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How to Watch 2025-2026 NFL Season Without Cable (Yes, Every Single Game)
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Written by Frank Moraes Senior Content Editor
NFL football is the most popular sport in the United States. Its distribution is complicated, but it is possible to watch every game without cable. The problem? No one service has all games. I explain everything below.
In a hurry? Check out these three streaming services with which you can watch most NFL games live during the 2025-26 season:
Our #1 Service to Watch NFL
More options (DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV)
DIRECTV includes every regional sports network in its Choice plan, plus 90+ other channels.
Hulu + Live TV gets you 95+ live channels, plus the Disney+ and ESPN+ bundle.
Start Hulu + Live TV Free Trial ↗︎
PRO TIP: Traveling? Use ExpressVPN to keep watching NFL anywhere in the world.
Live TV for NFL Games
The vast majority of NFL games are broadcast on live TV channels, so one of the big five “Live TV” services should be the foundation of your viewing.
The majority of NFL regular season games take place on Sunday afternoons and are broadcast on local channels FOX and CBS.
| Service | Thursday Night | Sunday Morning† | Sunday AFC | Sunday NFC | Sunday Night | Monday Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | ✖ | Add-on | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fubo | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hulu Live | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sling TV | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔§ | ✔§ | ✔ |
| YouTube TV | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Prime Video | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| NFL+ ‡ | Mobile only | Mobile only | Mobile only | Mobile only | Mobile only | Mobile only |
| Paramount+ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Peacock | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ |
| ESPN+ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Antenna | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
All of these services offer all of the live TV channels that air NFL games, with the exception of Sling TV, which does not offer CBS and only offers ABC, FOX, and NBC in select markets.
Which TV Channel Do I Need?
Here’s an overview of which live TV streaming services offer the key channels:
| Channel | |  |  | |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔‡ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fox | ✔ | ✔ | ✔‡ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CBS | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ABC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔†‡ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NFL Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NFL RedZone | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
| ESPN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
The vast majority of NFL regular season games take place on Sunday afternoons and are broadcast on FOX and CBS. But this has been changing slowly since Monday Night Football debuted in the 1970s.
How to Stream *Every* NFL Game
No one Live TV service has all the games, specifically:-
- Thursday Night Football is on Prime Video. NFL+ can also stream live local and nationally televised games, including Thursday Night Football, on phones and tablets in the US.
- Not every Sunday afternoon game is shown in every area
Here’s a complete comparison.
| Service | Thursday Night | Sunday Morning† | Sunday AFC | Sunday NFC | Sunday Night | Monday Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | ✖ | Add-on | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fubo | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hulu Live | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sling TV | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔§ | ✔§ | ✔ |
| YouTube TV | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Prime Video | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| NFL+ ‡ | Mobile only | Mobile only | Mobile only | Mobile only | Mobile only | Mobile only |
| Paramount+ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Peacock | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ |
| ESPN+ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Antenna | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
“On Demand” Streaming for NFL Games
The most important of these is Amazon Prime Video, which is now the home of Thursday Night Football. If you want to watch CBS, NBC, ESPN+ game replays, you should sign-up for NFL+ Premium.
Friday’s NFL Games
None
Streaming Devices for NFL Games
Every streaming service (except NFL+) supports the following devices:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android Mobile
- Android TV smart TVs
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- iOS (iPhone)
- Roku
- Samsung smart TVs
- Web Browsers
Other smart TVs like those from LG and Vizio as well as gaming systems Xbox and PlayStation are widely supported.
NFL+ for Live Mobile Streaming
NFL+ allows you to livestream all in-market and primetime NFL games — for $6.99/month, but you are limited to streaming on your phone or tablet.
The subscription also includes access to all live out-of-market preseason games, live game audio, and NFL library programming.
If you upgrade to NFL+ Premium for $14.99/month, you can watch all games after they end. You get complete full and condensed game replays of all games on all devices, in commercial-free HD 720p.
See our NFL+ review for all the details.
