The Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints meet today in Week 3 of the NFL season, and if you’re outside New Zealand, the official word is that you can watch the game for free — provided you pay for a VPN first. That’s the setup, and it’s worth unpacking before you drop your cash.
The Game and Its Stakes
Both teams come in with wins. The Saints have the home advantage after two weeks on the road, including a 24-17 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Raiders have shown more consistent form, going 2-0 in back-to-back wins over the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers.
The fixture takes place at Caesars Superdome, and it starts at 4.25 p.m. ET on Sept. 27. The game is a must-watch, with both teams looking to build a winning streak.
What Is TVNZ?
TVNZ is the broadcaster carrying the game, and it is geo-restricted to New Zealand only. That means viewers outside New Zealand cannot see it directly through the broadcaster’s website. The solution offered is a VPN, which is presented as a straightforward fix.
“These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can live stream Raiders vs. Saints for free from anywhere in the world.”
VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can live stream Raiders vs. Saints for free from anywhere in the world.
The logic is simple: buy a subscription to ExpressVPN, connect to a server in New Zealand, and visit TVNZ. The stream is free, but the VPN is not.
The VPN Pitch
The article recommends ExpressVPN as the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions. It lists several reasons why:
- Servers in 105 countries, including New Zealand
- An easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac
- A strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
- Fast connection speeds free from throttling
- Up to 10 simultaneous connections
- A 30-day money-back guarantee
The pricing is also on offer. A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40, which includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. That plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup, and the deal usually comes with the 30-day money-back guarantee.
There is also a one-month plan for just $12.99.
Why This Is a Sales Pitch
The core problem is that the article is selling a product under the banner of a free workaround. The game itself is not free to watch; the stream is free, but the access to it costs money. A VPN is not a substitute for a subscription, it is a tool used to route around regional restrictions.
The article frames the VPN as a temporary fix, noting that it is “obviously not a long-term strategy.” That admission sits oddly next to the recommendation to buy a two-year subscription. The money-back guarantee is the escape hatch. If the service does not work, you can cancel within 30 days. That is a standard offer for most VPNs, and it is not unique to ExpressVPN.
Other Streaming Options
The article mentions several other services, though it does not describe what they offer for this game specifically:
- HBO Max is described as the top pick for premium content
- Disney+ is described as best for families
- Hulu is described as a popular choice for originals
- Peacock is described as a low-cost choice for live sport
None of these are presented as alternatives to watching the Raiders-Saints game. They are listed as general recommendations for different kinds of audiences.
What We Recommend
The honest reading is that this is a thinly veiled promotion for ExpressVPN. The game is free to stream, but the access is not. The article is doing exactly what it says: telling you how to watch Raiders vs. Saints in the NFL online for free, which means paying for a VPN first.
If you are outside New Zealand and want to see the game, the steps are clear. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN, download the app, connect to a server in New Zealand, visit TVNZ, and watch. That is the method, and it works as advertised — as long as you are willing to treat a paid subscription as the definition of “free.”
The question is whether that is worth it. The one-month plan at $12.99 is available, while the two-year deal at $68.40 includes the extra four months. The 81% discount is real, but the trade is still a trade.
The article closes with the promise of more NFL action, which is a fair point — the VPN is useful for more than one game. But the reader should know exactly what they are getting into before they click the subscribe button.
Matt Ford is a freelance contributor to Mashable, and the piece carries his name.
The game starts at 4.25 p.m. ET on Sept. 27, and the broadcast is live on TVNZ. If you are in New Zealand, you can watch it directly. If you are not, you will need a VPN, and ExpressVPN is the recommended path.
The deal is on offer now. The question is whether you want to pay for a workaround to watch a game that is otherwise free.
Source material: “How to watch Raiders vs. Saints in the NFL online for free,” Mashable.
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