You can watch the NFL Playoffs on most of the same channels that aired this season’s biggest NFL matchups—including CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, and NBC. If you’ve watched the playoffs before, you’ll recognize that these are the usual channels. 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 LVII.
What channels are the NFL Playoffs on?
The NFL Playoffs will appear on CBS Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports, and NBCUniversal networks. That means you’ll need the following four sets of channels to watch every playoff game this season.
We list ESPN and ABC together because ESPN’s sole playoff game will simulcast on ABC—meaning you need access to only ESPN or ABC. That’s especially important for Sling TV users who don’t get ABC.
During past seasons, other channels also aired simulcasts. ESPN2 typically gets in on the ESPN/ABC fun. But our favorite alternate coverage comes via Nickelodeon, which hosted an NFL on Nickelodeon simulcast for one of CBS’s wild card games last season. Who knew football and slime went together so well?
Some 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. Sometimes, CBS also offers Spanish-language audio through the secondary audio programming (SAP) feature—accessible on analog TV setups like cable and over-the-air (OTA) TV.
Pro tip: All NFL playoff games that air on NBC also stream on Peacock Premium, while all CBS games stream on Paramount+. Last year’s Monday night Super Wild Card Game on ESPN/ABC also streamed live on ESPN+.
NFL Playoffs schedule
This season’s NFL Playoffs began on January 14, 2023, with another Super Wild Card Weekend. It all leads to Super Bowl LVII less than a month later in Glendale, Arizona.
| Round | Start date | English channels | Spanish channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Round | January 14, 2023 | CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, NBC | ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, Telemundo, Universo |
| Divisional Round | January 21, 2023 | CBS, FOX, NBC | Fox Deportes, Telemundo, Universo |
| Conference Championships | January 29, 2023 | CBS, FOX | Fox Deportes |
| Super Bowl LVII | February 12, 2023 | FOX | Fox Deportes |
NFL Wild Card schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | English channels | Spanish channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers | Saturday, January 14 | 4:30 p.m. | FOX | FOX Deportes |
| Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars | Saturday, January 14 | 8:15 p.m. | NBC, Peacock | Universo, Telemundo |
| Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills | Sunday, January 15 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+, Nickelodeon | N/A |
| New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings | Sunday, January 15 | 4:30 p.m. | FOX | FOX Deportes |
| Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals | Sunday, January 15 | 8:15 p.m. | NBC, Peacock | Universo, Telemundo |
| Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Monday, January 16 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+ | ESPN Deportes |
NFL Divisional Round schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | English channels | Spanish channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs | Saturday, January 21 | 4:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock | Universo |
| New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles | Saturday, January 21 | 8:15 p.m. | FOX | FOX Deportes |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills | Sunday, January 22 | 3:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ | N/A |
| Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers | Sunday, January 22 | 6:30 p.m. | FOX | FOX Deportes |
NFL Conference Championships schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | English channels | Spanish channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles | Sunday, January 29 | 3:00 p.m. | FOX | FOX Deportes |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs | Sunday, January 29 | 6:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ | N/A |
Best TV plans for watching the NFL Playoffs
With the NFL Playoffs airing on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, you don’t need to shop for a super expansive (not to mention expensive) TV plan. A simple TV and digital antenna setup will do if you live in an area that offers all four channels over the air. We’ll explain how to verify your available channels 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 ($64.99 a month) is our favorite live TV streaming service for watching the NFL Playoffs. It has over 85 channels, including every playoff channel and NFL Network for extra football coverage. You can also get ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, and Universo 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 $4.99 a month, an NFL+ subscription gives you live access to the entire postseason 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?
| Provider | CBS | ESPN | FOX | NBC | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| fuboTV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read fuboTV review |
| Hulu + Live TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | — | — | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | — | ✔ | ✔* | ✔* |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Spectrum review |
| Vidgo | — | ✔ | ✔ | — |
View plans Read Vidgo review |
| Xfinity | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
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; $49.99 (as of 1/27/23 10:00 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
The great thing about the NFL Playoffs is that every game airs nationally on the four most popular broadcast television networks. ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC are free to watch if you have an OTA antenna and TV within range of each channel’s nearest affiliate station.
If you don’t have an antenna, you can check out our Best Antennas for Cord-Cutters page to browse some of our favorite antennas. But before you settle on the one-time purchase, you’ll want to enter your zip code on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Reception Map Tool to see what type of antenna range you’ll need.
The Mohu Leaf 50 ($49.99 on Amazon*) 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.
Final take
The NFL Playoffs will air across CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, and NBC. These are the same networks that broadcast many games during the regular season, so you likely already have access to most of them. But if not, you can easily find these channels on cable, satellite, and live TV streaming services.
- A digital antenna will get you CBS, ABC, FOX, and NBC. But you must live within the range of each network affiliate, which you can verify by entering your zip code into the FCC’s Reception Map Tool.
- YouTube TV ($64.99 a month) carries every playoff channel and NFL Network. A month-long subscription will easily cover every round of the playoffs—meaning you can sign up on the first day of Super Wild Card Weekend and cancel after the Super Bowl to avoid paying for a second month.
- NFL+ (starting at $4.99 a month) is the cheapest way to stream the NFL Playoffs. But live games are available only on mobile devices. So we recommend the NFL+ route only if you know you’ll be away from a TV on game days.
How to watch the NFL Playoffs FAQ
Which streaming service has the NFL Playoffs?
Any live TV streaming service that carries CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, and NBC will every NFL playoff game—including fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. Mobile device users can also live stream the NFL Playoffs on NFL+.
Will the NFL Playoffs be on Amazon Prime?
No, Amazon Prime Video won’t have any NFL playoff games during the 2022–2023 season. But you can 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, three NFL playoff games will be on Peacock this season, including two wild card games and one Divisional Round matchup.
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.
Methodology
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 1/27/23 10:00 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.
