Football is the number-one reason many people keep paying for cable. But you don't have to. With the right mix of a free antenna and one or two streaming services, you can watch almost every game — often for less than a cable bill.
The catch is that NFL games are split across many networks and platforms. This guide breaks down where games air and how to put together the right setup for your team.
Note: Broadcast deals and streaming exclusives change from season to season. Always check the official NFL schedule for the network airing each game.
Where NFL games air
A typical season is split roughly like this:
- Sunday afternoon games — CBS (mostly AFC road teams) and FOX (mostly NFC road teams). These are regional: you get the games chosen for your local market.
- Sunday Night Football — NBC, also streamed on Peacock.
- Monday Night Football — ESPN, with some games simulcast on ABC.
- Thursday Night Football — streamed on Amazon Prime Video, with the game also shown on local broadcast TV in the two teams' home markets.
- Special streaming games — in recent seasons, individual games (such as international games and Christmas Day games) have been exclusive to streaming platforms such as Netflix, Peacock or YouTube.
- Out-of-market Sunday games — NFL Sunday Ticket, sold through YouTube and YouTube TV.
Option 1: A free antenna (the best value in sports TV)
CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC are broadcast networks, which means they send their signal over the air for free. An indoor or outdoor HD antenna picks them up with no monthly fee.
With an antenna you get:
- Your local CBS and FOX Sunday games
- Sunday Night Football on NBC
- Monday night games simulcast on ABC
- Your local team's Thursday night games
- Playoff games and the Super Bowl (which rotate among the broadcast networks)
Tips for antenna success
- Check which towers are near you with an online signal map before buying.
- Place the antenna high and near a window facing the towers.
- Rescan channels on your TV after moving the antenna.
- Outdoor or attic antennas perform far better in rural areas.
For many fans, an antenna alone covers the majority of their team's games.
Option 2: Live TV streaming services
To add ESPN and the NFL Network, you need a live TV streaming service or an ESPN-specific subscription. Most of these services include your local CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC stations too, which is handy if an antenna doesn't work where you live.
The main options:
- YouTube TV — Carries all the major NFL networks in most markets, has unlimited cloud DVR, and is the home of NFL Sunday Ticket as an add-on.
- Hulu + Live TV — Includes local channels and ESPN, and bundles Disney+ and ESPN's streaming service.
- Fubo — Sports-focused service with a large lineup of sports channels.
- Sling TV — Cheapest entry point; its Orange plan has ESPN and its Blue plan has NFL Network and some local channels in select markets.
- DirecTV Stream — Closest to a traditional cable lineup, including regional sports networks on higher tiers.
Our advice: Most services offer a free trial. Check the channel list for your ZIP code — local station availability varies by market.
Option 3: The streaming-only games
A growing number of games are only on streaming apps:
- Amazon Prime Video — Thursday Night Football (outside the two home markets). Included with Prime.
- Peacock — Sunday Night Football simulcast plus occasional exclusive games.
- ESPN's streaming service — ESPN's direct-to-consumer subscription carries Monday Night Football without a cable login.
- Netflix — Has aired special games such as Christmas Day matchups in recent seasons.
If you want every game, plan for one or two of these on top of your antenna or live TV service. You can subscribe only during the season and cancel afterward.
Option 4: NFL Sunday Ticket
If you live outside your favorite team's market — say, a Steelers fan in Arizona — NFL Sunday Ticket is the only legal way to see all their Sunday afternoon games. It's available through YouTube and YouTube TV, with discounts for early purchase and for students.
Note that Sunday Ticket only covers out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. Your local games, prime-time games, and playoff games are not included.
Option 5: NFL+
NFL+ is the league's own subscription. It lets you watch live local and prime-time games on your phone or tablet, plus live audio and on-demand replays. The premium tier adds full and condensed game replays on any screen — great if you can't watch live.
Sample setups
| Fan type | Setup |
|---|---|
| Local team, budget-friendly | Antenna + Prime Video |
| Local team, every game | Antenna + Prime Video + ESPN streaming + Peacock |
| Out-of-market fan | YouTube TV + Sunday Ticket + Prime Video |
| Watch on the go | NFL+ + Prime Video |
| Replays only | NFL+ Premium |
Get the most out of game day
Once you have the channels sorted, the viewing experience matters too. Live sports push your TV and internet harder than anything else. See our guide to setting up the perfect live sports TV, and if streams stutter, work through our buffering fixes.
Bottom line
Start with a free antenna — it covers more games than most people realize. Add Prime Video for Thursdays, and then add ESPN, Peacock or a live TV service based on how many prime-time games you want. Out-of-market fans should add Sunday Ticket. That combination covers the season without a cable contract.
Frequently asked questions
Can I watch NFL games for free?
Yes. With an HD antenna you can watch the games broadcast on CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC in your area, including most Sunday afternoon games, Sunday Night Football and the Super Bowl, with no monthly fee.
Does NFL Sunday Ticket include my local team?
No. Sunday Ticket only covers out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. Your local team's games air on local broadcast TV instead, which you can watch with an antenna or a live TV streaming service.
How can I watch Thursday Night Football?
Thursday Night Football streams on Amazon Prime Video. If one of the teams is your local team, the game also airs on a local broadcast station in that market.
What's the cheapest way to watch every game?
An antenna for broadcast games, plus Prime Video for Thursdays, plus a month-to-month ESPN or Peacock subscription during the season covers most games. Out-of-market fans will also need Sunday Ticket.
