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Monday Night Football Without Cable: Best Ways to Live Stream NFL Season Online

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Monday Night Football is back with the start of the 2023 regular season! And it is not necessary to be tied to a cable contract to enjoy every game. Read on to learn all your options.

In a hurry? If you don’t care to dive into details, these three streaming services will allow you to enjoy not just Monday Night Football but the whole NFL season and more:

  • Fubo: The best streaming service for international sports also provides 150+ well-selected channels. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
  • DIRECTV STREAM: Get a great channel lineup with the best selection of RSNs in the industry. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
  • Sling TV: This low-cost service allows you to select just the channel lineup you want. Save 50% on Sling TV now.

If you can’t watch your favorite sports because of your location, get ExpressVPN to access the content you deserve.

In a hurry? Unfortunately, we don’t know a streaming service in that offers this TV channel/sport. But if you’ve already paid for the right service, and just can’t watch because of your location, there is an easy way to get the sports, movies, and TV you deserve. You need a VPN, like one of the following.

ExpressVPN

1. ExpressVPN: Established VPN provider in 105 countries. Smart DNS, a built-in ad-blocker, and unlimited bandwidth. Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access

3. Private Internet Access: The only no-logs VPN with a location for every US state. Get 82% off + 2 months free.

If you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, you’ll find all the answers in our full VPN guide.

What Channel Is Monday Night Football on?

All Monday Night Football games air on the ESPN family of TV channels. This includes ABC, which was the original home of the presentation.

In terms of exclusive coverage, you will need ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+ to watch every game. But note that three of these games occur at the same time.

Here are the number of games appearing on each channel/service:

Note that all ESPN2 presentations will be the Manningcast. Also: ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes will air two playoff games this year.

Where Can I Watch Monday Night Football Tonight?

Here is tonight’s game:

  • There are no more Monday Night Football games this season.
New Monday Night Football anthem.

How to Watch Monday Night Football Without Cable TV

A total of 7 games of the 2023 NFL season on Monday Night Football will air on ABC. Three of these games will be simulcast on ESPN. But 4 of the games will air at roughly the same time as alternative Monday Night games on ESPN. So those games can be viewed if you have an antenna. Otherwise, ESPN is the only option (see below for the major exception).

Every Monday Night Football game that airs on ESPN is available with Spanish-language commentary on ESPN Deportes. This will also include the playoff games ESPN is set to air.

If you don’t have cable, your two best bets to watch Monday Night Football are Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM. Both options have access to ESPN live streaming all season long. And they both have trial offers that let you try out the service for several days.

The low-cost option is Sling TV. For just $40.00/mo, Sling Orange gives you 30+ live TV channels including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3.

Because these are streaming-only services, you don’t need cable, just a good internet connection. Once they’re set up, you can live stream Monday Night Football and a number of your other favorites. And, they work with the most popular streaming devices and TVs, which you probably already have.

If you want complete access to the season, see our NFL Out-of-Market Game Guide.

Fubo

fubotv logo
NFL ChannelsABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, NBC, NFL Network
Total Channels150+
Cloud DVR1,000 hours
Simultaneous Screens10 (home) and 2 (away)
Free Trial
Fubo Price$79.99/mo

One of the best ways to live stream Monday Night Football is Fubo (formerly FuboTV). It is great for sports fans. Of its over 150 channels, over 35 are sports-focused. And its base plan includes ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, all the channels you might want for Monday Night Football.

For $79.99/mo, Fubo’s Pro plan offers all the channels you need to watch the NFL: CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and NFL Network. For an extra $10.99/mo, you can get the Sports Plus add-on. This provides you with NFL RedZone as well as 25+ other live sports channels including MLB Network, NBA TV, 4 Stadium channels, 7 Pac-12 channels, and more.

Find out more in our Fubo articles:

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

ESPN on FuboTV
Monday Night Football preview on Fubo.

Unblock Your Favorite Events & Teams With a VPN

If you can’t watch your favorite events or teams because of your location, a VPN will allow you to get the access you are entitled to, plus extra security and unequaled privacy. Check out our VPN Guide for everything you need to know, including our top pick ExpressVPN.

Get ExpressVPN Today

Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM
NFL ChannelsABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, NBC
Total Channels75+
Cloud DVRUnlimited*
Simultaneous ScreensUnlimited
Free Trial
AT&T TV Price$79.99/mo
* Online sign-up required.

DIRECTV STREAM is $79.99/mo for 75+ channels, which include all the base NFL channels including the local channels.

DIRECTV STREAM might be a good service to use if you are interested in more than just football. For baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer fans, it offers the best availability of regional sports networks (RSNs) in the industry. To get access, you need to upgrade to their Choice plan for $108.99/mo (100+ channels). But in some areas, it is the only option.

