How to Watch Football Without Cable
Cut the cord but still want every game? Here's which channel shows which games, and the cheapest way to get each one.
Every NFL game is on one of a few services
| Games | Channel | Stream without cable |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday afternoon (AFC away team) | CBS | Paramount+, or free with an antenna |
| Sunday afternoon (NFC away team) | Fox | Fox One, or free with an antenna |
| Sunday Night Football | NBC | Peacock, or free with an antenna |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN / ABC | ESPN (Unlimited plan); ABC games free with an antenna |
| Thursday Night Football | Prime Video | Amazon Prime Video (also on Twitch) |
| Out-of-market Sunday games | NFL Sunday Ticket | YouTube or YouTube TV |
| A handful of special games (including Christmas) | Netflix | Netflix |
Your local team's Sunday games are on your local CBS or Fox station, which means a free TV antenna covers most of what you want to watch.
SET UPPick your setup
Start with step 1, then add only what you need.
- Check which stations reach your address with the FCC's reception map.
- Buy an indoor antenna (or an outdoor/attic one if you're far from the towers) and plug it into the TV's ANT/Cable In port.
- On the TV, run a channel scan (Settings › Channels or Broadcast › Auto tune).
This gets you local CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC in HD with no monthly fee: your team's Sunday games, Sunday Night Football, and Monday games shown on ABC.
- Prime Video for Thursday Night Football.
- ESPN (the Unlimited plan) for Monday Night Football games that are only on ESPN.
- Peacock, Paramount+ or Fox One if you can't get a good antenna signal, or want games on your phone or away from home.
- Netflix for its handful of exclusive games.
Subscribe only during the season and cancel after the Super Bowl to save money.
Want everything in one place, like cable? YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling TV and DirecTV's streaming plans carry the main networks. Check each one's channel list for your zip code, as local channels and ESPN vary by plan.
Sunday afternoon games outside your local market aren't on your local stations. NFL Sunday Ticket (on YouTube and YouTube TV) shows them all. It doesn't include primetime games, which are on national channels anyway.
NFL+ streams live local and primetime games, but only on phones and tablets, not your TV.
Search the game on NFL.com/schedules: every game lists the channel or service showing it.
FAQCommon questions
What's the cheapest way to watch the NFL?
An antenna. It's a one-time purchase and covers your local team's games plus Sunday and many Monday night games.
Can I watch my team if I live in another state?
Yes: NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube shows out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. Primetime games are on national services anyway.
Why are some games “blacked out”?
Local games air on your local station, so streaming services built for out-of-market viewing don't show them in your area. Use an antenna or a service with your local channels.
Does Prime Video cost extra for Thursday Night Football?
It's included with Amazon Prime or a Prime Video subscription. It also streams free on Twitch.