The Unofficial NFL Streaming Guide

I’m watching the entire NFL season through the Super Bowl with Fubo.

The NFL preseason starts early this year with the Hall of Fame game on Thursday, August 1st.

In a hurry? If you just want to make sure you have access to the NFL preseason and beyond, these streaming services will give you everything you need and more:

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

This Week’s NFL Preseason Football Schedule

The NFL starts with the Hall of Fame game and then 3 weeks of preseason play. It all starts on Thursday, Aug 1st at 8:00 EDT in Canton, Ohio.

The normal preseason games start on Aug 8th. Here is the NFL Preseason schedule for next week:

Note that the games that do not have a channel will be available to stream with NFL+. This is subject to blackout for local games. See our NFL+ review for more information.

Looking for info on watching the regular season? See our complete NFL Viewer’s Guide.

How to Watch the NFL Preseason Without Cable TV

As you can see in the schedule below, NFL Network is the place for preseason action. Of the 26 preseason games that will be aired, 21 will be on it.

For people who are limited to the local over-the-air channels, the preseason coverage will be pretty thin. You will only get to watch four games — one per week — via antenna: Hall of Fame with Texans vs Bears (ABC/ESPN), Saints at 49ers (FOX), Cardinals at Broncos (CBS), and Patriots at Commanders (NBC).

Here’s where the NFL preseason will air:

• NFL Network (21 games)
• ABC/ESPN (1 game)
• FOX (1 game)
• CBS (1 game)
• NBC (1 game)
• Amazon Prime (1 game).

Once the season starts, things will be different. Thursday Night Football will be airing on Amazon Prime. And NBC is airing the first week.

Sunday afternoon games will be split between national broadcasts CBS (AFC) and Fox (NFC). And Sunday Night Football will be on NBC. Monday Night Football is on ESPN (and sometimes also ABC).

So football fans want to sign up with a service that gives them NFL Network, ESPN, and all the networks. Luckily, there are a lot of options for this.

Fubo for NFL Preseason, Regular Season, and Playoffs

Fubo is one of the best streaming services for sports fans. They offer NFL Network, ESPN, CBS, Fox, NBC, and a whole lot more. Their basic plan comes with 150+ channels including over 50+ sports-focused ones. Regardless of your favorite sport, Fubo has you covered.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

If this isn’t enough for you, you can get the Sports Plus add-on for $10.99/mo. It includes NFL RedZone, which allows you to easily keep up on all the games — even the ones playing at the same time. And it comes with 25 other sports channels including the ACC Network, SEC Network, and the three big league channels MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network.

All plans come with unlimited cloud DVR storage. You can also watch on up to 10 devices at the same time. It’s easy to find out if Fubo is right for you. Or check out our extensive articles:

• Fubo Review
• Fubo Packages
• Fubo Local Channels
• Fubo Devices.

How to watch the NFL Preseason with DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM is a good choice to watch the NFL Preseason and other NFL games. The base plan gets you 90+ channels including local channels and ESPN.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

However, to get NFL Network, which will be airing the majority of the preseason games, you will need to upgrade to the Choice plan for a monthly fee of $114.99/month.

All DIRECTV plans offer unlimited hours of cloud DVR storage and streaming on unlimited devices at the same time. Check the links below for more information on DIRECTV STREAM.

• DIRECTV STREAM review
• DIRECTV STREAM packages
• DIRECTV STREAM local channels
• DIRECTV STREAM devices

How to watch the NFL Preseason on Sling TV

Sling TV is the low-cost streaming leader for NFL preseason games. The Sling Blue plan is just $45.99/month and includes NFL Network as well as ABC, Fox, and NBC in select markets (so you’re also good for the Super Bowl most years). If you want ESPN, you can opt for the Orange & Blue plan for $60.99/month.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

The hole in Sling TV’s coverage is CBS. There are a couple of ways to get around this. You can integrate a TV antenna (free if you sign up for two months) with the Sling TV interface. All that is required is that you have a CBS affiliate in your area. Or you could get a Paramount+ subscription.

Sling Blue comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage and the ability to stream up to three devices at once. See our articles on Sling TV for more information:

• Sling TV Review
• Sling TV Packages
• Sling TV Local Channels
• Sling TV Devices.

How to watch NFL Preseason with Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is a great choice for NFL fans.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

In addition, you get ESPN, CBS, Fox, and NBC. And, of course, 95+ other channels in addition to its exceptional on-demand library, ESPN+, and Disney+ — all for $82.99/month. And NFL RedZone is available as an add-on for $10.99/mo.