The base plan allows you to watch all of Monday Night Football. To learn more about DIRECTV STREAM, check out the following:

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days

Sling TV

Sling TV Logo (2021 100x50)
NFL ChannelsESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3
Total Channels30+
Cloud DVR50 hours
Simultaneous Screens1
Free Trial❌ (Save 50% on Sling TV now!)
Sling TV Price$40.00/mo

Sling TV is a great option if you are on a budget. They offer two plans for $40.00/mo each. Sling Orange offers ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Sling Blue offers ABC, Fox, and NBC in select markets and NFL Network everywhere. You can get the two together for $55.00/mo for a total of 50+ channels. This last plan is the one most football fans will want.

Although Sling Orange does not offer ABC, you won’t miss anything from ABC Sports since it is all simulcast on ESPN3, which Sling TV does provide.

The hole in its NFL coverage is CBS. You can get around this, however, by integrating your Sling TV interface either with an antenna or Paramount+. But even without this, Sling TV represents one of the best deals in the industry and is fantastic for Monday Night Football.

Find out more about Sling TV in the following article:

See also these Sling-specific NFL guides: NFL on Sling, NFL Preseason, NFL RedZone, and Sunday Night Football.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Hulu + Live TV

hulu logo
NFL ChannelsABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, NBC, NFL Network
Total Channels85+
Cloud DVRUnlimited
Simultaneous Screens2
Free Trial
Hulu Price$76.99/mo

Everyone knows Hulu because of its industry-leading on-demand streaming service. Hulu + Live TV offers this along with 85+ live TV channels for $76.99/mo. This includes all the channels you need to watch the NFL including Monday Night Football.

And if that isn’t enough, all Hulu Live subscribers get Disney+ and ESPN+.

Hulu + Live TV also allows you to get NFL RedZone. It is only $9.99/mo extra but comes with an underwhelming selection of 5 other channels: MAVTV, Sportsman Channel, Outdoor Channel, FanDuel, and FanDuel Racing. But that’s a good price for RedZone alone.

There’s lots more to know about Hulu + Live TV; check out the following:

Try Hulu + Live TV Today!

Vidgo

vidgo logo
NFL ChannelsABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, NFL Network
Total Channels100+
Cloud DVR20 hours
Simultaneous Screens3
Free Trial
Vidgo Price$69.99/mo

Vidgo offers a good selection of channels with lots of live sports for just $69.99/mo. It offers 5 ESPN channels including ESPN2 and ESPNU. They also provide a bunch of college-oriented channels: ACC Network, BYU TV, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and more.

To get NFL RedZone, you need to upgrade to the Premium plan for $84.99/mo. Vidgo offers ABC and Fox in selected markets but does not offer access to CBS and NBC. And it offers only a small cloud DVR.

If you want more information about Vidgo, check out our articles:

Try Vidgo Today!

Vidgo ESPN2
NFL Live underway, shown through Vidgo’s TV guide.

Other Options to Watch Monday Night Football Without Cable

Monday Night Football on NFL+
Android smartphone running NFL+ to watch Monday Night Football (Sep 11, 2023).

While these are our top recommendations for live streaming Monday Night Football, there are other options of varying levels of acceptability:

  • NFL+: Live stream all local and primetime games, including Monday Night Football, for just $6.99/mo. Limited to viewing on mobile devices.
  • Antenna: In most areas, you can get ABC in high definition over the air (OTA). This will only allow you to watch a small number of episodes of Monday Night Football (see below) but it’s a good option for watching a lot of other games.
  • ESPN App: This is a great way to catch Monday Night Football on the go. However, you will need to have a streaming service account to login via TV Everywhere.
  • YouTube TV: A full cable-replacement streaming service very similar to Hulu + Live TV.

There are other ways to watch the NFL outside of Monday Night Football. You should consider Paramount+, for example, to live stream the games on your local CBS affiliate.

Try NFL+ Now!

Devices and TVs to Live Stream Monday Night Football

Sling TV Android - Arizona Cardinals
Android running Sling TV with NFL choices.

Over the past couple of years, the streaming industry has gotten very serious about supporting the hardware that is in use. You can live stream Monday Night Football on most streaming devices.

TVs and TV Devices

The most direct way to use a streaming service is to run it directly with your TV. Other than Vidgo, all the services support recent Samsung smart TVs. Fubo, Hulu, and Sling also support VIZIO SmartCast TVs and LG TVs. And Fubo supports Hisense TVs.

All the streaming services support units that run the Android TV operating system.

But if you are like most people, you probably have a little TV “stick” that you connect to your TV. All the streaming services support these:

  • Amazon Fire TV
  • Apple TV
  • Roku.

