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How to watch today's Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers NFL game: Livestream options, starting time

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George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown catch during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Santa Clara, California.  Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Cincinnati Bengals face the San Francisco 49ers today for a showdown of two top NFL offenses. The 49ers will try to bound back from a two-game losing streak after going undefeated all season. The Bengals are coming off a bye week, which is good for Joe Burrow's nagging calf injury, though less good for the 49ers defense that faces him.


How to watch the Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers game

Today's game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers starts at 4:25 p.m. ET (1:25 p.m PT).  The game will air on CBS and stream live on Paramount+.


Can I watch the Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers game without cable?

While most cable packages include CBS, it's easy to watch the game if CBS isn't included in your cable subscription, or if you don't have cable at all. Your best options for watching are below.

Stream the game on Paramount+

If you don't have a cable TV package that includes CBS, one of the easiest ways to catch all live NFL games broadcast on CBS is through a subscription to Paramount+. The streamer offers access to all NFL games locally and nationally televised on CBS on all its subscription tiers. In addition, you can watch top-tier soccer like the Champions League live and SEC college football games as well, plus popular shows such as "Survivor" and "NCIS."

Paramount+ costs $5.99 for the Essential tier (or $60 annually), and $11.99 per month (or $120 annually) for the ad-free Showtime tier that includes your local CBS station. Paramount+ currently offers a one-week free trial.


Get Paramount+ as part of Walmart+

The Walmart+ shopping subscription service includes access to the Paramount+ Essentials tier (with live NFL games such as this one), a $60 per year value. Walmart+ subscribers also get discounts on gasoline at Mobil and Exxon stations, access to special members-only deals (including early access to Black Friday pricing), same-day home delivery from your local store and more. 

Walmart+ costs $98 per year. Tap the button below to learn all the benefits of Walmart+, and to start your 30-day free trial.

Why we like Walmart+:

  • Walmart+ members get access to this game through the Paramount+ streaming service.
  • You can get groceries delivered to your home quickly without paying Instacart-like markups.
  • Early access to Walmart's Black Friday deals reduces holiday shopping stress.
  • You can make returns from home -- Walmart will pick them up for you. (Restrictions apply; must be present for pickup.)

Watch the Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers game with FuboTV

You can also catch the game on FuboTV. FuboTV is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to almost every NFL game of the season. Packages include CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network, NFL RedZone and more, so you'll be able to watch more than just today's games.

To watch the NFL without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. Fox, so you know, offers Sunday NFC games via "NFL on Fox"; while ESPN is the home of "Monday Night Football." ABC airs some "MNF" games, too. 

In addition to NFL football, FuboTV offers MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. FuboTV starts at $75 per month for the Pro tier (includes NFL Network); the $100 per month Ultimate tier includes NFL RedZone.

Top features of FuboTV:

  • The Pro tier includes 169 channels, including NFL Network; the Ultimate tier includes 289 channels, including NFL RedZone.
  • FuboTV includes all the channels you'll need to watch live sports, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
  • All tiers come with 1,000 hours of DVR recording.

Watch the Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers game on Hulu + Live TV

You can watch the NFL, including the NFL Network, with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including both Fox and FS1. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every game on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch live NFL preseason games, exclusive live regular season games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.

Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month.


Watch NFL football live with a digital HDTV antenna

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Amazon

If you're cutting the cord to your cable company, you're not alone; in fact, you are in luck. You can still watch the NFL on TV with an affordable indoor antenna, which pulls in local over-the-air HDYC channels such as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS and more. Here's the kicker: There's no monthly charge.

Anyone living in partially blocked-off area (those near mountains or first-floor apartments), a digital TV antenna may not pick up a good signal -- or any signal at all. But for many homes, a digital TV antenna provides a seriously inexpensive way to watch college football without paying a cable company. Indoor TV antennas can also provide some much-needed TV backup if a storm knocks out your cable (or your cable company gets in a squabble with a network).

This amplified HDTV antenna, claims to have a 50-mile range and offers 36 channels. It's rated 4.0 stars by Amazon reviewers.

Said one Amazon customer, "If you're considering this product, you're probably already questioning your cable television bill and are looking around for a cheap way to get the Big 3 plus Fox and PBS. This antenna delivered that for us right out of the box."


Watch the Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers game on your phone with NFL+

If you want to catch this game on your phone -- and all the amazing football ahead this season -- check out NFL+. The premium streaming service, starting at $40 per year (or $7 per month), offers access to NFL Network. And yes, that includes games being broadcast out-of-market. To boost your NFL experience even further, you can upgrade to NFL+ Premium with NFL RedZone and watch up to eight NFL games simultaneously. A seven-day, free trial is available.

Top features of NFL+:

  • You get access to all NFL preseason games, including those that are out of market.
  • NFL+ lets you watch stream local and primetime regular season games on your phone or tablet, but not your TV.
  • Includes the NFL Network (and NFL RedZone with NFL+ Premium), so it's a good option for those who are looking to stream football on the go.

2023 NFL Season Week 8

The 2023 NFL Season Week 8 schedule is below. All times listed ET. Same games may not be available in your area; regional restrictions apply.

Thursday, Oct. 26

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)

Sunday, Oct. 29

  • Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. (Fox)
  • LA Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 p.m. (Fox)
  • Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, 1.00 p.m. (Fox)
  • New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. (Fox)
  • New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
  • NY Jets vs. NY Giants, 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
  • Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
  • Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
  • Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. (Fox)
  • Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. (Fox)
  • Baltimore Ravens vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
  • Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
  • Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
  • Chicago Bears vs Los Angeles Chargers, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

Monday, Oct. 30

  • Las Vegas Raiders vs. Detroit Lions, 8:15 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)

Storylines we're following this season

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, No. 16. Getty Images

Important dates to remember: 

  • The 2023 NFL regular season runs today through Jan. 7, 2024. 
  • Playoffs are scheduled for January 13 through Jan. 28, 2004.
  • Super Bowl LVIII is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2024 in Las Vegas

Let's talk about those Lions: The Detroit Lions come into Week 8 with a 5-2 record, putting them two games ahead of the Minnesota Vikings for the top spot in the NFC North. The division dominated by Aaron Rodgers for so long now belongs to Jared Goff and the Lions.  Fueled by Dan Campbell and a defense you'd hate to be on the other side of, the Lions rebuild is in full effect. Do the Lions have what it takes to go all the way to the Super Bowl? That remains to be seen, but we're going to have fun watching them try. If there ever was an NFL underdog we're rooting for, it would be this team.

Taylor Swift is the only thing bigger than the NFL: Taylor and Travis officially made it official, hard launching their romance with surprise cameos on SNL and a public moment of PDA that sent Swifties and the Chiefs Kingdom swooning. As if fans weren't already on the Chiefs bandwagon, Swift has made fans of entire universe of 12-year-old girls. If they weren't already tuning in, they are now. With booming ratings, windbreaker sales galore and Taylor spottings at Arrowhead Stadium, Taylor Swift has proved that the only thing bigger than the NFL is her.

What's up with 49ers? Brock Purdy silenced naysayers last season when he took over after both QBs Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo suffered season-ending injuries. Coach Shanahan traded Lance and gave Purdy the starting job this season with little trepidation that the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft had what it takes. The team remained undefeated until back-to-back losses in Weeks 6 and 7. Deebo, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle have battled injuries all season, but Shanahan is going to need them in the game if he wants to keep Niners fans from pivoting from Team Purdy to another team.


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