How to watch Texans vs Steelers Wild Card game: ESPN/ABC channel, live stream, free options and start time
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The Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers will meet for the first time in postseason history in a crucial AFC Wild Card Round matchup. The stakes are clear in this elimination game, with the winner advancing to the Divisional Round. Houston enters the playoffs as the AFC's No. 5 seed after compiling a 12-5 record, while Pittsburgh secured the No. 4 seed by clinching the competitive AFC North division title.
This showdown at Acrisure Stadium pits a surging wild card team against a resilient division winner. The Texans' path to the playoffs was remarkable, overcoming an 0-3 start with a nine-game winning streak, marking their first 12-win season since 2012. Their success was built on a dominant defense that ranked second in the NFL, allowing just 17.4 points per game.
Kickoff is scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026, at 8:15 PM ET. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and ABC.
Game information: Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers
| Category | Details |
| Date | January 12, 2026 |
| Time (ET and PT) | 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT |
| Venue | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| TV (Primary Network) | ESPN, ABC |
| Channel Guide | DirecTV: 206 (ESPN) | Dish: 140 (ESPN) | Comcast/Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon Fios: Check local listings for ESPN and your local ABC affiliate. |
| Stream | ESPN App (with TV provider login), ESPN+, NFL+ (mobile/tablet only), YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling TV |
| Radio | Houston: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), 100.3 The Bull (KILT-FM), Pittsburgh: WDVE 102.5 FM, WBGG 970 AM |
| Coverage | National broadcast. Home-market ABC affiliates: KTRK-TV (Houston) and WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh). |
| Free | TVNZ+ (New Zealand) |
How to watch Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers for free
Some NFL games are broadcast live and for free on official international streaming services. Key platforms include 7plus in Australia, which streams every Thursday Night Football and two Sunday Afternoon games weekly. In the UK, Channel 5 shows one Sunday Afternoon game and all Monday Night Football games. Lastly, TVNZ+ in New Zealand offers a rotating selection of Sunday games.
This week’s Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers game will be available for free on TVNZ+.
Together, these broadcasters provide access to up to five free Sunday games weekly during the regular season. Both TVNZ+ and 7plus will stream all NFL 2025 playoffs matches and the Super Bowl for free. These services are geo-restricted, however, and only available to viewers in their respective countries. Fans traveling abroad can use a reliable VPN such as NordVPN to securely access their home-country stream and not miss the action.
Free NFL broadcasts this week
| Game | Free platform | Date |
| Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers (Wild Card Round) | TVNZ+ (NZ) | January 10, 2026 |
| Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears (Wild Card Round) | TVNZ+ (NZ) | January 10, 2026 |
| San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles (Wild Card Round) | TVNZ+ (NZ) | January 11, 2026 |
| Los Angeles Chargers vs New England Patriots (Wild Card Round) | TVNZ+ (NZ) | January 11, 2026 |
| Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Wild Card Round) | TVNZ+ (NZ) | January 11, 2026 |
| Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Wild Card Round) | TVNZ+ (NZ) | January 12, 2026 |
Where to watch Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers
The AFC Wild Card matchup between the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers is a national broadcast that will air on ESPN and ABC in the United States. Kickoff is scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET. Pregame coverage begins with "NFL Live" at 3:00 PM ET, followed by "Monday Night Countdown" at 6:00 PM ET. As a national broadcast, the game will be available on local ABC affiliates in both home markets.
Home-market affiliates
In the Houston area, the game will be broadcast on the local ABC affiliate, KTRK-TV (ABC 13). The local kickoff time is 7:00 PM CT. Viewers can tune in for the national pregame shows starting at 2:00 PM CT. The primary broadcast will feature ESPN's lead crew of Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), and sideline reporters Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge. An alternate broadcast, "Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli", will also be available on ESPN2.
For viewers in the Pittsburgh market, the game will air on the local ABC affiliate, WTAE-TV (Channel 4). The local kickoff time is 8:00 PM ET, with national pregame coverage starting at 3:00 PM ET. The broadcast will be called by ESPN's main team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, with Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge reporting from the sidelines. The popular ManningCast with Peyton and Eli Manning will also air simultaneously on ESPN2.
