The Minnesota Vikings will be hosting the Houston Texans for the preseason opener on Saturday as the franchise enters a new era with J.J. McCarthy, something that was supposed to happen last season. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury in the previous preseason, and the Vikings will be praying the same isn’t the case this time.
While the Texans will be playing a mix of starters and rookies, all eyes will be on Aireontae Ersery, a second-round pick. The Texans’ offensive line needs him desperately, and Houston will hope he steps up.
When Is the Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans Preseason Game?
- Date: Saturday, August 9
- Kickoff Time: 4:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. CT)
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus after completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings’ preseason opener last year. In his absence, Sam Darnold took over quarterback duties and led Minnesota to an impressive 14-3 record and a playoff berth.
Despite Darnold’s success, the Vikings viewed McCarthy as their long-term franchise quarterback and allowed Darnold to leave in free agency. The redshirt rookie now faces tremendous pressure to deliver, and the preseason opener will offer fans their first real look at his development in nearly a year.
JJ McCarthy’s debut so far:
11/17
188 passing yards
2 TD
1 INTpic.twitter.com/osgUheFAtk— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) August 10, 2024
How To Watch the Vikings vs. Texans Preseason Game?
The Vikings’ preseason opener against the Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium will be broadcast nationally on NFL Network on Saturday. The Network will show the Vikings’ feed, and both fan bases will have separate local options to catch the action.
Vikings Broadcast
- TV Channel: KMSP FOX 9
- Announcers: Paul Allen (play-by-play), Pete Bercich and Ben Leber (color analysts), Tatum Everett (sideline reporter)
- Vikings Radio: KFAN (100.3-FM), KTLK 1130-AM
Texans Broadcast
- Channel: KTRK, ABC-13
- Announcers: Marc Vandermeer (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color analyst), and John Harris (sideline reporter)
- Texans Radio: SportsRadio 610 AM, The Bull 100.3 FM
The Vikings’ star wide receiver Justin Jefferson will also appear in the simulcast with Allen, Bercich, and Leber during the third quarter. Additionally, the Vikings’ radio network and FOX 9 will also have a pre-game show from 1 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m., respectively.
What Are the Streaming Options To Watch the Vikings vs. Texans Week 1 Preseason Game?
Fans without cable access, or outside of Minnesota and Texas, can stream the Vikings vs. Texans Week 1 preseason game through several platforms:
NFL+
NFL+ is the top choice for streaming preseason NFL games. The service includes NFL Network coverage of many preseason contests and ad-free game highlights.
NFL+ costs $6.99 per month or $49.99 for the entire season. However, they’re currently offering a 20% discount on annual plans, bringing the total to just $39.99.
The premium option, NFL+ Premium, runs $14.99 per month or $99.99 for the season (discounted to $79.99 with the 20% savings). NFL+ Premium adds NFL RedZone, NFL Pro for fantasy lineup optimization, and complete game replays, including condensed versions and all-22 coaches’ film.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV’s Choice+ Sports Pack bundles NFL Network with ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, plus college networks like ACC Network, Big Ten Network, and SEC Network. A package with these channels costs $69.99 per month.
DirecTV Stream sweetens the deal with a five-day free trial available across all packages, including their premium ULTIMATE package.
FuboTV
FuboTV offers similar coverage to DirecTV but charges $84.99 for the first month of streaming access. The service includes ESPN, NFL Network, Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, and over 100 additional live channels, plus a free trial period.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV provides another streaming path for NFL preseason coverage. Packages start at $82.99 monthly and include a free three-day trial for new users. The service features all major channels, including CBS, ESPN, FS1, FOX, NBCSN, and NFL Network.
