How to Watch NFL Games: Live Streams, TV Channels & Schedules
How to Watch NFL Games in 2026 This Seasion
Watching NFL games has become more flexible—but also more complicated. Instead of every matchup being available on one network, the 2026 NFL season is spread across traditional TV networks and several streaming platforms.
For U.S. viewers, Sunday afternoon games are primarily carried by CBS and FOX, while NBC handles Sunday Night Football and ESPN/ABC carries Monday Night Football. Thursday Night Football moves to Prime Video, while selected games are available exclusively on Netflix. Fans can also use NFL+, NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL RedZone and other streaming services depending on the game.
The 2026 regular season begins on Wednesday, September 9, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. The game is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET and will be available on NBC and Peacock.
Here’s a complete guide to help you find the right way to watch every type of NFL game.
NFL Games on TV: Which Channel Shows the Games?
The easiest option for many fans is traditional television. A large majority of NFL games continue to be available through broadcast networks, although the exact network depends on the matchup and your location.
| NFL Game Type | Main TV/Streaming Home |
|---|---|
| Sunday afternoon | CBS / FOX |
| Sunday Night Football | NBC / Peacock |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN / ABC |
| Thursday Night Football | Prime Video |
| Selected international games | Various networks/streaming services |
| Selected Christmas games | Netflix |
| Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games | NFL Sunday Ticket |
| NFL RedZone | NFL+ Premium and participating providers |
| Local & primetime games on mobile | NFL+ |
The NFL’s official Ways to Watch guide can personalize the viewing options based on your location and available services.
How to Watch NFL Sunday Afternoon Games
Sunday afternoon is still the biggest part of the NFL television schedule.
CBS primarily carries AFC Sunday afternoon games, while FOX carries NFC Sunday afternoon games. However, which specific game you receive depends on your local market and the weekly broadcast schedule.
Paramount+ — NFL on CBS streams local CBS NFL games on Sundays for subscribers.
For FOX games, FOX One is now a major streaming option. FOX says FOX One carries its NFL games throughout the 2026 season, including regional Sunday games and major FOX matchups.
Can you watch local NFL games for free?
In many U.S. markets, yes. If the game is being broadcast by your local CBS or FOX station, viewers with an appropriate over-the-air antenna can potentially watch without paying for a separate streaming subscription.
Your local broadcast schedule matters, however, because not every Sunday afternoon game is shown in every market.
How to Watch Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football is broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
The 2026 season opens with a special Wednesday night game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, but the regular Sunday Night Football schedule begins September 13 with the Dallas Cowboys visiting the New York Giants.
Peacock offers live Sunday Night Football streaming for viewers who don’t have access to NBC through a traditional TV provider.
Best option for: Fans who mainly watch Sunday night games.
How to Watch Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is primarily carried by ESPN and ABC in 2026.
The first Monday Night Football game of the 2026 regular season is scheduled for September 14, when the Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. ET. The game is scheduled to air on ABC and ESPN, with NFL+ also listed as an option.
If you have a participating TV provider, you can generally use your provider credentials to access eligible ESPN/ABC coverage through supported platforms.
For cord-cutters, live-TV streaming services can provide access depending on their channel lineup and location.
How to Watch Thursday Night Football
Thursday Night Football is one of the NFL’s biggest streaming packages.
For the 2026 regular season, Prime Video is the primary home of Thursday Night Football beginning in Week 2. The first regular-season Thursday night game on Prime Video is scheduled for September 17, when the Detroit Lions visit the Buffalo Bills.
Not every Thursday game should be assumed to be on Prime Video, especially during the preseason. Fans should check the individual game listing before kickoff.
Best option: Prime Video for regular-season Thursday Night Football.
How to Watch NFL Games on Netflix
Netflix is becoming a more important part of the NFL’s streaming strategy in 2026.
The NFL schedule includes several exclusive Netflix games. One of the biggest is the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams matchup in Melbourne, Australia, scheduled for September 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET. The game is listed for Netflix.
Netflix also has exclusive NFL games around Thanksgiving and Christmas during the 2026 season.
That means NFL fans who want complete coverage cannot rely exclusively on traditional broadcast networks.
What Is NFL Sunday Ticket?
NFL Sunday Ticket is designed primarily for fans who want to watch out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
It is particularly useful if your favorite team is located outside your local television market.
In 2026, NFL Sunday Ticket remains available through YouTube and YouTube TV. The official YouTube TV NFL page says Sunday Ticket provides access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
The service also includes features such as multiview, allowing viewers to watch multiple games simultaneously.
What NFL Sunday Ticket does not replace
Sunday Ticket isn’t a complete replacement for every NFL broadcast.
It focuses on out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. Local games and nationally televised games such as Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football are handled separately.
So if you want the widest possible NFL coverage, you may need Sunday Ticket plus other services.
How to Watch NFL Games With NFL+
NFL+ is the NFL’s own streaming service in the United States.
NFL+ provides access to live local and primetime regular-season games on phones and tablets, while NFL+ Premium adds NFL RedZone and game replays. Live out-of-market preseason games are also included on supported devices.
This makes NFL+ useful for fans who primarily watch on mobile devices.
NFL+ is not the same as Sunday Ticket
This distinction is important:
- NFL+ — local and primetime live games on supported mobile devices, plus other NFL content.
- NFL+ Premium — adds NFL RedZone and replay features.
