NFL games are spread across more streaming services than ever, giving football fans plenty of ways to watch without relying on traditional cable. The challenge is knowing where each matchup will appear, since availability changes depending on the day, broadcast network, location, and type of game. A clearer understanding of NFL streaming options can make planning every week much easier.
Where to Stream Sunday Afternoon Games
Most Sunday afternoon NFL games are carried by CBS or FOX, with the matchup available to each viewer depending on the local television market. Games shown on a local CBS station can also be streamed through Paramount+, giving subscribers access to the same NFL on CBS matchup available in their area (source).
FOX games can be streamed through FOX One, which carries regional Sunday matchups, America’s Game of the Week, and eligible playoff coverage (source). Because local broadcasts differ from one region to another, fans should check which CBS or FOX game is assigned to their market before kickoff.
How to Watch Out-of-Market Games
Fans who follow a team outside their local market have a different option. NFL Sunday Ticket provides access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games carried by CBS and FOX. The package is available through YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels, allowing viewers to follow Sunday games that would not normally appear on their local stations (source).
Sunday Ticket does not replace every other NFL streaming service. Local broadcasts, primetime games, and most special national matchups are handled separately. Fans who mainly want to follow an out-of-market team on Sunday afternoons may find Sunday Ticket especially useful, while viewers seeking broader coverage will still need access to the services carrying national games.
Where to Stream Thursday Night Football
Prime Video is the primary streaming destination for Thursday Night Football. During the 2026 season, Amazon is carrying 17 regular-season NFL games as part of its Thursday package, along with a Wild Card playoff game. The schedule also includes special holiday windows such as Black Friday, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve (source).
Prime Video works across a wide selection of supported smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, phones, tablets, and computers. Because most Thursday games are exclusive to Amazon outside participating local team markets, fans who regularly watch Thursday Night Football should account for Prime Video when choosing their NFL streaming setup.
Where to Watch Sunday and Monday Night Football
Sunday Night Football airs on NBC and streams live on Peacock throughout the season. Peacock provides access to the weekly Sunday night matchup along with other NFL games assigned to NBC during special parts of the schedule (source).
Monday Night Football is centered on ESPN, with games also appearing on ABC during the 2026 season. ESPN's streaming service and ESPN app provide access to Monday Night Football, depending on the viewer's plan or television-provider access (source). Fans who frequently watch primetime football may therefore need different services for Thursday, Sunday, and Monday nights.
How NFL+ Works for Mobile Viewing and Replays
NFL+ is particularly useful for fans who watch on a phone or tablet. The standard NFL+ plan includes live local and primetime regular-season and postseason games on those mobile devices, along with NFL Network, live audio for every game, and on-demand NFL programming (source).
NFL+ Premium expands the package with NFL RedZone and full, condensed, and All-22 game replays across supported devices. Live local and primetime games remain restricted to phones and tablets, however, and generally cannot be cast to a television (source). That makes NFL+ a strong companion service rather than a complete replacement for television-focused streaming options.
Where Special and Holiday NFL Games Stream
Special NFL games increasingly appear outside the usual weekly broadcast windows. Netflix carries five regular-season games in 2026, including the league's Australia matchup, a Thanksgiving Eve game, two Christmas Day games, and a Week 18 contest. The games are available live to Netflix subscribers (source).
Other special games can appear on platforms already used during the regular schedule. Prime Video, for example, includes holiday matchups within its package, while Peacock and the major broadcast networks may carry additional late-season or playoff games. Checking the official schedule becomes especially important around Thanksgiving, Christmas, international games, and the final weeks of the season because the usual Sunday-through-Monday pattern may not apply.
Choosing the Right Setup for the Games You Follow
There is no single streaming service that covers every NFL game in every situation. A fan mainly interested in local Sunday games may need only Paramount+ or FOX One, while someone following an out-of-market team may benefit from NFL Sunday Ticket. Primetime viewers may need Prime Video, Peacock, and ESPN depending on which nights they watch most often.
Before subscribing to several services, consider the team you follow, whether it is local or out of market, and which game windows matter most. The NFL's Ways to Watch tool can personalize the schedule based on location and available services, making it easier to see where upcoming games can be viewed (source). Streaming rights can change between seasons, so checking current availability before each new NFL season can help avoid paying for coverage you don't need.