Pass (Prime Video/DAZN).
- Watch out-of-market NFL games freely.
What Are Out-of-Market NFL Games?
The situation with these games is pretty funny. By definition, they’re the games that aren’t broadcast in your state, as they’re considered of no interest to locals. However, if you’re from Los Angeles, you’ll surely want to watch the Rams when they play at the SoFi Stadium.
Yet, if you’re in the 75-mile radius of it, you’ll be “blacked out.” NFL blackouts are when the game intentionally isn’t broadcast on local channels to encourage people to buy the ticket and watch the game live. These blackouts don’t always happen. They’re unpredictable.
If the tickets are sold out, enough money is made so that the game can be broadcast on local channels. In the opposite case, the blackout will be active and this will be another out-of-market NFL game for you. This is extremely annoying if you’re a fiery NFL fan.
Some people want to watch all matches in the season but if a few are out of their market, that’s a huge problem. The good news is that a VPN lets you change your location and with a bit of trickery, access out-of-market NFL games from around the United States.
The point is to connect to a server in a state outside your own. For example, if you’re in Los Angeles, find a server that is more than 75 miles outside the radius of SoFi Stadium, and enjoy streaming with your preferred broadcaster. We’ll explain everything shortly now that we’ve clarified what out-of-market NFL games are.
How to Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games: In-Depth Tutorial
This part consists of two sub-parts. On one hand, you’ll need a VPN like NordVPN, which offers reliable streaming performance, over 1,900 US servers, and unlimited streaming speeds. You’ll need to set it up and connect to a server before anything else.
The second part is finding a broadcaster that streams out-of-market NFL matches. Several options such as Amazon Prime Video, NFL+ Premium, and NFL Sunday Ticket are there. We’ll explore all of them but first, let’s see how to set up a VPN and complete the fundamental step.
To subscribe to NordVPN, click the button below and you’ll be teleported to its site. 01net lets you save roughly 73% on its 2-year plans and receive a 30-day money-back guarantee, making the VPN risk-free. Once subscribed, download and install NordVPN.
Subscribe to NordVPN Risk-Free
You can do this on any device – Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, or Smart TV. Next, open VPN, sign in, and you’ll see its dashboard. The key is to connect to a server OUTSIDE of your state to watch an out-of-market NFL game. This depends on your location.
To connect to a specific US or any other location in NordVPN:
- Click More Connection Options
- Select three horizontal dots next to the United States (or any other country)
- Select the state (or city) from the drop-down menu to connect
We have this sorted out – it’s pretty simple – so let’s move on to the latter part.
NFL Sunday Ticket (Requires YouTube TV)
If you’re in the US, the best way to watch out-of-market NFL games is through the NFL Sunday Ticket. Buying it means you can access all Sunday afternoon games from CBS and Fox. However, the NFL Sunday Ticket is available only on YouTube TV.
YouTube TV is, as you know, exclusive to the United States. If you’re abroad during the game you want to watch, you can use a VPN for YouTube TV to unblock the platform. Simply connect to NordVPN’s US server, sign in to YouTube TV, and use your NFL Sunday Ticket.
So, how much is it? Well, you have two options. One is to get only the Sunday Ticket, in which case, you’ll pay a whopping $479 a year upfront.
However, we think a much better deal is to get a YouTube TV + NFL Sunday Ticket bundle that costs about $379 annually.
This way, you’re getting access to plenty of YouTube TV channels, with the option to watch out-of-market NFL games on the side. Some people i.e. students can get their NFL Sunday Ticket for a cheaper price. A student discount drops the price to a meager $199 yearly.
Be aware that you’ll need to verify you’re a student, plus, your Sunday Ticket will work only on one device at a time. Another alternative is to get the Sunday Ticket halfway through the season, in which case, you’ll pay about $120 a month.
Amazon Prime Video NFL Game Pass
Amazon Prime Video has joined forces with DAZN, allowing you to watch out-of-market NFL games with the Game Pass. It’s an add-on available in Germany, France, the UK, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. Even if you’re in the US, you can take advantage of this with a VPN.
For example, get an Australian IP address and you’ll be eligible for a Game Pass.
