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How to Watch Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts for Free (September 13, 2026)


Key takeaways:

The Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts opener brings an AFC North vs AFC South matchup to Lucas Oil Stadium, with both teams starting the 2026 season at 0-0. Baltimore begins a new era under head coach Jesse Minter, while Indianapolis continues under Shane Steichen with Daniel Jones listed on the Colts roster at quarterback. On the other side, Lamar Jackson remains the center of the Ravens’ offense, with Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers among the key names around him.

Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM local time (1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT) on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The free streaming angle is 5ACTION, but there is a catch for US viewers: 5 is a UK-only service, and access from outside the UK can trigger location errors such as “No access outside UK” or “This content isn’t available in your location.” A VPN solves that by giving you a UK IP address before you open the stream.

Cybernews recommendation

To stream Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts for free, NordVPN is the best fit for most viewers outside the UK. It has fast UK servers for live sports, is built to handle streaming platforms that block foreign IP addresses, and its 30-day money-back guarantee lets you test it through game day without committing long term.

How to watch Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts on 5ACTION

Supporting image for NFL out-of-market games
  1. Get a VPN with a refund policy. I recommend NordVPN because it has UK servers, strong streaming performance, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. Install the VPN app on your device. Use the device where you plan to stream, such as a laptop, phone, tablet, Fire TV Stick, or Smart TV setup.
  3. Connect to a UK server. Since 5 is UK-restricted, your VPN server should be in the United Kingdom.
  4. Open 5ACTION. You can access it through the 5 website, mobile app, or supported TV and streaming-device apps.
  5. Create or sign in to a free 5 account. Channel 5 says registration is free, and most devices ask viewers to sign in before watching.
  6. Find the Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts stream. Start looking a few minutes before kickoff at 1:00 PM local time (1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT) so you have time to fix any VPN or sign-in issues.
  7. Refund your VPN if needed. If you only wanted the VPN for this game, request a refund within the guarantee period.

How 5ACTION is bringing Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts to viewers

5ACTION is part of Channel 5’s free NFL coverage in the UK. Channel 5 says Dermot, Sam, and Osi are back for the 2026 NFL season, with two live games every Sunday across 5 and 5ACTION.

NFL also announced the Channel 5 coverage setup with Dermot O’Leary, Sam Quek, and Osi Umenyiora involved in the free-to-air broadcast presentation. The broadcast language is English, but the exact play-by-play commentary crew for this specific Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts game was not confirmed in the available sources. For US viewers, the important detail is access: 5 is free, but the stream is restricted to the UK, so a UK VPN connection is needed if you are outside the coverage area.

Why you need a VPN to watch Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts on 5ACTION

5ACTION is free, but it is not freely accessible everywhere. When accessing Channel 5 from outside the UK, the site can return a geo-restriction page titled “No access outside UK.” Channel 5’s help center also references location-related errors such as “This content isn’t available in your location” and “GEO/VPN error (CA-3000/3001).”

Channel 5 error message outside UK

That is where a VPN helps. By connecting to a VPN server in the UK, your traffic is routed through a UK IP address, which makes it appear as though you are watching from within the supported region. For this 5ACTION stream, the relevant restriction is UK-only access rather than a US local-market blackout. Still, the practical result is the same for blocked viewers: without the correct location, the stream may not load.

Choosing the right VPN to stream Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts

Not every VPN is good enough for NFL streaming. I recommend comparing the best VPN services before kickoff, especially if you plan to watch live sports regularly and need a connection that stays stable for a full game.

Look for these three essentials:

  • Fast, reliable UK servers: Live NFL streams need steady speeds, especially if you are watching in HD on a TV or larger screen.
  • Reliable geo-block bypass: The VPN should be able to handle streaming platforms that actively block suspicious or overloaded IP addresses.
  • Refund policy or free trial: A VPN free trial or 30-day money-back guarantee is what makes the 5ACTION method effectively free.

Free VPNs are not a good choice for this matchup. They often have limited UK servers, slower speeds, crowded IP addresses, and data caps that can run out before the fourth quarter. NordVPN is the safer option because it combines fast UK coverage with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Channel 5 unblocked with NordVPN UK server
Channel 5 unblocked with NordVPN UK server

What to do if 5ACTION remains blocked while using a VPN

If the stream still does not work, do not wait until kickoff to troubleshoot. Test your setup early, then reload the stream shortly before first whistle.

  • Switch between VPN protocols: Try changing protocols in the VPN app. Sometimes switching away and then switching back helps reset the connection.
  • Get a new IP address: Disconnect and reconnect to a UK server, or choose another UK server manually.
  • Clear cache and cookies: Channel 5 recommends clearing browser cache and cookies for website playback problems.
  • Use a mobile browser instead of the app: Apps can hold location or session data longer than browsers, so switching to a browser can help.
  • Connect the VPN before opening 5ACTION: Close the site or app completely, connect to the UK server first, then reopen the platform.

Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts head-to-head facts

This is a Week 1 AFC matchup, so there are no current 2026 playoff-seeding stakes yet. Still, it is a useful early test for two teams trying to reset their season quickly, especially with Baltimore coming off an 8-9 finish in 2025 and Indianapolis looking to improve after recent 8-9 campaigns.

  • All-time series: The Indianapolis Colts lead the combined regular-season and postseason series against the Baltimore Ravens 11-7.
  • Most recent meeting: The Colts beat the Ravens 22-19 in overtime on September 24, 2023.
  • Deciding moment: Matt Gay made a 53-yard field goal in overtime to seal Indianapolis’ 2023 win in Baltimore.
  • 2026 season series: This Week 1 game is the first regular-season meeting between the teams in 2026.
  • Conference angle: It is an AFC North vs AFC South opener, giving both teams an early inter-division conference result to bank before the schedule tightens.

How to listen to Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts on the radio

Ravens fans can listen through 98 Rock WIYY 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM, WBAL 101.5 FM, and ESPN 630 AM, according to Baltimore’s official radio information. Colts fans in Indianapolis can hear the game on 93.5 FM and 107.5 FM The Fan, identified in the Colts affiliate list as WIBC HD2, plus 97.1 HANK FM WLHK.

For national listening, the NFL game listing includes both NFL+ and SiriusXM as audio options for Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts. NFL+ includes live home and away audio broadcasts for every game, making it a fallback for out-of-market fans who prefer listening over streaming.

Wrapping up

The Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts game kicks off Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 1:00 PM local time (1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT) from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. If you want to watch for free, 5ACTION is the platform to use, but it is restricted to the UK and may block viewers outside the region.

The easiest workaround is to connect to a UK VPN server, sign in to a free 5 account, and open the stream before kickoff. NordVPN is my top recommendation because it has the speed, UK server coverage, and refund policy needed for a smooth NFL stream without paying long term.

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