For US viewers:
Fans in the local Houston and Pittsburgh markets can watch the game for free with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna on their respective ABC stations. The game is also available on live TV streaming services that carry ESPN and ABC, such as Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and YouTube TV. Additionally, viewers with a valid cable, satellite, or live TV streaming subscription can use their TV Everywhere credentials to stream the game live on the ESPN app. While this is a national broadcast, streaming can sometimes be subject to local blackouts, making an OTA antenna the most reliable in-market option.
How to listen to Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers on a radio
Houston Texans Radio stations
The Houston Texans radio network is broadcast on its flagship stations, SportsRadio 610 AM (KILT-AM) and 100.3 The Bull (KILT-FM), which are both available on Audacy. The English-language broadcast team includes Marc Vandermeer (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color commentator), and John Harris (sideline reporter). For more information, you can check the team's official website.
The Spanish-language broadcast is available on Mega 101 FM (KLOL-FM), featuring Enrique Vasquez on play-by-play and Gustavo Rangel as the color analyst. This broadcast is also available on the Audacy platform.
- Official Houston Texans App: fans can listen to the free live radio broadcast directly within the official Houston Texans app. The stream is typically restricted to listeners within the team's market. You can download the app for iOS and Android devices.
- Third-party platforms: the Texans' flagship stations are available on several major audio platforms. On Audacy, you can listen to SportsRadio 610 AM and 100.3 The Bull for free by creating an account, though live game streams are subject to NFL blackout rules and geo-restrictions. You can also find the stations on TuneIn and iHeartRadio. Both services offer free listening with ads, while paid premium subscriptions like TuneIn Premium (from $5.00/month) and iHeartRadio All Access (from $9.99/month) provide an ad-free experience. These services are generally restricted to the US and may have additional in-market limitations for live game audio.
Pittsburgh Steelers Radio stations
The official home of the Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network is on its flagship stations, WDVE 102.5 FM and WBGG 970 AM. The broadcast team consists of Rob King (play-by-play), Max Starks (color commentator), and Missi Matthews (sideline reporter). Fans can also stream Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) for live game day audio via Steelers.com.
The Spanish-language broadcast, featuring Álvaro Martín and Arturo Carlos, is available worldwide on desktop via Steelers.com/espanol. It is also available within Mexico and the Pittsburgh area on the official team app.
- Official Pittsburgh Steelers App: the official app provides a free live audio stream of the game for in-market fans. It also provides the Spanish-language audio feed for users in Mexico and the Pittsburgh area. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
- Third-party platforms: as iHeartMedia stations, WDVE 102.5 FM and WBGG 970 AM can be streamed for free with ads on iHeartRadio. Paid plans are also available for an ad-free experience. The stations can also be found on TuneIn, which offers a similar free tier alongside its premium subscription. Both platforms are subject to geo-restrictions for listeners outside the US, and NFL blackout rules apply to live game streams. The stations are not available on Audacy.
National and digital options
- SiriusXM: subscribers can listen to both the Texans and Steelers radio feeds, as well as the national broadcast, for every game. The dedicated SiriusXM NFL Radio channel for 24/7 league talk is on channel 88. Pricing for a streaming-only plan is $9.99/month after a promotional period, while plans that include in-car reception start at $24.98/month. You can find more details on the NFL on SiriusXM page.
- NFL+: the league's official subscription service, NFL+, offers live audio of every NFL game nationwide, including home, away, and national calls. An NFL+ subscription costs $6.99/month. the service is geo-restricted to the United States and live audio is available on mobile and tablet devices.
- Westwood One: for national broadcasts of playoff games, Westwood One provides a live audio stream for free on its website and through the TuneIn app. This option is available without geographical restrictions.
How to watch Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers without cable
Watching the Houston Texans take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card round is simple, even without a traditional cable subscription. Live TV streaming services offer a flexible and often cheaper alternative, bundling the necessary broadcast channels like ESPN and ABC into their packages. These services let you stream the game live on your TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Here are some of the most reliable services for watching the game:
- YouTube TV – starts at $82.99/month. This service includes local channels like ABC and key sports networks like ESPN in both the Houston and Pittsburgh markets. A key feature is its unlimited cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record the game and watch it later, with recordings kept for nine months. New users can often find a free trial lasting up to 21 days.