Do you have an Amazon Prime subscription? If not, you’ll need one. It should be about $10 a month, depending on your country. From here, go and get the Game Pass as an add-on.
This powerful add-on includes access to out-of-market NFL games, RedZone, and NFL Network. As a result, you can watch the games live, get game highlights if you’ve missed something, and ensure proper coverage of the entire season with valuable insights.
The NFL Game Pass on Prime Video costs differently based on your location. The UK price is £16.99 for 2 months and £29.99/month after. You’ll agree that the price is a tad expensive for the entire season but at least Prime Video isn’t as costly as some other streaming services.
Use Prime Video NFL Game Pass With NordVPN
NFL RedZone
You’ve heard about NFL RedZone because it’s a pretty popular NFL-oriented channel. It’s ideal to watch Sunday afternoon games and usually allows you to watch out-of-market NFL games. RedZone provides Full HD streams and real-time broadcasts of the games.
However, that’s not always the case. Some games are covered partially, some fully, so you have to see what’s on the table at the moment. RedZone, as you saw, comes in various TV and streaming subscriptions, so it’s easy to get your hands on it.
You can get it in the NFL Game Pass from Amazon Prime. YouTube TV and its NFL Sunday Ticket also allow you to add RedZone to the package. Other platforms with RedZone are Fubo TV and Hulu which you can watch with a VPN if you’re outside the US.
NFL Game Pass International (Works Only Outside the US)
Another platform involving the NFL Game Pass is DAZN. DAZN works pretty much worldwide but the NFL Game Pass is available only for people outside the US.
The solution is to use NordVPN, connect to a server abroad if you’re in America, and make it work.
This is perhaps our favorite option, as the Game Pass provides access to all 272 games in Full HD and English commentary, for an astonishing experience. Since the Game Pass is DAZN’s bundle, you’ll first need a DAZN subscription, which can be obtained for different prices.
DAZN’s price is different depending on your country, so you can use NordVPN to sift through prices and find the best one. After you subscribe to DAZN, simply buy your Game Pass and start watching out-of-market NFL games no matter where you are.
Watch NFL Anywhere With NordVPN
Is NFL+ Premium Going to Work?
When it comes to NFL+ Premium, this solution is, unfortunately, not going to work anymore. NFL+ used to offer out-of-market NFL matches for about $15 a month. For people in the USA, it was a convenient way to access these games without the need to use a VPN.
While NFL+ Premium is still a thing, it no longer streams out-of-market games. Instead, it lets you only live-stream audio of the games and watch game replays. NFL+ Premium’s mobile apps are also there for watching primetime games if you find that befitting.
Bear in mind that NFL+ Premium works only in the United States, so if your vacation took you overseas, NordVPN will help. Albeit, since this app won’t work with out-of-market matches, we doubt it’ll be of much use to you.
Is Watching Out-of-Market NFL Games Legal?
Given the NFL blackouts and restrictions we mentioned, one would assume our workaround is illegal. Well, 01net doesn’t promote anything illegal, so you can rest assured this falls into that category. Yes, using a VPN for sports streaming, and by extension, out-of-market NFL games is okay and legal.
While certain streaming services like DAZN, Prime Video, and YouTube TV are geo-restricted and won’t “like” you to use a VPN, this doesn’t make it illegal. You’re going against their terms and conditions but with no catastrophic consequences except IP blocking.
This can be remedied by connecting to another server in NordVPN or switching to a different protocol. However, in our 15-plus-year experience, we haven’t been banned from a single streaming website for using a VPN. Streaming services don’t bother banning people.
They’ll just block you if they detect a VPN. To counter this, it’s good to rely on a dependable service like NordVPN. Its encryption, obfuscation, and streaming-tailored servers are ideal for watching NFL games that are out-of-market. Try NordVPN and you’ll see instant results.
Best VPNs for Streaming NFL Matches in 2024
While every VPN can change your IP address, not each can easily unblock streaming services. YouTube, DAZN, and Prime Video are going to detect VPN connections and shoot them down in seconds. That’s why you need streaming-capable providers such as these three:
6300 servers
111 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
10 simultaneous connections
9.8 /10
3000 servers
105 covered countries
30 days money-back guarantee
8 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
12000 servers
100 covered countries
45 days money-back guarantee
7 simultaneous connections
9.2 /10
1. NordVPN
NordVPN’s capabilities extend far beyond watching out-of-market NFL matches. It has over 6,300 worldwide servers with 10 Gbps ports and the fastest speeds. Another feature is NordLynx, a mighty protocol that displays excellent stability and security.
