The NFC and AFC Championship weekend is here, with four remaining teams set to battle it out for Super LVI slots this Sunday, Jan. 30th. Cord-cutters and football fans traveling abroad will face problems streaming the final playoff matchups due to geo-restrictions.
If you’re outside the United States, you’ll need a VPN and a couple of different U.S. streaming providers (Paramount+ and FuboTV) to watch Sunday’s games. Fortunately, both services have free trials so you can watch the games at no charge. Follow the step-by-step guide below:
- Get a good sports streaming VPN. We love Surfshark for its speeds, reliable American servers, and price point.
- Sign up and register for an account.
- Download Surfshark onto your device.
- Fire up your VPN and connect to a U.S. server.
- For the Bengals vs. Chiefs AFC Final, navigate to Paramount+ at 3:00 pm (E.T.) on Sunday for the game on CBS.
- For the 49ers vs. Rams NFC Final, go to FuboTV and stream via FOX at 6:30 pm (E.T).
VPNs, geo-fencing, and all these different cord-cutting services can be a lot to take in. Want to learn more about how it all works? Check out our full article below.
Last week, NFL fans were treated to an unprecedented playoff weekend. All four Divisional Round playoff games were tight, with plenty of final-second winning field goals and overtime finishes to go around. Depending on what side you were on, you either wound up on your feet screaming or holding your head in agony.
However it played out for your team personally, the stage is set for Sunday, Jan. 30’s Super Bowl deciding matchups. The Chiefs and Bengals are slated to battle it out for the AFC Championship at 3:00 pm (E.T.), while the 49ers and Rams will vie for the NFC crown at 6:30 pm (E.T.).
Thanks to international geo-restrictions, NFL fans traveling abroad won’t be able to access the only two American channels (CBS and FOX) showing the final weekend of the NFL playoffs. We’ll show you how to break through these digital barriers and access the streaming platforms you need with a tool called a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
How to Watch the 2022 AFC and NFC Finals from Anywhere
Watching the NFL in the USA is pretty simple. Just walk into any bar with a TV and ask them to switch it to the game you want. But when you’re traveling abroad or have cut the cord with traditional cable television providers, it’s not as easy as you might think.
This weekend’s AFC and NFC Championship games are a perfect example. They’ve split up the coverage among two channels that you can’t find in one place on any streaming American streaming platforms. Here’s the rundown:
NFL Playoffs: Sunday, Jan. 30
| Matchup | Start Time | TV Channel | Live Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals vs. Chiefs | 3:00 p.m. E.T | CBS | Paramount+ |
| 49ers vs. Rams | 6:30 p.m. E.T | FOX | FuboTV, SlingTV, FOX Sports |
Since CBS has branched out into the streaming wars, you’ll need to sign up for Paramount+, their online streaming platform to watch the AFC championship. The NFC championship’s on FOX this weekend, so you’ll either need access to FOX Sports or a service provider that carries FOX — like FuboTV or SlingTV.
We’ll break it down for you in the step-by-step guide below:
A step-by-step guide: Watch AFC and NFL Championships outside the US
- Choose a solid sports streaming VPN. We recommend Surfshark for its network of reliable servers stretched across the U.S., fast connections and killer pricing. If you want to try it out free, Surfshark also offers a free 30-day trial.
- Create an account on their website.
- Download the Surfshark software onto your device. It works for desktop and mobile devices, across every major operating system like Windows, Android and iOS.
- Log into the VPN using the credentials you created at sign-up.
- Connect to a server in the United States.
- To watch the Bengals vs. Chiefs AFC Championship, visit Paramount+ before the 3:00 pm (EST) kickoff on Sunday for the game on CBS. If you don’t have Paramount+, you can try it out free for seven days.
- For the 49ers vs. Rams game, go to FuboTV and stream via FOX at 6:30 pm (EST). FuboTV also offers a free trial, so you can watch the matchups for free.
Should I Use a Free VPN to Stream NFL Football?
When researching VPNs, you’ll no doubt come across some free ones. While free VPNs can be tempting and have plenty to offer, when it comes to live sports streaming, they just don’t make the cut. You’ll find some drawbacks when it comes to watching the AFC and NFC championships, or any live sporting event for that matter. Here are a few:
- Speed and bandwidth limits. Since you’re not paying for premium service, you won’t be getting a premium experience. Free VPNs will often have live streams buffering and lagging, which can be frustrating for obvious reasons. Oftentimes, the daily data limit will cap out at 500 MB per day. Streaming video can use up to 1 GB of data in an hour or so, so you definitely won’t be able to finish either game without paying for upgrades or additional data.
- Limited number of global servers. We’re fond of our top VPNs because of their vast network of servers across the globe. Since many users are interested in American streaming — like FuboTV, SlingTV, the American Netflix catalog and Disney+ — you need a reliable number of U.S. servers. When you sign up for a free VPN, there’s no guarantee that you’ll have access to reliable American servers.
- Privacy concerns. Subscription VPNs collect monthly and yearly fees for using their service. Free VPNs have to make money somehow and often do so by collecting and selling your online activity and data. Many people use VPNs for their privacy protection and no-log policies. If you’re in a country that has banned access to American content, you certainly want a VPN that won’t leak your activity.
If you’re determined to use a free VPN to stream NFC and AFC championship games, you can check out some of the best free VPNs that we’ve rounded up.
2022 NFC and AFC Championship Games: What to Expect
If you’re looking for an underdog to pull for, there’s no better story than that of the Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) and their fresh-faced QB Joe Burrows. The Bengals haven’t appeared in an AFC Championship game since the 1988 season, and are the only team in this year’s playoff finals that hasn’t won a Super Bowl. Their road to the Super Bowl won’t be an easy one as they’re squaring off against Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs (12-5). The Chiefs have appeared in the last two Super Bowls, winning the 2020 championship.
The Los Angeles Rams (12-5) and San Fransisco 49ers (10-7) will battle it out for the NFC Championship. Both earned their spots with hard-fought games against the Buccaneers and Packers, respectively. Both the Rams and 49ers are no strangers to the Vince Lombardi trophy. Though the Rams haven’t won one since the 1999 season, they’ve appeared in four Super Bowls — one as recently as 2018.
Super Bowl LVI
Of course, all roads lead to Super Bowl LVI. The winner of the Chiefs vs. Bengals will face the Rams or 49ers. The Championship matchup will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California on Feb. 13. The kickoff is at 6:30 p.m E.T.
