Who/When/Where/What: The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) visit the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) on Nov. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, for Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET and the game will air on NBC. Cord-cutters can still watch live using over-the-air NBC or a live TV streaming service offering NBC access and short free trials. This guide explains verified free-or-low-cost streaming options, timing, and what to check before you tune in.
Key takeaways
- The game: Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) at L.A. Chargers (6-3), Nov. 9, 8:20 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA).
- Broadcaster: NBC holds the national Sunday Night Football broadcast for the matchup.
- Free/low-cost streaming options: DIRECTV Stream currently advertises a five-day free trial; Sling TV’s Select plan lists NBC and starts at $19.99/month.
- Team form: Steelers snapped a two-game skid with a win over the Indianapolis Colts last week; Chargers enter on a two-game winning streak including victories over Minnesota and Tennessee.
- Regional restrictions and trial eligibility vary by state and provider; confirm local NBC availability and blackout rules before relying on a trial.
Background
The matchup pits two AFC clubs with playoff aspirations. The Chargers are 6-3 and second in the AFC West, while the Steelers sit atop the AFC North at 5-3 under veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Both teams have recent momentum: Pittsburgh ended a two-game losing stretch last week, and Los Angeles has won its last two contests.
Sunday Night Football is the NFL’s marquee primetime network slot and the rights are carried nationally by NBC. For viewers without a cable subscription, live-TV streaming services that include NBC — or a nearby over-the-air antenna — are the primary legal ways to watch the same broadcast feed.
Main event
Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on Nov. 9 at SoFi Stadium, where the Chargers host the game. Expect a nationally produced broadcast, pregame coverage, and the usual Sunday Night Football on-air production. Local market restrictions do not apply to the national NBC telecast but may affect some local streaming or mobile feeds.
On the field, the matchup will test Pittsburgh’s offense under Aaron Rodgers against a Chargers team that has balanced passing and rush attack through the first half of the season. Special teams and turnovers could be decisive in a tight primetime contest under the lights in Los Angeles.
For viewers planning to stream, a practical checklist includes: confirm the game time in your time zone, verify the chosen service’s NBC availability in your area, sign up well before kickoff if using a trial, and ensure a reliable internet connection to support live HD streaming.
Analysis & implications
From a competitive standpoint, this game matters for AFC playoff positioning. The Chargers (6-3) sit second in the AFC West and can strengthen their seeding with another win; the Steelers (5-3), leading the AFC North, view this as a chance to consolidate a divisional advantage. A high-profile primetime win also affects team morale and national perception heading into the season’s second half.
For viewers and the streaming market, the game highlights how live sports drive subscriptions and trial sign-ups. Services offering NBC access — either via bundled packages or shorter trials — often see a traffic spike for marquee NFL broadcasts. Providers that ease sign-up friction and guarantee local NBC carriage gain an edge with cord-cutters.
Economically, short free trials remain the most accessible way to watch a single primetime game without a long-term commitment. However, those offers are promotional and can change quickly; consumers should weigh promotional savings against recurring monthly costs if they plan to subscribe beyond the trial window.
Comparison & data
| Week | Matchup | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Week 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers at L.A. Chargers | Nov. 9 |
| Week 11 | Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles | Nov. 16 |
| Week 12 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams | Nov. 23 |
| Week 13 | Denver Broncos at Washington Commanders | Nov. 30 |
| Week 14 | Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs | Dec. 7 |
| Week 15 | Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys | Dec. 14 |
| Week 16 | Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins | Dec. 21 |
| Week 17 | Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers | Dec. 28 |
| Week 18 | Teams TBD | Jan. 4 |
The 2025 Sunday Night Football slate runs from Week 10 through Week 18 with varied matchups; the Nov. 9 Steelers–Chargers game is the Week 10 primetime slot. National broadcasts on NBC typically draw the largest live audience of the week, which drives competition among streaming platforms to offer temporary access.
Reactions & quotes
Before the game, the national broadcast and streaming services emphasized schedule and access in their public materials. These brief excerpts reflect standard, verifiable messaging rather than new commentary from team personnel.
“Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET”
NBC Sports (broadcaster schedule)
This line is the formal national broadcast time posted by NBC Sports and used across networks and listings to market the telecast to viewers in all U.S. time zones.
“5-day free trial available”
DIRECTV Stream (service offer)
DIRECTV Stream advertises short trial periods on its service page; availability, terms and eligibility vary by region and over time, so consumers should confirm details on the provider site before signing up.
Unconfirmed
- Regional blackouts and local affiliate restrictions may affect mobile or local feeds; availability for any individual viewer depends on their ZIP code and provider. This should be checked on the provider’s sign-up page.
- Promotional trial lengths and pricing are subject to change; the quoted five-day DIRECTV trial and Sling pricing reflect publicly listed offers at the time of publication and may have changed.
- Any specific injury reports, starting lineups or pregame roster decisions for Nov. 9 may change before kickoff and should be verified through official team channels closer to game time.
Bottom line
If you want to watch Steelers vs. Chargers for free on Nov. 9 (8:20 p.m. ET), the most reliable approaches are: use an over-the-air antenna to receive NBC locally, or sign up for a live-TV streaming service that includes NBC and offers a short free trial. DIRECTV Stream and Sling TV are commonly used options; each has different pricing, channel lineups and regional restrictions.
Before relying on a trial, confirm local NBC carriage, check blackout rules for your ZIP code, and create the account well before kickoff to avoid last-minute issues. For viewers who watch multiple games, consider whether the monthly cost after any trial is justified compared with seasonal streaming or a full cable subscription.
Sources
- New York Post — streaming guide and game details (news)
- NFL — official schedule listings (official league schedule)
- NBC — Sunday Night Football broadcast information (broadcaster)
- DIRECTV Stream — service and trial details (streaming provider)
- Sling TV — channel packages and pricing (streaming provider)
- Pittsburgh Steelers — official team site (team)
- Los Angeles Chargers — official team site (team)