How to Watch NFL Games Live

CBS shows both regular season and playoff games. Since CBS is an over-the-air television network, it is possible to watch the NFL games on CBS for free using a TV antenna. In select regions, it is also possible to stream your local CBS affiliate for free using Locast.org. You can also watch CBS through basic cable and several online streaming services.

Fox shows both regular season and playoff games. Just like with CBS, it is possible to watch NFL games on Fox for free using a TV antenna. In select regions, it is also possible to stream your local Fox affiliate for free using Locast.org. You can also watch Fox through basic cable and several online streaming services.

NBC shows both regular season and playoff games. Just like with CBS and Fox, it is possible to watch NFL games on NBC for free using a TV antenna. In select regions, it is also possible to stream your local NBC affiliate for free using Locast.org. You can also watch NBC through basic cable and several online streaming services.

ESPN shows both regular season and playoff games. As a premium cable channel, it is not possible to watch NFL games on ESPN for free. Your only options are either cable or online streaming services.

ABC simulcast some ESPN NFL games, but not all of them. Since ABC is an over-the-air network, it is possible to watch these simulcast ESPN Monday Night Football games for free using a TV antenna or Locast.org. You can also watch ABC on basic cable (as opposed to ESPN’s premium cable) and several online streaming services.

Related: How To Watch NFL Games for Free or Cheap

NetworkGames
CBSAFC local-area games
Wild Card
AFC Divisional
AFC Championship
2021 Super Bowl
FoxNFC local-area games
Select Thursday Night Football games
Wild Card
NFC Divisional
NFC Championship
2023 Super Bowl
NBCSunday Night Football
Wild Card
AFC or NFC Divisional
2022 Super Bowl
ESPNMonday Night Football
Wild Card
ABCSelect Monday Night Football games
Wild Card
NFL NetworkThursday Night Football
NFL RedZoneAll regional games in scoring situations
NFL Sunday TicketAll out-of-market games
NFL Game Pass InternationalAll games
Yahoo Sports AppAll local-area games
All national games
All playoff games
NFL AppAll local-area games
All national games
All playoff games
Amazon Prime VideoSelect Thursday Night Football games

Related: How To Watch Out of Market NFL Games

NFL Games on CBS

CBS, together with Fox, holds the right to broadcast Sunday afternoon regional NFL games during the regular season. CBS has the right to the AFC games while Fox has the right to the NFC games.

These games are regional games, which means each individual game is only broadcast to select media markets. Different local CBS affiliates broadcast different games – each affiliate only shows the games that feature its local team. The bottom line is, if you watch these Sunday afternoon regional games on CBS, you can only watch the games that feature your local team.

If you want to watch out-of-market Sunday afternoon games, you would have to use a streaming service such as Locast or fuboTV and spoof your location by using a VPN. Alternatively, you could purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket from DIRECTV (more about that in another section below.)

For playoffs, CBS has the rights to broadcast some of the Wild Card games, the AFC Divisional games, the AFC Championship game, and the 2021 Super Bowl.

  • Regular Season
    • Sunday afternoon AFC local-area games
  • Playoffs
    • Wild Card games
    • AFC Divisional games
    • AFC Championship game
    • 2021 Super Bowl

​How To Watch NFL Games on CBS

There are a few different ways to watch CBS – over the air, on cable, or online.

Over The Air – Free

This is the cheapest way to watch the NFL on CBS. If you already have a TV antenna, you can get CBS over the air for free.

If you do not have a TV antenna, you can buy one on Amazon for less than $30.

Basic Cable – $25 – $40 Per Month

You can buy a basic cable package and that will include CBS. Basic cable is not something cable companies like to advertise for, so you might have to ask for it specifically. Prices vary based on cable providers. For example:

  • Optimum: $25 per month
  • Cox: $25 per month
  • Comcast Xfinity: $40 per month

Online Live TV Streaming – Free to $76 Per Month

Many live TV streaming services include CBS. Prices vary between services:

  • Locast: Free. Locast is a not-for-profit service streaming broadcast TV stations over the internet. It is only available in select regions. If you live in one of those regions, you can stream CBS for free. Go to Locast.org to see if it is available where you live.
  • Locast + VPN: $4 – $15 per month. If Locast is not available in your region, you could use a VPN to spoof your location to a region that does have Locast available. VPN can cost from less than $4 to over $15 per month depending on the service provider and how much you are willing to prepay. However, with this method, you will only be watching out-of-market CBS games and will not be able to watch the regional games of your home team
  • CBS All Access: $6 per month. With CBS All Access, you can watch online CBS programming, including NFL games
  • AT&T TV NOW PLUS: $55 per month. The cheapest package PLUS costs $55 per month and includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, and ESPN. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone
  • fuboTV Family package: $65 per month. For most regions, fuboTV carries CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC. Go to this page to check if fuboTV in your region carries CBS. On top of that, the fuboTV Family package also includes ESPN and NFL Network, 2 other networks that carry NFL games. fuboTV used to offer a Standard package that only cost $60. Unfortunately, that package is no longer available
  • fuboTV Family package + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the fuboTV Family package
  • YouTube TV: $65 per month. YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network
  • YouTube TV + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the YouTube TV base package
  • Hulu + Live TV: $65 per month. Hulu + Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and ABC. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone

NFL Games on Fox

Fox holds the rights to broadcast Sunday afternoon regional NFL games during the regular season. While CBS has the rights to the AFC games, Fox has the rights to the NFC games.

These games are regional games, which means each individual game is only broadcast to select media markets. Different local Fox affiliates broadcast different games – each affiliate only shows the games that feature its local team. The bottom line is, if you watch these Sunday afternoon regional games on Fox, you can only watch the games that feature your local team.

If you want to watch out-of-market Sunday afternoon games, you would have to use a streaming service such as Locast or fuboTV and spoof your location by using a VPN. Alternatively, you could purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket from DIRECTV (more about that in another section below.)

Fox also broadcasts select Thursday Night Football games. These are national games originally from the NFL Network. Only some, but not all, NFL Network games are shown on Fox.

For playoffs, Fox has the rights to broadcast some of the Wild Card games, the NFC Divisional games, the NFC Championship game, and the 2023 Super Bowl.

  • Regular Season
    • Sunday afternoon NFC local-area games
    • Select Thursday Night Football national games
  • Playoffs
    • Wild Card games
    • NFC Divisional games
    • NFC Championship game
    • 2023 Super Bowl

​How To Watch NFL Games on FOX

There are a few different ways to watch Fox – over the air, on cable, or online.

Over The Air – Free

This is the cheapest way to watch the NFL on Fox. If you already have a TV antenna, you can get Fox over the air for free.

If you do not have a TV antenna, you can buy one on Amazon for less than $30.

Basic Cable – $25 – $40 Per Month

You can buy a basic cable package and that will include Fox. Basic cable is not something cable companies like to advertise for, so you might have to ask for it specifically. Prices vary based on cable providers. For example:

  • Optimum: $25 per month
  • Cox: $25 per month
  • Comcast Xfinity: $40 per month

Online Live TV Streaming – Free to $76 Per Month

Many live TV streaming services include Fox. Prices vary between services:

  • Locast: Free. Locast is a not-for-profit service streaming broadcast TV stations over the internet. It is only available in select regions. If you live in one of those regions, you can stream Fox for free. Go to Locast.org to see if it is available where you live.
  • Locast + VPN: $4 – $15 per month. If Locast is not available in your region, you could use a VPN to spoof your location to a region that does have Locast available. VPN can cost from less than $4 to over $15 per month depending on the service provider and how much you are willing to prepay. However, with this method, you will only be watching out-of-market Fox games and will not be able to watch the regional games of your home team
  • Sling TV Blue: $30 per month. Sling TV Blue includes NBC and Fox in select markets. To see if you can get NBC or Fox in your region, check with this tool. Sling Blue also comes with NFL Network
  • Sling TV Blue + Sports Extra package: $40 per month. By adding the $10 per month Sports Extra package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the Sling TV Blue package
  • Sling TV Blue + Orange: $45 per month. With the Sling TV Blue + Orange combo, you get NBC and Fox (in select markets) as well as NFL Network. You also get ESPN
  • Sling TV Blue + Orange + Sports Extras package: $60 per month. By adding the $15 per month Sports Extras package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the Sling TV Blue + Orange combo package
  • Vidgo: $55 per month. Vidgo carries Fox, ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone
  • AT&T TV NOW PLUS: $55 per month. The cheapest package PLUS costs $55 per month and includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, and ESPN. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone
  • fuboTV Family package: $65 per month. For most regions, fuboTV carries CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC. Go to this page to check if fuboTV in your region carries CBS. On top of that, the fuboTV Family package also includes ESPN and NFL Network, 2 other networks that carry NFL games. fuboTV used to offer a Standard package that only cost $60. Unfortunately, that package is no longer available
  • fuboTV Family package + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the fuboTV Family package
  • YouTube TV: $65 per month. YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network
  • YouTube TV + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the YouTube TV base package
  • Hulu + Live TV: $65 per month. Hulu + Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and ABC. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone

NFL Games on NBC

NBC holds the rights to broadcast Sunday night NFL games during the regular season. Unlike the regional games broadcast by CBS and Fox, NBC’s games are national games. That means no matter where you are located in the US, you can still watch these games on NBC.

For playoffs, NBC has the rights to broadcast some of the Wild Card games, either an AFC or an NFC Divisional game, and the 2022 Super Bowl.

  • Regular Season
    • Sunday night national games
  • Playoffs
    • Wild Card games
    • AFC or NFC Divisional game
    • 2022 Super Bowl

​How To Watch NFL Games on NBC

There are a few different ways to watch NBC – over the air, on cable, or online.

Over The Air – Free

This is the cheapest way to watch the NFL on NBC. If you already have a TV antenna, you can get NBC over the air for free.

If you do not have a TV antenna, you can buy one on Amazon for less than $30.

Basic Cable – $25 – $40 Per Month

You can buy a basic cable package and that will include NBC. Basic cable is not something cable companies like to advertise for, so you might have to ask for it specifically. Prices vary based on cable providers. For example:

  • Optimum: $25 per month
  • Cox: $25 per month
  • Comcast Xfinity: $40 per month

Online Live TV Streaming – Free to $76 Per Month

Many live TV streaming services include NBC. Prices vary between services:

  • Locast: Free. Locast is a not-for-profit service streaming broadcast TV stations over the internet. It is only available in select regions. If you live in one of those regions, you can stream NBC for free. Go to Locast.org to see if it is available where you live.
  • Locast + VPN: $4 – $15 per month. If Locast is not available in your region, you could use a VPN to spoof your location to a region that does have Locast available. VPN can cost from less than $4 to over $15 per month depending on the service provider and how much you are willing to prepay
  • Sling TV Blue: $30 per month. Sling TV Blue includes NBC (and Fox) in select markets. To see if you can get NBC or Fox in your region, check with this tool. Sling Blue also comes with NFL Network
  • Sling TV Blue + Sports Extra package: $40 per month. By adding the $10 per month Sports Extra package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the Sling TV Blue package
  • Sling TV Blue + Orange: $45 per month. With the Sling TV Blue + Orange combo, you get NBC and Fox (in select markets) as well as NFL Network. You also get ESPN
  • Sling TV Blue + Orange + Sports Extras package: $60 per month. By adding the $15 per month Sports Extras package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the Sling TV Blue + Orange combo package
  • AT&T TV NOW PLUS: $55 per month. The cheapest package PLUS costs $55 per month and includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, and ESPN. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone
  • fuboTV Family package: $65 per month. For most regions, fuboTV carries CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC. Go to this page to check if fuboTV in your region carries NBC. On top of that, the fuboTV Family package also includes ESPN and NFL Network, 2 other networks that carry NFL games. fuboTV used to offer a Standard package that only cost $60. Unfortunately, that package is no longer available
  • fuboTV Family package + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the fuboTV Family package
  • YouTube TV: $65 per month. YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network
  • YouTube TV + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the YouTube TV base package
  • Hulu + Live TV: $65 per month. Hulu + Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and ABC. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone

NFL Games on ESPN

ESPN holds the rights to broadcast Monday night NFL games during the regular season. These games are national games. That means no matter where you are located in the US, you can still watch these games on ESPN.

