Upcoming NFL TV schedule
How to watch and live stream NFL games live
The days of needing a traditional cable subscription to watch every snap are long gone. In the current era of sports broadcasting, fans have a multitude of digital options to cut the cord while still catching all the action.
Traditional Sunday afternoon games remain split between CBS for the AFC packages and FOX for the NFC packages. Fans looking to stream these local, in-market broadcasts can use Paramount+ for the CBS games. Out-of-market fans who want access to every Sunday afternoon game regardless of their geographic location will need to purchase NFL Sunday Ticket, which is currently available exclusively through YouTube and YouTube TV.
Primetime viewing requires a slightly different subscription strategy. Thursday Night Football is now broadcast exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Sunday Night Football remains the flagship broadcast for NBC, and those games can be streamed directly via Peacock. Finally, Monday Night Football is the home of ESPN and ABC, which can be accessed via traditional cable, live TV streaming bundles like Fubo and DirecTV, both of which offer new customers a free five day trial of their service.
.jpg?quality=60&auto=webp&format=pjpg)
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream delivers a traditional cable experience over internet protocol, carrying every local broadcast network and key national sports channels like ESPN and FS1. It is the ultimate plug-and-play solution for fans who want a comprehensive channel lineup and reliable DVR with zero long-term contracts.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is the ultimate destination for hardcore NFL fans, delivering all local broadcasts and national networks alongside the exclusive ability to add NFL Sunday Ticket for out-of-market games. With unlimited cloud DVR and a powerful multi-view feature, it is the most comprehensive cord-cutting solution for football season.
Fubo
Fubo offers a robust, sports-focused live TV service featuring local broadcast affiliates (CBS, FOX, NBC) alongside specialized channels like NFL Network and RedZone. It is built for hardcore fans who want massive channel counts and powerful multi-view features to track multiple games at once.
5 day free trial available.
Paramount+
Paramount+ is an essential standalone app for catching live, in-market CBS Sunday afternoon games at a fraction of the cost of a full TV package. It is the most affordable way to watch the local AFC broadcast package without needing a cable box or live TV bundle.
FOX One
FOX One streamlines live Sunday NFC matchups, premier game-day analysis, and high-bitrate sports streams into a single dedicated app. It is ideal for cord-cutters who want straightforward, direct-to-consumer access to everything broadcast on FOX Sports without extra fluff.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream delivers a traditional cable experience over internet protocol, carrying every local broadcast network and key national sports channels like ESPN and FS1. It is the ultimate plug-and-play solution for fans who want a comprehensive channel lineup and reliable DVR with zero long-term contracts.
Key 2026 NFL season dates
Date | Event / Holiday | Feature Matchup(s) | Network / Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
9/9 | NFL Kickoff Game | Seahawks vs Patriots | |
11/26 | Thanksgiving Day | Bears vs Lions Eagles vs Cowboys Bills vs Chiefs | |
12/25 | Christmas Day | Packers vs Bears Bills vs Broncos Rams vs Seahawks | |
01/16 | Wild Card Weekend | TBD Playoff Matchups | Various Networks |
Useful links
AFC East: Buffalo Bills | Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys | Philadelphia Eagles | New York Giants | Washington Commanders
AFC North:Baltimore Ravens | Cleveland Browns | Cincinnati Bengals | Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC North: Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Minnesota Vikings
AFC South: Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons | Carolina Panthers | New Orleans Saints | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
AFC West: Denver Broncos | Kansas City Chiefs | Las Vegas Raiders | Los Angeles Chargers
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals | Los Angeles Rams | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks