You can watch NFL playoff action on most of the same channels that aired this season’s biggest gridiron matchups—including CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC. If you’ve watched the playoffs before, you’ll recognize that these are the usual suspects. But with streaming becoming more popular, there are more ways to tune in than ever before.
Keep reading as we break down the various options available for watching the NFL postseason. And don’t miss our How To Watch the Super Bowl guide, where we outline the specifics surrounding Super Bowl LIX.
What channels have the NFL Playoffs?
You can watch NFL playoff games across CBS Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports, NBC Sports, and Prime Video Sports platforms. The following six channels will carry every playoff game this season.
We list ESPN and ABC together because ESPN’s two playoff games will simulcast on ABC. Sometimes, ESPN2 gets in on the ESPN/ABC fun with an alternate telecast. But our favorite alt coverage comes via Nickelodeon, which typically hosts an NFL on Nickelodeon simulcast for one of CBS’s playoff games. Who knew football and slime went together so well?
Spanish-language channels also offer live NFL playoff coverage. If you prefer American football en Español, you can switch to ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, and UNIVERSO/Telemundo instead of ESPN/ABC, FOX, and NBC. CBS usually provides Spanish-language audio through the secondary audio programming (SAP) feature.
Pro tip: All NFL playoff games that air on NBC also stream on Peacock Premium, while all CBS games stream on Paramount+. Similarly, every playoff game airing on ESPN/ABC streams live on ESPN+.
NFL Playoffs TV schedule
The NFL Playoffs kick off with another Super Wild Card Weekend, starting Saturday, January 11. Below is the 2024–2025 playoff schedule, culminating with Super Bowl LIX this February in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching the NFL Playoffs
You don’t need to shop for a super expansive (not to mention expensive) TV plan to watch the NFL Playoffs. Apart from the wild card games on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock, you can catch the playoffs on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. All four channels are accessible over the air with the proper digital antenna setup, which we explain more thoroughly in our section below on watching the NFL Playoffs for free.
If playoff channels are unavailable to you via antenna, signing up for a streaming service is the next most convenient option. YouTube TV is our favorite live TV streaming service for watching the NFL Playoffs. It has 100+ channels, including every playoff channel (except Prime Video and Peacock) and NFL Network for extra football coverage. You can also get ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, and UNIVISION with YouTube TV’s Spanish Plus add-on for an extra $14.99 a month. But you’ll first need to ensure your internet is fast and reliable enough to stream NFL games.
Pro tip: Our Internet Services and Equipment guide is an excellent resource for browsing internet providers and money-saving deals. You can also visit HighSpeedInternet.com’s Internet Speed Test to verify your current internet speeds.
NFL+ (formerly NFL Game Pass) offers a cheap alternative for watching every NFL playoff game. For as low as $6.99 a month, an NFL+ subscription gives you live access to the entire postseason—even those Prime Video and Peacock games—and NFL Network through the NFL mobile app. That means you can watch live games only on your phone or tablet. But hey, it beats constantly refreshing social media for score updates.
Which TV providers offer NFL playoff channels?
Most TV providers offer NFL playoff channels. To prove that, we compiled 13 popular providers in the table below and highlighted whether they carry CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC.
| Provider | Price | CBS | ESPN | FOX | NBC | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $61.00–$152.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $69.99–$159.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $69.99–$149.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | $84.99–$114.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $32.99–$99.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99–$89.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $35.00–$125.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $28.00/mo. | — | — | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $40.00–$55.00/mo. | — | ✔ | ✔* | ✔* |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $39.99–$74.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $85.00–$129.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $72.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Available only in select markets.
How to watch the NFL Playoffs for free
†CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $39.99 (as of 1/8/24 8:45 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
The great thing about the NFL Playoffs is that almost every game airs nationally on the four most popular broadcast television networks. We say “almost” because of the two games that stream on Prime Video and Peacock. Regardless, ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC are free to watch if you have an OTA antenna and compatible TV within range of each channel’s nearest affiliate station.
If you don’t have an antenna, check out our Best OTA Antennas page to browse some of our top picks. But before you settle on the one-time purchase, you’ll want to enter your zip code on the FCC’s Reception Map Tool to see what type of antenna range you’ll need.
The Mohu Leaf 50 is a fantastic option for those who live in the suburbs. Its 60-mile range and included amplifier provide solid channel reception. But you may need something with a greater range if you live in a rural area.
Pro tip: Antenna TV is an excellent way to catch every Sunday Night Football and some Monday Night Football games during the regular season. Unfortunately, Thursday Night Football is exclusive to Amazon Prime Video.
How to watch the NFL Playoffs FAQ
Can I watch the NFL Playoffs without cable?
Yes, you can watch the NFL Playoffs on any live TV streaming service that offers CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, and NBC. NFL+ also provides live access to every NFL postseason game for phone and tablet users.
Which streaming service has the NFL Playoffs?
Any live TV streaming service that carries CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC will have almost every NFL playoff game—including Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. However, you’ll also need Amazon Prime Video and Peacock to watch two exclusive wild card matchups. Other platforms like ESPN+ and Paramount+ carry select playoff games, and mobile device users can catch the entire NFL Playoffs on NFL+.
Will the NFL Playoffs be on Amazon Prime?
Yes, Amazon Prime Video will have one NFL playoff game during the 2024–2025 season. You can also catch CBS playoff games on Prime Video by subscribing to Paramount+ through Prime Video’s add-on channels.
Will the NFL Playoffs be on Peacock?
Yes, two NFL playoff games will be on Peacock this season—including one wild card game and one Divisional Round matchup. Check out our NFL on Peacock guide to learn more about the service’s gridiron content this season.
Does NFL RedZone include the playoffs?
No, NFL RedZone isn’t on the air during the postseason. Like NFL Sunday Ticket, the channel provides coverage only on Sundays during the regular season.
Why you should trust us
Our sports experts spent over eight hours examining the best ways to watch the NFL Playoffs. We compared the prices and channel offerings of the most popular TV services. Then, we selected our viewing recommendations based on convenience—focusing on channel availability, pricing, and ease of signing up.
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 1/8/24 8:45 a.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.
