How To Watch NFL Games 2023–2024
We’ve outlined every channel you need for watching NFL games, including the best TV providers for the 2023 NFL season.
The 2023 NFL season kicked off on September 7, and YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket is the best way to watch the most live games. But you’ll also need Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, and Peacock to get every live NFL game this season.
Our guide outlines the league’s six major broadcasting options—including every NFL channel and service. Each section also includes provider recommendations depending on your viewing habits.
So lace up your shoulder pads and apply your eye black because football is here, and CableTV.com is taking you to the gridiron.
Jump to:
What channels have NFL games?
NFL action airs across multiple networks and services, including marquee NFL broadcasters like Amazon Prime Video, CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, and NFL Network.
Because the NFL regular season includes 272 games across 18 weeks, you’ll need access to in-market and out-of-market viewing options to receive the most game coverage. Below is a list of every major NFL channel and service for watching live games.
- Amazon Prime Video
- CBS
- ESPN
- ESPN+
- FOX
- NBC
- Peacock
- NFL Network
- NFL Sunday Ticket
Pro tip: Paramount+ subscribers can stream live NFL on CBS games, while Peacock Premium subscribers get access to live NBC games. Both services also have their fair share of football movies available for streaming.
Additional NFL simulcasts and alternate broadcasts air on channels like ABC, ESPN2, and Nickelodeon. You can also catch extra NFL coverage on NFL RedZone. The channel operates only on Sundays during the regular season, but it provides live coverage of every Sunday afternoon game regardless of regional blackouts.
NFL schedule: key events and channels
It’s never too early to plan your next NFL watch party. Head over to our NFL Schedule This Week to view upcoming NFL matchups, including kickoff times and channel listings.
We’ve also outlined the most significant NFL events to keep an eye on in the table below.
| Event | Date | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Hall of Fame Game | August 3, 2023 | NBC, Peacock |
| NFL Playoffs | January–February 2024 | CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, NBC |
| NFL Pro Bowl Games | February 1–4, 2024 | ABC, ESPN |
| NFL Honors | February 8, 2024 | NBC, Peacock, NFL Network |
| Super Bowl LVIII | February 11, 2024 | CBS, Paramount+ |
| NFL Scouting Combine | February 27–March 4, 2024 | NFL Network, NFL+ |
| 2024 NFL Draft | April 25–27, 2024 | ABC, ESPN, NFL Network |
Data effective as of post date.
In-market games: CBS and FOX
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Most NFL matchups take place on Sunday afternoons on either CBS or FOX. Typically, games with an AFC road team are broadcast on CBS, while NFC road team games air on FOX.
Because many NFL games happen at once on Sunday afternoons, you’ll be able to see only the ones selected for your location. Several factors determine the in-market games for your area. But usually, you’ll get every game featuring your local team and any games with playoff implications for your local team.
CBS and FOX are easily accessible through most TV providers. But if you live within range of your local CBS and FOX affiliates, you can catch every in-market NFL game with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna.
A good antenna usually costs between $20 and $60. The best part is that it’s a one-time payment that will give you access to many live sports for years to come. We like the Mohu Leaf 50 because of its 60-mile range and 4K capabilities, but there are many antenna options to consider.
Pro tip: You can verify which channels you’ll pick up with an OTA antenna by entering your zip code on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Reception Map Tool.
Out-of-market games: NFL Sunday Ticket
Data effective as of post date. Plus $72.99/mo recurring for YouTube TV. Compatible device and internet connection required. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
NFL Sunday Ticket is the go-to TV plan for anyone who supports a non-local team or wants the most live NFL games. This season, the out-of-market sports package moved from DIRECTV to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels.
Getting NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV is the best route for cord-cutters because you’ll also have NFL channels like CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, and NFL Network. That’ll get you almost every game this season, all in one place. (You’ll miss only the non-local Thursday Night Football games on Amazon Prime Video, the one international game on ESPN+, and two Peacock-exclusive matches.)
While NFL Sunday Ticket with YouTube TV is ideal for any football superfan, its cost is as daunting as playing a one-on-one tackling drill against Ray Lewis. Fortunately, you won’t have the contract and equipment requirements that came with DIRECTV. But you may want to explore NFL+ for an inexpensive way to watch out-of-market NFL games on demand.
Pro tip: Since NFL Sunday Ticket left DIRECTV, there are more ways to access out-of-market NFL games. We highlight these options in our How to Get NFL Sunday Ticket Without DIRECTV guide.
Thursday Night Football
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Read full disclaimer.
Amazon Prime Video is home to Thursday Night Football, and the streaming service has 16 matchups in 2023. But not every Thursday night game streams on Prime Video, as the games in Weeks 1 and 12 air on NBC. However, in an exciting addition, Prime Video will feature the first-ever NFL Black Friday game this season, a logical move from the world’s largest online storefront.
If you’re interested in Prime Video for only its NFL games, we recommend checking out the Thursday Night Football schedule. That’ll help you determine when your favorite teams are playing and whether you need Prime Video for the entire season.
Sunday Night Football
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark are back for Sunday Night Football, airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock. The 2023 NFL season features 18 Sunday Night Football games and one Peacock-exclusive match in Week 16. Two other matchups round out NBC’s regular-season coverage: its annual NFL Kickoff game in Week 1 and a Thanksgiving night fixture.
You can watch Sunday Night Football on NBC through most TV providers. But you can also pick up the channel with an OTA antenna if you live near an NBC affiliate.
Another cheap option for watching Sunday Night Football is Peacock. The streaming service’s premium plans start at $5.99 a month and give you complete access to every Sunday Night Football game and NBC playoff match.