Streaming Out-of-Market NFL Games
Most NFL fans are focused on their local team(s). But fans far from their favorite teams (out-of-market) face special difficulties watching games. But cord-cutters now have two good options.
First, you can get NFL Sunday Ticket, the league’s out-of-market streaming service available through YouTube and YouTube TV. But it is fairly expensive. You may be better off using a VPN to watch out-of-market games.
Old School Ways to Watch NFL Games
I’m big on streaming, but even I recognize there are some occasions when streaming providers are not the best options. Here are two alternatives.
- Digital Antenna: If you live in a location within range of the necessary towers, you can get Fox, CBS, ABC, and NBC for free over-the-air. Sling TV’s even giving them away! Use the FCC’s DTV tool to see what channels you’re missing out on.
- Your old, expensive (but reliable) satellite or cable provider. If you have to go this route, I recommend DIRECTV Satellite.
Sunday Afternoon Football Games
Each Sunday afternoon, you will have your choice of 4 games to watch — two each on your CBS and FOX local affiliates. Of course, since they air in two timeslots, you will only be able to watch two of the games live.
The games that are aired in your local media market will be those deemed of most interest to fans there. As a result, you will always see your local team(s) play.
NFL Night Games
The NFL features three night games each week:
- Thursday Night Football: Streamed on Amazon Prime Video at 8:15 pm. One of these games is actually on the Friday after Thanksgiving. If your local team is playing on Thursday Night Football, one of your local channels will also air the game.
- Sunday Night Football: Broadcast at 8:20 pm on NBC. It also streams live on Peacock Premium.
- Monday Night Football: Airs one or two games by ESPN Sports. This means that it’s usually on ESPN and ABC but one game is even streaming-only on ESPN+. Ten Manningcast games will be featured on ESPN2.
Special Presentation NFL Games
Most of the games fall into the categories above, but there are a few special circumstances throughout the season.
International Games on NFL Network and Peacock
The NFL plays a set of International Series games most seasons, often on Sunday mornings in the US. Exact dates and TV partners change year to year, but you will commonly see international games on NFL Network, and some games may be exclusive to a streaming partner such as Peacock.
Use the weekly schedule on this page to see the current listings.
Saturday NFL Games
The NFL schedules some Saturday games late in the regular season and during the playoffs. Channels vary by week, but you will often see Saturday games on NFL Network and on the major broadcast partners.
Holiday NFL Games
Holiday games change year to year, but there are a few patterns. Thanksgiving games are traditionally split across CBS, FOX, and NBC. In recent seasons, Christmas Day has also included streaming-only broadcasts, for example on Netflix.
Use the weekly schedule below for the current holiday slate and TV assignments.
Offseason NFL
None
Our Choice
For NFL fans, YouTube TV is a slam dunk. It’s got all the local channels you need to catch in-market games, plus extras like NFL Network and RedZone. Plus, it’s easy to use and works on tons of devices – phone, tablet, smart TV, you name it. Sure, there are other options, but YouTube TV hits the sweet spot of channel variety, value, and ease of use. Try it out with a free trial and see for yourself!
FAQs
How do I watch NFL games live for free?
If you have searched for free NFL games to watch, you undoubtedly have come across a lot of services that are scams. The only legal ways to watch NFL for free are:
- Use a free trial of one of a paid streaming service
- Get an antenna for local channels.
I recommend staying away from illegal sites. They are potentially dangerous and generally unreliable. Much better to install an HD antenna or subscribe to a low-cost service like NFL+.
Can I livestream NFL on Amazon Prime?
Yes, you can. Amazon Prime subscribers can watch most Thursday Night Football matches starting with the 2022 season, directly from the Prime Video app. Amazon Prime costs $8.99/month and includes free 2-day shipping on Amazon, free video streaming, and more.
Can I watch NFL games on Netflix?
Netflix is mainly an on-demand service, but it has carried select NFL Christmas Day games live in recent seasons. Use the schedule below to see any upcoming NFL games on Netflix.