- NFL Sunday Ticket — out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
NFL+ is currently available only in the United States.
How to Watch NFL RedZone
NFL RedZone is designed for fans who want to follow multiple Sunday afternoon games at once.
Rather than showing one complete game, RedZone jumps between games and focuses on scoring opportunities and major plays.
NFL+ Premium includes NFL RedZone, along with full-game and condensed replays.
It is especially popular with fantasy football players, because viewers can quickly follow scoring plays and players across multiple games.
Best NFL Streaming Option for Different Fans
| If you want… | Best option |
|---|---|
| Local Sunday afternoon games | CBS/FOX or their streaming options |
| Sunday Night Football | NBC / Peacock |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN / ABC |
| Thursday Night Football | Prime Video |
| Out-of-market Sunday games | NFL Sunday Ticket |
| NFL games on mobile | NFL+ |
| RedZone | NFL+ Premium |
| FOX NFL games online | FOX One |
| CBS NFL games online | Paramount+ |
| International full-season coverage | NFL Game Pass on DAZN |
The NFL’s official viewing guide also lists services such as YouTube TV, DIRECTV, Hulu, Sling, Fubo and other participating TV providers depending on the game and market.
How to Watch NFL Games Outside the United States
International NFL fans have a different setup.
Outside the United States, NFL Game Pass is distributed through DAZN in many international markets. DAZN says NFL Game Pass provides access to NFL games, including regular-season and postseason coverage, with availability and blackout restrictions varying by location.
The NFL also directs international viewers to DAZN’s NFL Game Pass International service.
For international fans, the most important point is to check the rights for your specific country because availability can differ.
Can You Watch NFL Games on Your Phone?
Yes.
NFL games can be watched on smartphones and tablets through several official services, depending on the game.
NFL+ specifically provides live local and primetime regular-season games on supported phones and tablets.
Other streaming services also offer mobile apps, including services carrying CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Prime Video and Netflix games.
For the best experience, use a reliable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection and check your subscription before kickoff.
How to Find Out Where an NFL Game Is Streaming
The simplest way is to check the official NFL schedule.
The NFL’s Ways to Watch system lets fans check games by location and available services. The league’s schedule also identifies the network or streaming partner for individual matchups.
A good routine is:
- Find the game on the NFL schedule.
- Check the listed TV network or streaming service.
- Check whether the game is local or nationally televised.
- Confirm whether your subscription includes that service.
- Check the kickoff time in your local time zone.
- Open the streaming app shortly before kickoff.
This is especially important during the later weeks of the season because NFL flexible scheduling can change some game times and broadcast windows.
2026 NFL Season: Important Dates to Know
The 2026 NFL regular season begins on September 9, 2026, with the Patriots visiting the Seahawks.
Some other notable 2026 viewing dates include:
- September 9: Patriots at Seahawks — NBC/Peacock
- September 10: 49ers at Rams in Melbourne — Netflix
- September 13: First Sunday of the regular season
- September 14: Broncos at Chiefs — Monday Night Football
- September 17: Lions at Bills — Thursday Night Football on Prime Video
- November 26: Thanksgiving games across CBS, FOX and Netflix
- December 25: Christmas Day NFL games, including Netflix coverage
- Week 18: Final regular-season games, with scheduling determined after Week 17
The NFL schedule can change because of flexible scheduling, so fans should verify the latest listing before game day.
Is There a Free Way to Watch NFL Games?
There are legitimate free or low-cost options for some games, but there isn’t one legal service that provides every NFL game for free.
Potential options include:
- Local CBS or FOX broadcasts with an antenna.
- Free trials or promotional offers from certain streaming services, when available.
- Games included with an existing TV subscription.
- Selected NFL content and highlights through official NFL platforms.
- Free promotional viewing periods offered by streaming providers.
Availability and promotions change, so fans should check the provider’s current terms rather than relying on old free-trial information.
What Is the Best Way to Watch Every NFL Game?
There isn’t one single subscription that covers every NFL broadcast in the United States.
For a fan trying to get as much coverage as possible, the combination depends on which games matter most.
For most casual fans:
A local TV setup plus Peacock, ESPN/ABC access and Prime Video may cover many of the nationally televised games.
For fans following an out-of-market team:
NFL Sunday Ticket is one of the most important options because it focuses on out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
For fantasy football fans:
NFL RedZone through NFL+ Premium can be particularly useful because it follows scoring opportunities across multiple games.
For international fans:
NFL Game Pass through DAZN is the main option in many markets outside the U.S.
Final Takeaway
The 2026 NFL season offers more ways to watch football than ever, but fans need to know which service carries each game.
For U.S. viewers, CBS and FOX remain central to Sunday afternoon coverage, NBC and Peacock handle Sunday Night Football, ESPN and ABC carry Monday Night Football, Prime Video has Thursday Night Football, and Netflix has selected exclusive games. NFL Sunday Ticket is aimed at out-of-market Sunday afternoon games, while NFL+ and NFL+ Premium provide mobile games, RedZone and replay features.
The best strategy is to check the NFL’s official schedule before every game because the network, streaming service and kickoff time can vary.
For the latest NFL schedules, TV channels and streaming information, check the NFL’s official Ways to Watch guide before kickoff.
Editorial note: This article is written for publication on Newspixer and reflects information available as of August 26, 2026. Streaming rights, prices, blackout rules and schedules can change, so individual game listings should always be checked before publication or on game day.
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