For playoffs, ESPN has the rights to broadcast one Wild Card game.

  • Regular Season
    • Monday Night Football national games
  • Playoffs
    • 1 Wild Card game

​How To Watch NFL Games on ESPN

There are 2 different ways to watch ESPN – on cable or online.

Premium Cable – $45 to $70+ Per Month

Cable packages that include ESPN vary in prices based on the cable service provider. Some examples:

Online Live TV Streaming – $30 to $76 Per Month

Many live TV streaming services include ESPN. Prices vary between services:

  • Sling TV Orange: $30 per month. Sling TV Orange includes ESPN
  • Sling TV Blue + Orange: $45 per month. With the Sling TV Blue + Orange combo, you get ESPN. You also get NBC and Fox (in select markets), as well as NFL Network
  • Sling TV Blue + Orange + Sports Extras package: $60 per month. By adding the $15 per month Sports Extras package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the Sling TV Blue + Orange combo package
  • Vidgo: $55 per month. Vidgo carries Fox, ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone
  • AT&T TV NOW PLUS: $55 per month. The cheapest package PLUS costs $55 per month and includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, and ESPN. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone
  • fuboTV Family package: $65 per month. fuboTV comes with ESPN. It also has NFL Network. In select markets, fuboTV also carries CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC. fuboTV used to offer a Standard package that only cost $60. Unfortunately, that package is no longer available
  • fuboTV Family package + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the fuboTV Family package
  • YouTube TV: $65 per month. YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network
  • YouTube TV + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the YouTube TV base package
  • Hulu + Live TV: $65 per month. Hulu + Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and ABC. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone

NFL Games on ABC

Some, but not all, of ESPN’s Monday Night Football games are simulcast on ABC. These games are national games. That means no matter where you are located in the US, you can still watch these games on ABC.

For playoffs, ABC, along with ESPN, simulcast 1 Wild Card game.

  • Regular Season
    • Select Monday Night Football national games
  • Playoffs
    • 1 Wild Card game

​How To Watch NFL Games on ABC

There are a few different ways to watch ABC – over the air, on cable, or online.

Over The Air – Free

This is the cheapest way to watch the NFL on ABC. If you already have a TV antenna, you can get NBC over the air for free.

If you do not have a TV antenna, you can buy one on Amazon for less than $30.

Basic Cable – $25 – $40 Per Month

You can buy a basic cable package and that will include ABC. Basic cable is not something cable companies like to advertise for, so you might have to ask for it specifically. Prices vary based on cable providers. For example:

  • Optimum: $25 per month
  • Cox: $25 per month
  • Comcast Xfinity: $40 per month

Online Live TV Streaming – Free to $76 Per Month

Many live TV streaming services include NBC. Prices vary between services:

  • Locast: Free. Locast is a not-for-profit service streaming broadcast TV stations over the internet. It is only available in select regions. If you live in one of those regions, you can stream ABC for free. Go to Locast.org to see if it is available where you live.
  • Locast + VPN: $4 – $15 per month. If Locast is not available in your region, you could use a VPN to spoof your location to a region that does have Locast available. VPN can cost from less than $4 to over $15 per month depending on the service provider and how much you are willing to prepay
  • AT&T TV NOW PLUS: $55 per month. The cheapest package PLUS costs $55 per month and includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, and ESPN. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone
  • fuboTV Family package: $65 per month. For most regions, fuboTV carries CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC. Go to this page to check if fuboTV in your region carries NBC. On top of that, the fuboTV Family package also includes ESPN and NFL Network, 2 other networks that carry NFL games. fuboTV used to offer a Standard package that only cost $60. Unfortunately, that package is no longer available
  • fuboTV Family package + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the fuboTV Family package
  • YouTube TV: $65 per month. YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network
  • YouTube TV + Sports Plus package: $76 per month. By adding the $11 per month Sports Plus package, you get NFL RedZone on top of everything in the YouTube TV base package
  • Hulu + Live TV: $65 per month. Hulu + Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and ABC. However, it does not include NFL Network or NFL RedZone