Mobile Devices

If you want to live stream Monday Night Football on your phone, you can do that too. Everyone supports the major models:

  • Android Phones
  • iOS devices (iPhones, iPads).

All the major web browsers are universally supported: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. If you want, you can use a labtop to live stream and then send it to your TV — either by connecting an HDMI cable or by casting.

Similarly, all the services support Chromecast, which allows your TV to accept video casting from your phone.

Gaming Consoles

If you want to use your gaming console to live stream Monday Night Football, that’s not a problem. Fubo, Hulu, and Sling all support the Xbox. Hulu also supports the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Echo Show. And Sling TV supports the Oculus.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

About Monday Night Football

When Monday Night Football started on ABC back in 1970, it was a very big deal. NFL games that were at night on a weekday and at night — revolutionary! Now with Thursday Night Football and Sunday Night Football, it isn’t as unusual. But it’s still an important event for football fans.

In 2006, Monday Night Football moved to ESPN. Because of its long association with cable, some fans might be concerned about ditching cable. But ESPN is well supported by streaming services.

You can live stream Monday Night Football without cable with Fubo (free trial) and DIRECTV STREAM (5-day free trial). Check out our guide for how to watch Monday Night Football online below!

On-Air Talent

Veteran NFL sportscaster Joe Buck provides play-by-play coverage with former Cowboys quarterback and Hall-of-Famer Troy Aikman on color commentary. Lisa Salters is the primary sideline reporter.

There is a secondary team for when two games take place at the same time. Chris Fowler provides play-by-play for these games. With him are Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick with analysis and Laura Rutledge on the sidelines.

ESPN’s pregame show is Monday Night Countdown, now hosted by Scott Van Pelt. Robert Griffin III and Adam Schefter are returning to the show along with newcomers Ryan Clark and Marcus Spears.

Manningcast

Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, or as it’s better known, the Manningcast, is broadcast on ESPN2. Some of these are simulcast on ESPN+.

The popular alternate telecast starring Super Bowl winners Peyton and Eli Manning debuted in 2021, and won a Sports Emmy Award in 2022. There will be 9 games this year.

Monday Night Football Schedule

Let’s look at this year’s great schedule. There will only be one Monday Night preseason matchup (Ravens at the Commanders during the second week of the preseason). There will also be two Monday Night playoff games.

All MNF games air on ESPN, ABC, or both. If you don’t have access to ABC, these games are simulcast on ESPN3. Sling TV offers this through its own interface but you can get access to it via TV Everywhere with all the other services.

Here is the complete schedule of Monday Night Football (outside of the playoffs) including three doubleheader or simultaneous games, which you may want to DVR. Times are all Eastern.

DateTimeTeamsChannel
Mon Aug 21Ravens (28) at Commanders (29)ESPN
Mon Sep 11Bills (16) at Jets (22)ESPN/ABC
Mon Sep 18Saints (20) at Panthers (17)ESPN
Mon Sep 18Browns (22) at Steelers (26)ABC
Mon Sep 25Eagles (25) at Buccaneers (11)ABC
Mon Sep 25Rams (16) at Bengals (19)ESPN
Sun Oct 1Falcons(7) vs Jaguars (23)ESPN+
Mon Oct 2Seahawks (24) at Giants (3)ESPN/ABC †
Mon Oct 9Packers (13) at Raiders (17)ESPN/ABC †
Mon Oct 16Cowboys (20) at Chargers (17)ESPN/ABC
Mon Oct 2349ers (17) at Vikings (22)ESPN/ABC †
Mon Oct 30Raiders (14) at Lions (26)ESPN/ABC
Mon Nov 6Chargers (27) at Jets (6)ESPN/ABC †
Mon Nov 13Broncos (24) at Bills (22)ESPN/ABC †
Mon Nov 20Eagles (21) at Chiefs (17)ESPN/ABC †
Mon Nov 27Bears (12) at Vikings (10)ESPN/ABC
Mon Dec 4Bengals (34) at Jaguars (31)ESPN/ABC †
Mon Dec 11Titans at DolphinsESPN
Mon Dec 11Packers at GiantsABC
Mon Dec 18Chiefs at PatriotsESPN/ABC †
Mon Dec 25Ravens at 49ersABC/ESPN+
Sat Dec 30Lions at CowboysESPN/ABC
Games listed with † will also be presented as the Manning cast on ESPN2. All games broadcast on ESPN are broadcast in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

Superpower Your Sports Streaming With a VPN

For the sake of privacy, security, and access, you should be using a VPN. They are low-cost and easy to use. We’ve been using them for years and our top pick is ExpressVPN. Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

i Our VPN Buyer’s Guide provides a complete introduction and all you need to know to choose the best VPN for your needs.

Summing Up

If you want to watch Monday Night Football, you need ESPN. Thankfully, ESPN is available in the base plans of most streaming services. And they normally come with the other channels you need to enjoy the whole NFL season and more.