Hulu + Live TV also comes with unlimited DVR storage and the ability to stream on up to two devices at once.

• Hulu + Live TV Review
• Hulu + Live TV Packages
• Hulu + Live TV Local Channels.

Other Ways to Watch the NFL Preseason

There are other ways to watch NFL from the Hall of Fame game to the Super Bowl:

• NFL+: The base plan allows you to watch out-of-market preseason games live on all devices and local and primetime regular season games on mobile devices for just $6.99/month. With NFL+ Premium for $14.99/month, you also get replays of all games on all supported devices. It comes with a 7-day free trial! See our NFL+ review for more information.
• NFL App: You will still need your streaming service credentials to log in, but this allows you to watch the preseason wherever you are.
• YouTube TV: Another live TV streaming service similar to Hulu, you get all the channels you need to enjoy the NFL season.
• Peacock: Preseason games aired on NBC can also be watched live on Peacock for $7.99/month. (Peacock review)

TVs and Devices to Stream the NFL Preseason

The services that we’ve discussed above support almost all the streaming devices currently in use. They support Samsung and Android TV-based smart TVs. Fubo, Sling, and Hulu support LG and VIZIO SmartCast TVs.

If you have a “stick” TV device, you are also covered: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. The same goes for Chromecast devices. And Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad) mobile devices are universally supported.

Finally, Fubo, Sling, and Hulu support the Xbox One. Hulu even supports the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation. And the VR fans out there can use their Oculus with Sling TV.

And of course, web browsers are also universally supported. And most devices that run them can either cast or physically connect to a TV.

Complete 2024 NFL Preseason Schedule

Our Choice

Fubo is my top pick for watching the NFL preseason, and here’s why. It stands out with an exceptional package that includes NFL Network, ESPN, CBS, Fox, NBC, and many other channels that cover everything from preseason to playoffs. Their cloud DVR is unlimited, meaning you can store all your favorite games without worrying about space. Plus, you can stream on up to 10 devices at once, making it perfect for sharing with family or friends. Unlike other services, Fubo also lets you add Sports Plus, which includes NFL RedZone for even more coverage. Compared to alternatives, Fubo’s value is unmatched, especially for sports lovers who want both variety and reliability. Whether you’re watching at home or on the go, Fubo offers an unbeatable experience.

FAQ

What is the NFL preseason for?

Preseason games act as an extension of training. Each game allows the coaching staff to try out new strategies and see how players react on the field outside of practice. Some players will make the cut and some won’t. Your favorite players, the starters, may not see too many downs in these preseason games, but its a great way to see new players and see how deep the roster goes.

Can I watch the NFL preseason on Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime Video will be airing one NFL preseason game this season. This is a Thursday night matchup with the Indianapolis Colts at the Cincinnati Bengals starting at 8:00 pm EDT. The official Thursday Night Football program on Amazon Prime will start in the second week of the regular season on September 12th at 8:15 pm featuring the Buffalo Bills at the Miami Dolphins.

Are there out-of-market preseason games?

There are out-of-market preseason games but it is the opposite of the regular season in that they are easier to see than in-market games. Over half the preseason games are broadcast live nationally — mostly on NFL Network. But the rest are available to stream via NFL+.

Can I stream NFL preseason games for free?

You can stream a lot of NFL preseason games by signing up for free trials with services that offer NFL Network. Otherwise, you can watch four preseason games this year over-the-air with a digital antenna. The regular season and playoffs are actually much better for watching NFL games for free.

How can I watch my favorite NFL team?

For those who want to know how to watch their favorite team, we’ve put together specific articles:

More Info on NFL Without Cable

If you still have questions, these resources should help:

• NFL Preseason
  • NFL Draft
• NFL Regular Season
  • Thursday Night Football
  • Sunday Night Football
  • Monday Night Football
• Out-Of-Market Football Games
  • Sunday Ticket Review
  • VPN Out-of-Market How-To
  • Out-of-Market Games With NFL+
  • Out-of-Market Games With NFL RedZone
• NFL Playoffs
  • AFC Championship
  • NFC Championship
  • Super Bowl
  • NFL Combine
  • NFL Pro Bowl
  • NFL Honors

49ers in their first game in Levi’s Stadium (vs Broncos) (2014) by Jim Bahn under CC-BY-2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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Frank Moraes

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.

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