We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more.

  1. Lifestyle
  2. Sports

How to Watch the NFL Games Today Online for Free, Including Ravens vs. Chargers

By: Brad Tuttle
Brad Tuttle, expert in Personal finance, shopping, consumer trends, and Senior Editor at Money
Brad Tuttle
Senior Editor | Joined January 2014
Brad Tuttle is a senior editor at Money with over 10 years’ experience covering a vast number of personal finance topics, including careers, cars, travel, budgeting, investing, insurance, credit cards, consumer psychology, real estate, banking, and shopping and deals.
See full bio
Published: Dec 22, 2018 6 min read
Cincinnati Bengals v Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers looks to pass against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 9, 2018 in Carson, California.
Sean M. Haffey—Getty Images

Late in the year, as the college football schedule slows down, there are NFL games played on Saturday in addition to Sunday so that fans can get their weekend football fix. Tonight, in week 16 of the 2018 season, there are two solid NFL games: Redskins vs. Titans and Ravens vs. Chargers.

All four of the teams playing in NFL games today have .500 records or better, and none have been eliminated from the playoffs. That means every team in the two Saturday NFL games have good reason to play their best — either to nudge closer to making the playoffs or push for the best playoff seed possible.

Here's all the info you need to watch the Redskins vs. Titans and Ravens vs. Chargers game — online or on TV — for free today.

What Channel Are the NFL Games on Today?

Here is the NFL game TV broadcast schedule for today, Saturday, Dec. 22:

• Washington Redskins vs. Tennessee Titans, 4:30 p.m. ET
• Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 8:20 p.m. ET

As for what channels the Redskins vs. Titans game and Ravens vs. Chargers game are on, both are being broadcast nationally on NFL Network, which is a pay channel included in many cable TV packages. Fans can also watch the two NFL games today for free on over-the-air network TV if their local teams are playing (at home or away) on Saturday.

For example, if you live in or around Baltimore and normally have access to Baltimore-area TV stations, you can watch the Ravens and Chargers game on WBAL, a local NBC affiliate, in addition to NFL Network. Fans in southern California, meanwhile, can watch the Chargers vs. Ravens game for free on TV on ABC7 if they don't have a package with NFL Network.

Fans have similar options for the earlier NFL game if they live in the Washington, D.C., area, where the Redskins vs. Titans game is being broadcast on NBC4 Washington. And if you live in Nashville or the surrounding areas you can watch the Tennessee Titans game on Saturday for free via the local NBC station WSMV.

If you live where the Saturday NFL games are being broadcast on local network TV, you don't need cable or another pay TV package with the NFL Network to catch the action. All you need is a digital antenna. You can buy a decent HDTV antenna for about $25, and once it's hooked up to your TV it will let you tune in over-the-air network TV for free. This generally includes broadcasts of local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC stations, in hi-def, but which channels you get to watch free may depend on where you live and the strength of your antenna.

There are also ways to get free live streams of the Redskins vs. Titans and Ravens vs. Chargers games today, explained below.

How to Live Stream NFL Games Today Free on Your Phone

NFL fans all over the country can live stream the NFL games today for free on their phones. Just download the newest version of the Yahoo Sports app or NFL App. Both apps provide free live streams of nationally televised games, including the Redskins vs. Titans and Ravens vs. Chargers on the NFL Network today.

Take note, however, that the free NFL game live streams from these apps are only available only on smartphones. In other words, you cannot use the apps to live stream today's NFL games on a larger screen, such as a laptop or smart TV.

Also, it appears as if you cannot use a Wi-Fi connection to stream the NFL games today with these apps. Instead, you must turn off Wi-Fi and live stream the games on your phone using a cellular connection.

How to Watch NFL Games Online for Free With Streaming TV

If live streaming the NFL games today on a phone doesn't quite cut it — and you don't have cable and don't live where the games are on network TV — then consider signing up for a free trial of a streaming TV service with the NFL Network.

The live streaming TV service Sling TV has the NFL Network in its $25-a-month "Blue" bundle of channels, and the sports-focused Fubo TV includes the NFL Network in its base package, which starts at $40 per month. Slightly higher priced packages from DirecTV Now and PlayStation Vue also include the NFL Network.

All of the streaming TV services cited above are available for free to new subscribers during free trials that last about a week. So, if you're a new subscriber, you could register and watch the Redskins vs. Titans and Ravens vs. Chargers online for free today on the NFL Network, and then you'd have the rest of the week to try out the service. You'll be charged in full for the first month if you don't cancel before the free trial ends — so remember to cancel if you don't want to become a paying subscriber.

We’ve included affiliate links into this article. Click here to learn what those are.