It’s January, and that means it’s NFL playoffs time.

It’s also 2014, and that means you’ll be able to watch some of the postseason action for free online thanks to NBC and CBS. But Fox is making things more complicated, which could be bad news for some Seahawks fans.

Variety reports that for the first time, CBS will stream its four AFC playoff games — San Diego at Cincinnati on Saturday; two AFC Divisional playoff games next weekend; the AFC Championship game on Jan. 19 — for free at CBSSports.com.

Similar to last year, NBC will also live stream its playoff coverage for free here. That means anyone with Internet can watch Saturday’s wild card games — Kansas City at Indianapolis; New Orleans at Philadelphia — online as well.

Fox, meanwhile, is taking a slightly different approach. The cable company will allow Comcast, Cablevision and AT&T U-verse subscribers access to its NFC games online, but everyone else will need to use the tube to watch the game.

That’s unfortunate news for Seahawks fans who were hoping to watch their team online. Fox will broadcast the hometown Hawks when they play next Saturday, Jan. 11, and again the following weekend if Seattle advances to the NFC Championship.

Fox is, however, streaming the Super Bowl for free on Feb 2. So, if the Hawks make it that far — which I believe they will — you can watch them go for their first championship ever from your computer or smartphone, without needing a cable subscription. CBS did the same last year.

In case you’re wondering, if New Orleans beats Philly on Saturday, they’ll visit Seattle on Jan. 11. If they lose, however, the Hawks will host the winner of the San Francisco vs. Green Bay game.