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Browns vs. Texans Livestream: How to Watch NFL Week 16 Online Today

Browns vs. Texans Livestream: How to Watch NFL Week 16 Online Today
Browns vs. Texans Livestream: How to Watch NFL Week 16 Online Today


The Browns have won two straight with Joe Flacco at the helm to run their record to 9-5. They have a slight chance to catch the Ravens for the AFC North title and currently own the top Wild Card seed in the AFC. 

The 8-6 Texans find themselves in the mix for the AFC South crown and a Wild Card berth, but may be without rookie superstar quarterback C.J. Stroud, who missed last week’s game and is still in the league’s concussion protocol. If Stroud is unable to play, Case Keenum will again be under center.

The Browns and Texans kick off in Houston at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on CBS. We’ll show you how you can watch, even if the game isn’t available on your local CBS channel.

The game will be shown on TV in the Cleveland and Houston areas (according to 506 Sports) on live TV streaming services, but there may be cases where you’re blocked because of an internet location glitch or just want an added layer of privacy for streaming. One option 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, or VPN.

Here’s how you can watch the game from anywhere in the US with a VPN.

Read more: NFL 2023: How to Watch and Stream Games and RedZone With or Without Cable

Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns preparing to throw a ball with his right hand.

Joe Flacco passed for 374 yards in the Browns’ 20-17 win over Bears. 

Nick Cammett/Getty Images

Browns vs. Texans game today: When and where?

This Week 16 NFL fixture sees the Texans host the Browns at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on Sunday. The game will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston, home of the Texans.

How to watch the Browns vs. Texans game online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the game locally due to incorrectly applied blackout restrictions, you may need a different way to watch the game and 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. It’s also a great idea for when you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you 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. 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, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US and Canada, as long as you’ve got a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Express VPN

Sarah Tew/CNET

How to watch Browns vs. Texans in the US

This week’s Browns-Texans game is on CBS, so in addition to a VPN you’ll need a live TV streaming service that carries a local CBS affiliate that’s broadcasting the game. The good news for football fans is that CBS is available on most of the major streaming services. The least expensive option is Paramount Plus.

Paramount Plus logo on a smartphone screen

Sarah Tew/CNET

Those looking for CBS’ Sunday games will be able to stream them on Paramount Plus with its $6-a-month Essentials tier. You can check for yourself if your area has live CBS streaming here.

Read our Paramount Plus review.

Numerous other live TV streaming services carry local CBS stations as well, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. These cost far more than Paramount Plus, but they also carry many live channels, including football broadcasting channels like Fox and ESPN. Check out our live TV streaming services guide for details.

If you live in an area where the game is being broadcast, an over-the-air antenna connected to your TV provides another option for CBS. The best part about antennas is that there are no streaming or monthly fees required, though you will need to make sure you have good reception.

Quick tips for streaming the Browns vs. Texans game using a VPN

  • With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — experience and success may vary.
  • If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
  • If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
  • All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
  • And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.



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