NordVPN’s servers are streaming-friendly, unblocking Amazon Prime Video in seconds. It also works with DAZN and makes it easy to access YouTube TV anywhere. If this is insufficient, perhaps you can use NordVPN for Netflix and access over 20 catalogs.
Users who watch out-of-market NFL games will appreciate its availability. NordVPN works on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. Additionally, it sports various apps for Smart TVs, Fire TV Sticks, and even tvOS. To that, we’ll casually add 10 simultaneous connections.
All of this, paired with tight security and privacy, makes NordVPN an all-arounder that satisfies millions of global users. Rest assured, it’s going to be affordable, as through 01net, you can obtain a 73% discount with extra months on it, and pay under $3.2 a month.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another crown-bearing VPN with exceptional streaming abilities. Streaming services like the ones above are a joke for it, thanks to over 160 server locations. ExpressVPN’s performance is blazing, with 10 Gbps servers and the Lightway protocol.
No doubt, you’ll get unlimited bandwidth, which makes streaming an endless enjoyment. Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN unblocks popular streaming platforms like Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and many more. ExpressVPN’s ad-blocking is included in all plans and apps.
Moreover, there’s Smart DNS for US-based streaming services. This can be handy for unblocking Amazon Prime Video or watching blockbusters on ABC or Hallmark. ExpressVPN uses state-of-the-art encryption to anonymize your otherwise exposed traffic.
With a no-log policy and RAM-only servers, ExpressVPN takes care of your privacy and beats down surveillance to a pulp. The only downside is a slightly juicier price at around $6.67/mo but even that’s not much compared to Astrill VPN and its 2-times-higher monthly cost.
3. CyberGhost
Out-of-market NFL games are no match for CyberGhost – our friendly ghostie. This VPN has streaming-optimized servers in dozens of locations. You can use it to enjoy all 270+ matches and follow the season to the fiery finale. CyberGhost is the cheapest pick here as well!
Its 2-year plan costs above two monthly dollars and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee. For this price, you’re getting fast speed, WireGuard, IP leak protection, a kill switch, an ad-blocker, and so much more. Yes, CyberGhost is also a no-log option with strong privacy.
CyberGhost’s apps aren’t always the best, especially its complex Windows app. However, its iOS and Android clients are top-notch and can be great for streaming out-of-market NFL games on the go. CyberGhost offers optional extras, one of which is a dedicated IP.
If you pay a buck more a month, you can get an antivirus for Windows and protect your PC against the onslaught of online threats. CyberGhost is the value-king VPN whose proposition of two monthly dollars attracts and keeps millions of users annually. Become one of them.
Can I Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games for Free?
Bad news – you can’t. All platforms that stream these games cost money. YouTube TV costs about $75 monthly and with the Sunday Ticket, the price jumps to hundreds of dollars. Amazon Prime and DAZN aren’t free either, and the same applies to their add-ons.
The cheapest options are definitely the latter two. Prime Video costs around $8 a month while DAZN’s price fluctuates geographically but is NEVER more expensive than YouTube TV. Since DAZN and Prime Video’s solutions work outside the US, it’s good to have a VPN.
A free VPN won’t suffice before it’s not streaming-friendly. Even if you opt for a paid VPN – like NordVPN – the monthly price of $3.09 (at the moment) is enough to justify your purchase because you won’t “feel” these three dollars coming out of your pocket.
This still makes watching out-of-market NFL games very affordable.
Summary
Accessing out-of-market NFL games is impossible for many, resulting in disheartenment among avid fans. That’s going to change today. Using NordVPN or any other eligible VPN, you can unblock out-of-market NFL matches and watch them in the US or abroad.
The key is to get a corresponding IP address, get a Sunday Ticket or Game Pass, and access all games, including the out-of-market ones. This will help you circumvent notorious NFL blackouts and watch your favorite teams or simply enjoy better season coverage.