We recommend Fubo for Monday Night Football. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

FAQs

Can I watch Monday Night Football online for free?

Simply put, no. MNF is exclusively licensed to ESPN, and ESPN is only available through paid TV providers. Several streaming TV providers offer free trials, which you could take advantage of to get a couple free weeks. A handful of games will be simulcast on ABC, and you could watch those for free if you have an antenna.

In addition, games in which your home team is playing are aired on your local network affiliate (ABC in the case of MNF). For example, if the Bills are playing (as they did in Week 2), viewers in Buffalo should be able to tune into their local ABC stations to watch the game, no ESPN necessary.

What time does Monday Night Football start?

Most Monday Night Football games start at with Monday Night Countdown starting an hour earlier. However, some days there are two Monday Night games on at the same time, and one may start at . In 2023, there is a Saturday night game that also starts at . And there is a Sunday morning game, that starts at .

How can I watch Monday Night Football live?

Monday Night Football is broadcast on ESPN, ABC, or both. What’s more, the Manningcast is broadcast on ESPN2 (sometimes along with ESPN+). Spanish-language coverage is on ESPN Deportes. You can also live stream it on your phone or tablet with NFL+. And select games will be simulcast on ABC.

You can also check out MNF on the ESPN app or the website espn.com.

Which channels carry Monday Night Football?

ESPN airs almost all Monday Night Football games. Sometimes, ABC will also air it. You can also watch Monday Night Football on your phone or tablet with NFL+. But generally, if you want to enjoy Monday Night Football in all its glory, you should get a streaming service that offers ESPN like Fubo or Hulu + Live TV.

Can I watch Monday Night Football without ESPN?

You could watch the seven games that are either simulcast or broadcast exclusively on ABC. If you live within range of your local ABC affiliate, you could watch those 7, plus any games in which your home team is playing, totally free with an antenna. But the majority of the games will air exclusively on ESPN and its sister channels.

Why are some Monday Night Football games on Saturday night or Sunday morning?

In 2023, two Monday Night Football games will air outside of the Monday night slot. This is because Monday Night Football is more of a brand than a description. It’s the same as the first game of the regular season, which takes place on Thursday night but is called Sunday Night Football. The main thing is that Monday Night Football games will air on ABC, ESPN, or related channels.

How can I watch Monday Night Football on my smart TV?

The major streaming services allow you to live stream Monday Night Football on your smart TV. The two best services for support are Fubo and Hulu. But even services without great support allow you to cast from your phone to your smart TV. And this is incredibly easy to do — basically just the click of a button.

Can I watch ESPN without cable?

You can definitely watch ESPN without cable. It doesn’t seem like it though. ESPN is, after all, a “cable channel.” But that term doesn’t mean much anymore. Most “cable channels” are available from streaming services like Sling TV. And ESPN is widely available. Every major live TV streaming service offers it.

Is Monday Night Football on Amazon?

Amazon Prime Video streams almost all the Thursday Night Football games as of 2022. It has exclusive rights to one preseason game and 15 regular-season games. But these are the only NFL games that Amazon will live stream. But this means that last year was the first year that it wasn’t possible to watch all of the NFL season with cable alone.

Can I watch Monday Night Football with an antenna?

You can watch Monday Night Football via antenna when it airs on ABC. However, this is a minority of games. In the 2023 season, it will only broadcast seven games of the regular season. However, local market games will air on ABC in those markets. So if you live in Tampa Bay and the Buccaneers are on Monday Night Football, it should air on your local ABC affiliate and should be available OTA via antenna.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

How can I watch my favorite NFL team without cable?

We’ve created articles for every NFL team with all you need to know to watch without cable:

AFC East AFC North AFC South AFC West
Buffalo Bills Baltimore Ravens Houston Texans Denver Broncos
Miami Dolphins Cincinnati Bengals Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs
New England Patriots Cleveland Browns Jacksonville Jaguars Los Angeles Chargers
New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Tennessee Titans Las Vegas Raiders
NFC East NFC North NFC South NFC West
Dallas Cowboys Chicago Bears Atlanta Falcons Arizona Cardinals
New York Giants Detroit Lions Carolina Panthers Los Angeles Rams
Philadelphia Eagles Green Bay Packers New Orleans Saints San Francisco 49ers
Washington Commanders Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers Seattle Seahawks

More Info on NFL Without Cable

If you still have questions, these resources should help:

Ditch “Big Cable” Now – 3 Simple Steps to Cut the Cord

  1. Pick the right streaming service
  2. Get the content you deserve with the best VPN.
  3. Supercharge your internet provider

That’s it — you’ll save money, take back control, and enjoy TV more!

Page Updates

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