The best way to watch NFL games live this season depends on whether the game is in your local market or not. For local and nationally televised games, a free over-the-air antenna or a live TV streaming service is your most direct option. To watch every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game, you'll need NFL Sunday Ticket, which is now exclusively available through YouTube TV or as a standalone YouTube Primetime Channel.
How to watch NFL games live this season: Local, primetime, and out-of-market
Your viewing strategy hinges on one simple question: is the game being broadcast in your local market? If yes, you can watch it on a local channel (CBS, FOX, NBC) or a national network (ESPN, ABC) using an antenna, a cable subscription, or a live TV streaming service, you can also watch ESPN with Disney plus if you’ve cut the cord. If the game is not in your local market, meaning it's a "out-of-market" Sunday afternoon game, you'll need NFL Sunday Ticket via YouTube. This package gives you access to every Sunday afternoon game that isn't broadcast in your area, so you can follow your favorite team no matter where you live.
Watching NFL games on TV via antenna and cable
Traditional TV remains a reliable and often free way to watch the NFL. Local games are broadcast over the air on CBS and FOX, while NBC carries Sunday Night Football, and ESPN/ABC handles Monday Night Football. If you have a cable or satellite subscription, you can simply tune into these channels on game day. For cord-cutters, a digital antenna is the most cost-effective solution: plug it into your TV, scan for channels, and you'll get crystal-clear HD broadcasts of all local games at no monthly cost. This method gives you access to the same local feeds you'd get with cable, without paying a cent.
Using an antenna for free local games
To maximize your antenna reception, place it near a window or as high as possible, and rescan for channels periodically. You'll receive all the major networks broadcasting NFL games in your area, typically CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC. This is the only way to watch NFL games live on TV completely for free, and it covers every local market matchup plus all primetime games.
NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels
For fans who need to watch out-of-market Sunday afternoon games, NFL Sunday Ticket is the only legal way to do so. You have two purchase options: add it to an active YouTube TV subscription (which itself includes local channels and NFL Network), or buy it as a standalone YouTube Primetime Channel without a YouTube TV plan. Either way, you'll get every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game, with features like multiview to watch up to four games at once.
Important exclusions and requirements
Note that NFL Sunday Ticket does not include digital-only games (such as those streamed exclusively on Peacock or Amazon Prime). Those games require their own separate subscriptions. Also, if you purchase Sunday Ticket as a standalone Primetime Channel, you won't get the local channels or NFL Network that come with YouTube TV, you'll only get the Sunday afternoon out-of-market games.
Your NFL+ subscription: local, primetime and network games
NFL+ is the league's own streaming service, and it's designed for mobile viewing. There are two tiers: NFL+ Basic and NFL+ Premium. Both tiers allow you to watch live local and primetime regular season and postseason games, but with a major limitation: live games are only accessible on a phone or tablet. You cannot cast them to your TV or watch them on a computer. NFL+ Premium adds NFL RedZone (the channel that cuts to every touchdown across the league) and full and condensed replays of every game, which you can watch on any supported device.
Device support and the phone/tablet rule
If you try to watch a live local or primetime game on a smart TV or streaming device with NFL+, you'll get an error message. The service is strictly limited to phones and tablets for live games. However, NFL Network (which airs seven exclusive live games in the 2026 season) is available across all supported devices, including smart TVs, consoles, and streaming sticks, with any NFL+ subscription. NFL RedZone (Premium only) is also available on all supported devices, not just mobile.
Which devices support the NFL app and live games?
The NFL app is widely available, but the device you use determines what you can watch. For live local and primetime games via NFL+, you're limited to iOS and Android phones and tablets. For NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and full game replays, the app supports a broader range of devices, including:
- Smart TVs: Samsung, LG, Vizio, and select models from other brands
- Streaming devices: Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast
- Consoles: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 4/5
If your device isn't on the supported list, NFL+ functionality may be limited, you might only get audio or highlights, not live video. Always check the NFL support page for the most current device compatibility list.
Free NFL viewing options and radio broadcasts
If you want to watch NFL games without paying, your options are limited but real. The best free method is a digital antenna, which gives you every locally broadcast game on CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC at no cost. This includes all primetime games and your local team's Sunday matchups. Additionally, NFL+ (even the Basic tier) provides live audio broadcasts of every single game, so you can listen to the action on your phone while driving or working. Avoid unauthorized streaming sites, they're illegal, often low-quality, and can expose you to malware. Stick to official free trials from streaming services like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV to catch a few games without paying.
Radio broadcasts for every game
Every NFL game is available via live audio on NFL+ across supported devices. This is a reliable, free way to follow your team if you can't watch the video feed. You can also find local radio broadcasts on traditional AM/FM stations in most markets, or through the TuneIn app, which carries every NFL game's national feed.
How to watch FS1
FS1 (Fox Sports 1) is a cable sports network that occasionally airs NFL-related programming, but it does not broadcast live NFL regular-season games. To watch FS1 for pregame shows, analysis, or other sports content, you'll need a live TV streaming service that carries it, such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV. Each of these services offers FS1 as part of their channel lineup, and most include a free trial period for new subscribers. If you're a cord-cutter, FS1 is not available over the air with an antenna, it requires a paid streaming or cable subscription.
