How to Watch NFL Games Without Cable in 2026
You do not need a cable subscription to watch NFL games in 2026. Every game airs on a channel that is also carried by at least one streaming service, and a few games stream exclusively. This guide lists which service you need for each broadcast window, so you only pay for what you actually watch.
Which service carries each NFL broadcast
| Broadcast | Channel | Streaming option |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday afternoon (AFC) | CBS | Paramount+, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV |
| Sunday afternoon (NFC) | FOX | YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling |
| Sunday Night Football | NBC | Peacock, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN / ABC | ESPN+, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling |
| Thursday Night Football | Prime Video | Prime Video only |
| Christmas Day | Netflix | Netflix only |
| Select games | NFL Network | NFL+, YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling |
Out-of-market Sunday games
CBS and FOX only show the games assigned to your region. To watch every Sunday afternoon game, you need NFL Sunday Ticket, sold through YouTube and YouTube TV. It does not include the primetime games, which stay on NBC, ESPN and Prime Video.
Watching on a phone or tablet
NFL+ streams every live game, including primetime, on phones and tablets. It does not stream live games to a TV; for that you need the services above. The NFL+ Premium tier adds full game replays.
Free over-the-air option
CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC are broadcast channels. A simple indoor antenna picks them up free in most US cities, which covers every Sunday afternoon game in your market plus Sunday Night Football and the ABC simulcasts of Monday Night Football.
Which combination makes sense
One live TV service such as YouTube TV or Fubo covers CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network, so it handles everything except Thursday night and Christmas. Add Prime Video for Thursday Night Football and Netflix for Christmas. If you only follow one team, check that team’s channel guide below and subscribe to the one service its games land on most often.
Every game page on this site lists the exact channel and streaming option for that matchup, so you never have to guess. Start with today’s NFL games on TV.