A VPN uses your mobile data when your phone is connected through cellular service. Because VPN encryption adds some overhead, it can increase total data usage slightly. Comparitech notes that the increase is usually modest, but it can matter if your mobile plan has a tight data limit. Using a VPN does not create a separate data charge by itself; the encrypted traffic still counts against your normal mobile data allowance.

NFL: Detroit Lions (1-0) @ Buffalo Bills (1-0) – Thursday, September 17th

8:20 PM ET | 1:20 AM London (Thurs) | 9:20 AM Tokyo (Thurs)  – Prime Video

A short week for two teams who went down to the wire in Week 1. Buffalo outlasted Houston in a shootout, while Detroit survived a near-disastrous collapse. How will they look in Week 2?

NCAA: Syracuse Orange (1-1) @ Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0) – Thursday, September 17th

7:30 PM ET | 12:30 AM London (Fri) | 8:30 AM Tokyo (Fri)  – ESPN

An old-school Big East rivalry is renewed in the ACC. Syracuse lost its conference opener to Cal last weekend, while Pitt aims to start ACC play on a high note.

Atlanta Braves (88-62) @ Chicago Cubs (83-67)– Tuesday, September 15th

7:40 PM ET | 12:40 AM London (Wed) | 8:40 AM Tokyo (Wed)  – MLBTV/TBS

Two playoff teams meet as the season nears its end. Atlanta controlled the three-game series in May. The Cubs will attempt to even things up and possibly claim the season series in Chicago this week.

Chicago White Sox (76-73) @  Cleveland Guardians (76-74)  – Wednesday, September 16th

1:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM London | 2:00 AM Tokyo (Thurs)  – ESPN

This could be a determining series in the AL Central. Chicago leads Cleveland by half a game, and four teams are still mathematically alive for the postseason.

Philadelphia Phillies (83-67) @ New York Mets (69-80)– Thursday, September 17th

7:15 PM ET | 12:15 AM London (Fri) | 8:15 AM Tokyo (Thurs)  – MLBTV/Fox

Things looked worse for the Mets at the beginning of the season. They’ve somewhat stabilized themselves. However, it’s Philadelphia that finds itself entering this rivalry matchup in playoff position.

Kansas City Royals (66-84) @ Houston Astros (75-75) – Thursday, September 17th

7:15 PM ET | 12:15 AM London (Fri) | 8:15 AM Tokyo (Thurs)  – MLBTV/Fox

The Astros look to survive the home stretch in the thick of the AL West and AL wild card playoff races. Kansas City tries to play spoiler.

Los Angeles Sparks (15-25) @ Dallas Wings (24-16) – Thursday, September 17th

8:00 PM ET | 1:00 AM London (Fri)  | 9:00 AM Tokyo (Fri)  – USA Network

The WNBA season resumes after a brief break for the FIBA Women’s World Cup. These teams are more evenly matched than their records indicate, but Dallas holds a 2-0 head-to-head season advantage and enters on a four-game winning streak.

Las Vegas Aces (27-13) @ Seattle Storm (8-32) – Thursday, September 17th

10:00 PM ET | 3:00 AM London (Fri)  | 11:00 AM Tokyo (Fri)  – USA Network/CNBC

Vegas held on for a 101-91 victory in the only other meeting between these teams this season. Now, they’ll play two more in a three-day span.

PGA: Biltmore Championship Asheville – Thursday, September 17th-Sunday, September 20th

7:30 PM ET | 12:30 AM London (Thurs) | 8:30 AM Tokyo (Thurs) – ESPN+/Golf Channel

The PGA heads to Asheville, NC, for the first time in more than 80 years for this new 132-player event, serving as a precursor for the Champions Cup.

Netflix: Jo Koy: Blue in the Face

A stand-up comedy special that covers everything from dental disasters and McDonald’s to family chaos and life as a Filipino-American.

Netflix: The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist

An expecting father dives into the world of AI, interviewing CEOs and executives and uncovering the dangers and advantages of the emerging technologies.

Netflix: The Doll

A modern retelling of a 19th century Polish novel as a six-part series. It follows a lovestruck merchant’s attempts to break into Warsaw’s social elites and help the woman he loves escape to freedom.

Paramount+: Golden Axe

An animated series following three legendary heroes on a quest to destroy an evil giant. Things get messy when a rookie joins their mission.

Paramount+: Route 187

Murders along an impoverished and under-resourced community bus route spark a journalist investigation and uncover a previously undetected serial killer.

Apple TV: Slow Horses – Season 6

Career ending mistakes have sent a group of ragtag British intelligence agents to a castaway department of MI5. But they;ve suddenly come face to face with some of the agency's biggest threats. 

Netflix: Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

The fourth season of Netflix’s killer series dives into the case of Lizzie Borden, the 1800s Massachusetts girl who famously stood trial over  a string of murders.  It’s the first season of the show to feature a female serial killer.

Netflix: Plastic Beauty

A Japanese drama about the dark sides and pressure of the cosmetic surgery industry. It depicts doctors of different backgrounds forced to work together in a cosmetic clinic despite their clashing beliefs and approaches.

Netflix: Stranger Things; Tales from ‘85 – Season 2

The fabled gang is back at it in Hawkins, Indiana. This time, they’re investigating apparitions and a swarm of sprites that appear just before Valentine’s Day and are threatening to open a new gate to the Upside Down.

If you travel regularly for sports, set up separate VPN profiles for different devices rather than switching your entire network between locations. For example, keep your phone on a normal VPN connection for security while using a separate profile on a streaming device when you need to access a service tied to your usual home region.

Here is this week’s poll.