- Hulu + Live TV – the plan with ads costs $89.99/month. It provides access to ESPN and local ABC affiliates in Houston and Pittsburgh. This subscription also includes the Disney Bundle, which gives you access to the entire Hulu on-demand library, Disney+, and ESPN+ for additional sports content.
- Fubo – the Pro plan is priced at approximately $84.99/month. Known for its extensive sports coverage, Fubo carries both ESPN and local ABC channels in most markets, including Houston and Pittsburgh. Fubo offers a free trial for new customers, but it's important to note that it does not carry Turner networks such as TNT and TBS.
- Sling TV – the Sling Orange + Blue plan, at $60.99/month, is the best option for this game. Sling Orange includes ESPN, while Sling Blue includes local channels like ABC in select markets, including Houston. For markets like Pittsburgh where ABC may not be included, you can still watch the ABC simulcast via ESPN3, which is part of the Orange plan.
- DIRECTV STREAM – the Entertainment package starts at $89.99/month and includes both ESPN and local ABC affiliates. Higher-priced tiers offer more channels, including a wide range of regional sports networks (RSNs). DIRECTV STREAM offers a 5-day free trial for you to test the service.
Stream on network apps
You can also stream the game through the network's own direct-to-consumer service. These options are often cheaper than a full live TV streaming package but provide narrower access, focusing on a single network or league's content. For this matchup, since the game airs on ESPN and is simulcast on ABC, the primary option is the ESPN app.
- ESPN (DTC) – the game can be streamed directly through the ESPN app. You will need a subscription to the ESPN Unlimited plan, which costs $29.99/month. This plan gives you access to all linear ESPN networks and content on ESPN on ABC, making it a perfect all-in-one solution for watching this specific game without a larger cable or streaming bundle.
- NFL+ – for those who prefer to watch on the go, NFL+ offers live local and primetime regular season and postseason games on mobile phones and tablets only. The base plan costs $6.99/month. The NFL+ Premium tier ($14.99/month) includes full and condensed game replays and NFL RedZone. Note the significant device restriction for live games, as you cannot cast them to a TV.
How to watch Texans vs Steelers on cable or satellite
The Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers Wild Card game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and ABC on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 8:15 PM ET. For viewers with a traditional cable or satellite subscription, this means the game will be available on your local ABC affiliate and the main ESPN channel. While the specific channel numbers for ESPN and ABC vary by location and provider, both are standard offerings in most TV packages.
- Xfinity includes both ABC and ESPN in most of its television plans, including Popular TV and Ultimate TV. The Popular TV plan, starting around $70 per month, offers over 125 channels, while the Ultimate TV plan includes more than 185 channels. Xfinity often provides plans without an annual contract, but be aware of potential equipment rental fees and taxes. Other sports channels like FS1 and NFL Network are also typically available in these packages.
- Spectrum offers ABC and ESPN in its core packages, such as TV Select Signature and TV Select Plus. The TV Select Signature plan starts at a promotional rate of about $100 per month for over 150 channels. For more sports content, the TV Select Plus package adds regional sports networks for a slightly higher price. Spectrum plans are known for having no contracts, providing flexibility. Your package will also include access to other sports channels like FOX Sports 1.
- DirecTV carries ABC and ESPN in all of its primary packages, starting with the ENTERTAINMENT plan. This package begins at approximately $69.99 per month plus taxes and includes over 75 channels. DirecTV packages typically require a two-year contract, and prices may increase in the second year. The service also offers extensive sports coverage, including NFL Network and the option to add NFL RedZone.
- DISH includes ABC and ESPN in packages starting with America's Top 120. This plan costs around $84.99 per month and delivers 190 channels, including other sports networks like FS1. DISH subscriptions come with a two-year price guarantee and require a corresponding two-year contract. All plans include an HD DVR and the DISH Anywhere app for streaming on the go.
