Plan to travel the day of the big game? Working the night shift and need to find a way to watch the Super Bowl? You won't miss a single bone-crushing moment of action if you have internet access or a smartphone thanks to the NFL's decision this Tuesday to stream the game live to both.

Not only will the NFL and NBC be offering the Super Bowl online, they will also give access to the wild card Saturday and Pro Bowl as well. Verizon, who offers the NFL app, also plans to stream the same games.

Streaming Games Online Nothing New

If you are a football fan, then you know that for several years the NFL has granted online access to live games, which is helpful when you are a San Francisco fan living in Boston and the Patriots are dominating the airwaves locally. This offers you the opportunity to watch your favorite team play without having to pay for the specialty satellite or cable channels offered to be able to watch on your TV.

The introduction of the mobile app will be helpful for those who might be away from not only their TV but their computer as well. Live game access isn't the only reason fans will love this app. Users can set their phone to alert them whenever a touchdown is scored during a specific game or if a team gets 20 yards or less away from the end zone, guaranteeing you don't miss a single touchdown. Watch any other regular or playoff season game, whether it be a Thursday, Sunday, or Monday. Track your fantasy football season with ease, viewing live stats and injury reports, and managing your team of up to 16 players.

You can also enter your favorite team, and receive alerts when new content relating to this team is added, whether it's a breaking news story or video. The downside: you must be a Verizon Wireless user to download the app. It is available for iOS and Android. There is no word as of yet whether or not the NFL and NBC plan to extend this to all mobile devices in time for the big game, or if it will continue to be offered exclusively for Verizon customers.

Other Apps Offered

The NFL does offer a couple of other apps, but it hasn't been stated whether or not they will offer footage of the big games. One of them, NFL '11, offers no footage but instead fans are welcome to listen to podcasts, receive alerts for their favorite teams, videos of press conferences, the latest statistics on players and/or teams, and includes NFL.com Fantasy Football integration. This app is available for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry.

If you're serious about your fantasy football, there's an app for that. Say hello to NFL.com Fantasy Football 2011, available for iOS and Android. This app allows you to create a league or join in on a current league, check scores, manage your players, trade, receive instant news on each player, and even manages all of your teams across multiple leagues. Trying to figure out which player you should draft or trade? Just download NFL Fantasy Cheat Sheet, helping you make educated decisions with instant information and stats at your fingertips.

A Taste of the Future

This move by the NFL to offer the Super Bowl is a good one as more and more Americans cut back their expenses and pull the plug on cable or satellite TV, opting instead to watch online or on their phone. However, I'm certain there are fans out there quite upset that their AT&T Wireless device cannot download the app. There may not be many out there willing, but I'm sure there are some, who will switch wireless carriers altogether just for a chance to view the big game on their phone. Even if a handful decide to do this, Verizon has accomplished exactly what they intended.