Raiders vs. Chargers: How to Watch NFL Week 1 Online Today

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The Jim Harbaugh era in Los Angeles kicks off at home against a division rival. The Chargers and Raiders need to get off to a good start if they hope to keep pace with the Chiefs in the AFC West. The Chargers are expected to turn to the run game more this year behind backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins to take some of the pressure off quarterback Justin Herbert. The Raiders enter the season with quarterback Gardner Minshew, who will have elite pass-catching options in wideout Davante Adams and rookie tight end Brock Bowers.

The Raiders and Chargers kick off in Los Angeles at 1:05 p.m. PT (4:05 p.m. ET) on CBS. Here is 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 LA area (according to 506 Sports) on live TV streaming services, but there may be cases where you're blocked because of an internet location glitch. There is an option that doesn't require subscribing to 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 2024: How to Watch and Stream Games and RedZone With or Without Cable

Raiders vs. Chargers game: When and where?

This Week 1 NFL matchup sees the Chargers host the Raiders at 1:05 p.m. PT (4:05 p.m. ET) on Sunday. The game will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

How to watch the Raiders vs. Chargers  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, plus it's 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. So 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, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really 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. 

How to watch Raiders vs. Chargers game in the US 

This week's Raiders-Chargers 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. 

Numerous other live TV streaming services carry local CBS stations as well, namely YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo. They all 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 Raiders vs. Chargers  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.