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The Chicago Bears–Washington Commanders game was played on Sunday, October 27, 2024, and is no longer available as a live broadcast. It aired nationally in the relevant markets on CBS, with kickoff at 3:25 p.m. CT (4:25 p.m. ET). The genuinely free legal video option for local viewers was an over-the-air antenna receiving their local CBS affiliate—not an unrestricted internet livestream.
For current viewers, the practical options are an authorized replay, official highlights, recap coverage, or audio archives. The original live-viewing choices are outlined below for clarity.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders |
| NFL week | Week 8, 2024 regular season |
| Date | Sunday, October 27, 2024 |
| Kickoff | 3:25 p.m. CT / 4:25 p.m. ET / 1:25 p.m. PT |
| U.S. network | CBS |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
The game was moved from its originally scheduled early-afternoon window to the late-afternoon slot. The Bears’ schedule announcement confirmed the change and the CBS broadcast.
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How to watch legally for free
Use an antenna for local CBS
If you lived within the broadcast range of a CBS affiliate carrying the game, an indoor or outdoor antenna could provide the game at no monthly cost. This was the clearest free legal video option.
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An antenna is broadcast television, not an internet livestream. Reception depended on your distance from the transmitter, building construction, terrain, antenna placement, and local station coverage. To use one, connect the antenna to your television, run an automatic channel scan, and check your local CBS listing.
Some viewers could also record the local broadcast with a compatible network-connected DVR. That still depended on receiving the CBS signal locally.
What about a free online stream?
There was no universally free, unrestricted online stream of this CBS game established by the official viewing information. CBS-related streaming access could depend on your market, an eligible plan, or a participating television-provider login. Any free-trial offer would have depended on the provider’s terms and eligibility at that time; it should not be assumed after the fact.
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Legal streaming options that were available
Existing cable, satellite, or live-TV credentials
Viewers with a television subscription carrying their local CBS station could open the provider’s live-TV service or an authorized CBS platform and sign in when prompted. The NFL’s official access guidance explains that desktop and connected-TV viewing may require a cable or streaming-provider login.
Before relying on a live-TV streaming service, check its local-channel lookup using your ZIP code. CBS carriage varies by market, and a service that carries CBS in one city may not carry the local affiliate in another.
NFL+
NFL+ was not a universal replacement for CBS or Sunday Ticket. Under the NFL’s access rules, live regular-season game availability was limited by market and device, with local and nationally televised games generally intended for supported mobile and tablet viewing. Blackout and location restrictions could also apply.
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That meant NFL+ could be relevant to a local-market viewer using a phone or tablet, but it should not have been treated as a guaranteed big-screen stream of this Sunday afternoon game or as an out-of-market solution. The NFL specifically states that out-of-market Sunday afternoon games require Sunday Ticket.
NFL Sunday Ticket for out-of-market viewers
If the game was outside your local CBS market, the primary legal live-video option was NFL Sunday Ticket. In 2024, Sunday Ticket was distributed through YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels.
Sunday Ticket was a paid out-of-market package, not a free service. It was also unnecessary for viewers who could receive the game from their local CBS affiliate. Check the NFL’s Sunday Ticket information for package and distribution details; current pricing and availability are separate from the 2024 broadcast.
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Local versus out-of-market: the short decision guide
- In the local CBS broadcast area: Try an antenna first. Otherwise, use an existing TV subscription or a live-TV service that carries your local CBS affiliate.
- Outside the local broadcast area: Sunday Ticket was the relevant paid live-video option.
- Watching on a phone or tablet: NFL+ may have applied to local-market access under its device and location rules, but it was not equivalent to Sunday Ticket.
- Outside the United States: Check territory-specific rights rather than applying U.S. CBS rules.
Radio and audio alternatives
The Bears’ official viewing guide listed ESPN 1000, Latino Mix 93.5 FM, and SiriusXM for radio coverage, along with NFL audio access. A local terrestrial signal might have been free, while online radio access could have required authentication or a subscription.
For the relevant territory and period, international viewers were directed to NFL Game Pass International outside the U.S., Canada, and China. International rights vary by country and may have changed since 2024. The NFL’s current guidance identifies NFL Game Pass International through DAZN in applicable territories, so viewers should verify local rights before subscribing.
Why official apps and YouTube were not guaranteed full-game streams
The NFL and team apps provided schedules, scores, news, highlights, and—in qualifying circumstances—live local or primetime games on supported mobile devices. The Commanders’ viewing guide described mobile access and limited in-market availability, but that did not guarantee a complete CBS video feed for every viewer or device.
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- AIR RETENTION: A Pressure Lock Bladder helps keep your ball fully inflated for longer with less time spent pumping and more time playing
- NFL AUTHENTICITY: Wilson is the Official Football of the NFL and trusted by the world’s best athletes for over 100 years
Likewise, official YouTube clips, highlights, and press conferences were not the same as a free live broadcast. YouTube was also the distribution platform for Sunday Ticket, which is a paid service. Be cautious with search results promising a “free NFL stream”: unauthorized sites can expose viewers to malware, aggressive pop-ups, privacy risks, copyright violations, and unreliable video.
Using a VPN to bypass regional restrictions can also conflict with a service’s terms and does not create legal broadcast rights.
If you are looking for the game today
Because the game is from 2024, there is no live kickoff to access now. Look for an authorized replay through an NFL or league-licensed service, and check official team and NFL pages for availability. Replay catalogs, prices, and regional access change over time, so confirm the current offering directly with the provider.
For a free official account of what happened, read the Bears’ official recap. Spoiler: Washington won 18–15 on Noah Brown’s last-play, 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown.
At a glance: which option fit?
| Option | Video? | Free? | Best use | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over-the-air antenna | Yes | Yes, after equipment purchase | Local CBS viewers | Requires adequate local reception |
| Existing cable or satellite TV | Yes | No extra cost if already subscribed | Households with CBS access | Requires the right channel package |
| Live-TV streaming service | Yes | Usually paid | Cord-cutters needing local channels | Local CBS carriage varies by ZIP code |
| NFL+ | Limited | Paid | Qualifying local mobile viewing and audio | Not a universal TV or out-of-market solution |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | Yes | No | Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games | Paid and unnecessary for local CBS viewers |
| Local radio | No | Often free terrestrially | Play-by-play without video | Online access may be restricted |
Bottom line
The 2024 Bears–Commanders game was on CBS at 3:25 p.m. CT on October 27, 2024. Local viewers could watch legally for free with an antenna receiving their CBS affiliate. Online video generally required an eligible provider or paid service, while out-of-market viewers needed Sunday Ticket. Today, the game should be treated as historical content: use authorized replay, recap, highlights, or audio sources rather than searching for an illegal “free livestream.”
Quick Recap
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