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Dec 25 | 1:00 pm | Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers | Netflix |
| Wed Dec 25 | 4:30 pm | Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans | Netflix |
How can I watch Thursday Night Football online?
Prime Video is the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football. You can watch with Amazon Prime Video. Prime members can also watch via NFL.com or the NFL app by signing in with their Amazon account. NFL+ streams live local and nationally televised games on phones and tablets in the US, subject to blackout restrictions.
Can I live stream NFL games on ESPN+?
ESPN+ sometimes streams select NFL games. See any currently scheduled games below:
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 21 | 9:00 pm | Los Angeles Chargers at Arizona Cardinals | ESPN+ |
How do I watch NFL playoffs online?
Once the playoffs are underway, there are plenty of ways to watch online. Options are pretty similar to the regular season, with games airing on ESPN, Fox, NBC, and CBS. So services like Fubo and Hulu + Live TV will work well for you. You can learn more in our NFL playoffs guide.
How do I watch NFL games from outside the United States?
Fans outside the US can watch with NFL Game Pass International, available in most countries via DAZN. Availability varies by country and it is not offered in the US or China. For Canada-specific options, see our Canada guide. See our NFL Game Pass review for more information on international NFL viewing.
How do I watch NFL games in Spanish?
Prime Video features an alternate Spanish-language stream of Thursday Night Football with its own on-air announcers. How you select it will depend on the device you are using. It is selected under the Audio section. You can find this on most devices by pressing Up on your remote control.
Can I watch NFL games using a VPN?
Yes, you can use a VPN to watch games with the streaming services reviewed above. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a type of connection software that provides an extra layer of security and privacy. More relevantly, for the purposes of watching NFL games, it can change where the internet thinks you are located in the world. I recommend ExpressVPN.
See our VPN NFL game viewing guide for all the details.
How do Fox and CBS divvy up the Sunday afternoon games?
Up until recently, CBS had the rights to AFC games, and Fox had the rights to NFC games. If it was an inter-conference game, the away team usually determined the broadcaster. According to NFL Operations, this year this is no longer necessarily the case. However, if you examine the schedule, most games tend to follow this guideline.
Do I need NFL Sunday Ticket?
Most NFL fans do not need Sunday Ticket. The NFL has actually done quite a good job distributing games to fans. And most of it is done for free. NFL Sunday Ticket has a certain reputation as the thing serious fans fork over hundreds of dollars for but it’s really just certain kinds of fans who should do so — fans who are focused on one or more non-local teams.
Check out our guide to out-of-market NFL watching, which also has links to guides on how to watch specific teams, and our NFL Sunday Ticket review for further discussion.
How do I listen to live NFL games?
For those Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays that you just cannot be in front of a screen, you have NFL on TuneIn. Listen to every score as it happens, in real-time. TuneIn offers the best audio game-day experience for cord-cutting NFL fans, all for free. You can also listen on the radio (either your local station if it’s a local team, or SiriusXM NFL Radio if it’s not) and via NFL+.
Update history
This page was revised 14 times between June 2022 and August 2024.
Update further for 2024-25 season and simplified information.
Updated for the 2024 season with massive changes to channels and streaming.
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Added local channel table.
Updated for 2023-24 season.
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Frank was the Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com and an expert in sports streaming, specializing in out-of-market games and regional sports networks.
A passionate cord-cutter and longtime subscriber to numerous streaming services, Frank has first-hand experience navigating the complexities of sports streaming.
With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute and a professional background in early streaming technology, Frank combines deep technical insight with practical, real-world knowledge.
His mission at Hotdog.com was straightforward: help sports fans get hassle-free access to the games they love, at the best price, without frustration.
A passionate cord-cutter and longtime subscriber to numerous streaming services, Frank has first-hand experience navigating the complexities of sports streaming.
With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute and a professional background in early streaming technology, Frank combines deep technical insight with practical, real-world knowledge.
His mission at Hotdog.com was straightforward: help sports fans get hassle-free access to the games they love, at the best price, without frustration.
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