Monday Night Football
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
ESPN presents 22 Monday Night Football games during the 2023 NFL season, including four games airing solely on ABC. Key matchups included the Buffalo Bills at the New York Jets in Week 1 and the Philadelphia Eagles at the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman occupy the broadcast booth for Monday Night Football. But don’t worry; you can still catch Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The Manning brothers will host ten alternate telecasts (or Manningcasts) during the 2023 campaign, and you can expect many fun guests to stop by.
ESPN is available through every major TV provider, with Sling TV’s Orange plan being the cheapest way to get the channel. But you don’t need a TV plan to watch every Monday Night Football game because of those select games on ABC, which you can access with an OTA antenna.
NFL International Series
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
The 2023 NFL International Series features five games played across various venues in the U.K. and Germany. ESPN+ will stream the first matchup, while NFL Network will carry the other four.
Most TV providers carry NFL Network, while a standalone ESPN+ subscription costs $9.99 a month. Hulu + Live TV is the only TV service that gets you every international NFL game in one plan because it includes ESPN+ at no extra cost.
Below is a list of the 2023 international games. If you live in the market of a team participating in the ESPN+ matchup, you can watch the game on your team’s local TV station.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | Sunday, October 1 | 9:30 a.m. | ESPN+ |
| Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills | Sunday, October 8 | 9:30 a.m. | NFL Network |
| Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans | Sunday, October 15 | 9:30 a.m. | NFL Network |
| Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs | Sunday, November 5 | 9:30 a.m. | NFL Network |
| Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots | Sunday, November 12 | 9:30 a.m. | NFL Network |
Data effective as of post date.
Other options for watching NFL games
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
For U.S.-based viewers, NFL+ (formerly NFL Game Pass) is an inexpensive way to watch NFL games. The hitch is that live regular season and playoff games are viewable only on phones and tablets. But you can watch every NFL game on a wider range of devices through NFL+ Premium ($14.99 a month) if you wait until after the game ends. The premium plan also includes NFL Network and NFL RedZone without device limitations—a fantastic feature for fantasy football fans.
Nothing compares to live sports on a big-screen TV. But saving money and watching games on your own time isn’t so bad. Plus, there are no commercials when you watch archived games on NFL+, and you can use its spoiler-free feature to help keep final scores a secret.
How to watch NFL preseason games
The 2023 NFL preseason began on August 3, with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game airing on NBC and Peacock. Most NFL teams play three preseason games in August. These games air primarily on local channels, but NFL Network and other national channels carry select preseason matchups.
NFL+ is an excellent option for streaming live NFL preseason action—offering live out-of-market game access throughout August. But you can find more preseason viewing recommendations in our How To Watch the NFL Preseason guide.
How to watch NFL games for free
CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $39.99 (as of 1/18/24 1:45 p.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
You can watch free NFL games by connecting an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to your TV. If you’re near a local ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC station, you’ll have free access to many NFL games—including playoff fixtures and the Super Bowl. The FCC’s Reception Map Tool is a great place to verify which channels are available in your area.
Of course, an antenna isn’t free. But an easy one-time purchase will ensure you have NFL coverage for many seasons. You’ll also get access to UFL gridiron action, plus NBA, NHL, and MLB games. We recommend the Mohu Leaf 50 because of its wide range and picture quality.
Unfortunately, if an antenna doesn’t work for your location, there’s no easy way to watch live NFL games for free online. But you can always try signing up for a free trial to a live TV streaming service. Our Best Streaming Services for Sports page closely examines streaming providers dedicated to sports.
Best ways to watch NFL games
NFL games are scattered across a wide range of channels and services—including Amazon Prime Video, CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, and NFL Network. But not everyone needs the most extensive TV plan to tune in this season. After all, a simple OTA antenna can get you many marquee matchups that air on local channels.
For hard-core NFL fans, we recommend YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket. It offers every NFL game except the ones on Prime Video, ESPN+, and Peacock. You can even upgrade your plan to get NFL RedZone for the best Sunday afternoon coverage.
If you don’t need out-of-market coverage, most cable, satellite, and live TV streaming providers carry the essential NFL channels. Sling TV is our favorite cost-saving option for streaming, but you’ll need that OTA antenna to get complete local coverage. Luckily, if you go an extra yard and prepay for three months, you can get a free antenna and an AirTV DVR device to record locally televised games. We highlight that offer and more on our Sling TV Deals page.
How to watch NFL games FAQ
What streaming services have NFL Network?
You can stream NFL Network on NFL+, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. Each service also offers NFL RedZone, but you may need to subscribe to a higher-tiered plan or add-on to receive the channel.
Can I watch NFL online for free?
No, you can’t watch live NFL games for free online. While the NFL mobile app is free to download, you must log in with a TV provider or NFL+ account to watch live in-market and primetime games.
Can I watch NFL games without cable?
Yes, you can watch NFL games without cable. An HD antenna can get you in-market and select national games while streaming services like Fubo and Hulu + Live TV also carry NFL channels. YouTube TV has the best NFL coverage now that it offers NFL Sunday Ticket as an add-on.
How can I watch NFL in Spanish?
You can watch select Spanish-language NFL broadcasts on ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, Telemundo, and UNIVERSO. Other channels also offer Spanish-language audio through the secondary audio programming (SAP) feature included through most cable and satellite TV providers.
Methodology
Our sports experts watched the past several NFL seasons and spent over 20 hours researching the upcoming season to determine the best ways to watch NFL games. We examined every broadcasting option and compared the most popular TV providers head to head. We based our provider recommendations on pricing, NFL game quantity, and ease of use.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Amazon.com price as of 1/18/24 1:45 p.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
