The NFL season is a spectacle of athleticism, strategy, and pure excitement. From the opening kickoff to the final whistle of the Super Bowl, every week is packed with unmissable matchups, underdog stories, and legendary performances. Whether you’re a die-hard fan wondering how to watch NFL games, you won’t want to miss a moment of the action.
In today’s fragmented media landscape, catching every game can be a challenge. Broadcast rights are split across multiple channels and streaming services, and regional blackouts can prevent you from watching your favorite team. But don’t worry, this guide will break down exactly how to watch NFL games in the United States and abroad.
How to Stream Every NFL Game in the United States
If you’re a die-hard NFL fan in the United States, the good news is you can watch every single game. The challenge, however, is that you will need a combination of streaming services to watch NFL action live. This is due to the complex way broadcast rights are divided among traditional networks and streaming platforms.
Your local Sunday games are broadcast on CBS and FOX, while primetime games are shown on NBC, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, all out-of-market Sunday games are available on NFL Sunday Ticket. With the right combination of services, you can watch NFL every week from kickoff to the playoffs.
Local & National Broadcasts (CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN)
The core of the NFL viewing experience comes from the league’s network partners, which broadcast local and national primetime games.
- CBS & FOX: These networks handle the entire slate of Sunday afternoon games. Your local CBS station will air AFC games, while your local FOX station will air NFC games. The specific game you see is determined by your geographic location.
- NBC: The exclusive home of Sunday Night Football, typically featuring the week’s most anticipated matchup.
- ESPN: The home for all Monday Night Football broadcasts.
If you’re looking for a way to watch NFL games on these channels without a cable subscription, a live TV streaming service is your best bet. Services like Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV are popular choices, providing access to the complete slate of local and national NFL broadcasters in a single subscription. Both services also include a cloud DVR feature, allowing you to record games.
As of Fall 2025, Hulu + Live TV subscriptions start at $82.99/month, while YouTube TV subscriptions start at $49.99/month for your first 2 months, then $82.99/month thereafter (prices are subject to change).
Exclusive Streaming & Out-of-Market Games
For games not available on the networks above, you will need a few other key services:
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for Thursday Night Football. These games are not available on any other network, making a Prime Video subscription a must for any fan who wants to watch every game. An Amazon Prime membership, which includes Prime Video, costs around $14.99/month or $139/year.
NFL Sunday Ticket
This is the ultimate package for fans who don’t live in their favorite team’s home market. NFL Sunday Ticket provides access to every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game (excluding those airing on your local CBS or FOX stations). As of the 2025 season, it is exclusively available as an add-on through YouTube TV or as a standalone subscription on YouTube Primetime Channels. Seasonal plans typically range from $349 to $449.
Other Streaming Options
Several other services stream games from their parent companies. Peacock simulcasts all Sunday Night Football games from NBC, and Paramount+ streams the CBS games available in your local market. The league’s own NFL+ service allows you to stream live local and primetime games, but only on mobile devices, such as phones or tablets.
By subscribing to a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV and adding both Amazon Prime and NFL Sunday Ticket, you can access every single NFL game all season long.
Spanish-Language Broadcasts
For fans who prefer Spanish-language commentary, coverage is widely available. Marquee games on NBC are simulcast on Universo or Telemundo. FOX and ESPN broadcast games in Spanish on FOX Deportes and ESPN Deportes, respectively. These channels are available through most cable providers and live TV streaming services, offering numerous ways to watch NFL games in Spanish. Furthermore, many broadcasts include a Secondary Audio Program (SAP) option, allowing viewers to switch to the Spanish-language audio feed.
Watching the NFL Internationally
For fans abroad wondering how to watch NFL games, the best option is to use NFL Game Pass on DAZN. This service is the exclusive international home for all NFL games, offering every regular season and postseason game live and on demand.
Beyond the Live Game: More Ways to Watch the NFL
Your NFL access doesn’t end when the final whistle blows. From pre-game shows and NFL RedZone to full-game replays and highlights, there are endless ways to watch NFL coverage outside of live broadcasts for dedicated fans to enjoy all week long:
- Sunday Morning Pre-Game Shows: A staple of football Sundays, these beloved studio shows get you ready for kickoff. Tune into FOX NFL Sunday with its iconic cast or The NFL Today on CBS for hours of analysis, interviews, predictions, and last-minute team news. For primetime games, Football Night in America (NBC) and Monday Night Countdown (ESPN) serve the same purpose.
- NFL RedZone: For the chaotic 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM ET game windows, NFL RedZone is essential. Hosted by Scott Hanson, this commercial-free, whip-around show takes you to every touchdown and key moment from all the simultaneous Sunday afternoon games, ensuring you don’t miss a single important play.
- Full-Game Replays: Every single NFL game is available for on-demand replay on NFL+, the league’s official streaming service. You can watch either the full broadcast or a condensed, commercial-free “game in 40 minutes” version, which typically appears a few hours after the live game concludes.
- Highlights and NFL Films Library: NFL+ is also home to the legendary NFL Films library, providing access to classic shows like Hard Knocks, A Football Life, and Mic’d Up. Additionally, condensed match highlights are quickly posted after every game on the official NFL website, YouTube, and all major sports media outlets.
Enhance Your Streaming with a VPN
Once you’ve figured out how to watch NFL games with your desired streaming services, using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can significantly enhance your experience by offering several key benefits. Here’s how IPVanish improves your gameday streaming:
Keep Your Streaming Private and Secure
When you stream NFL games, your online activity is often visible to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other third parties. With IPVanish, your entire internet connection is encrypted, ensuring your data and viewing habits remain private and secure from snoopers. This advanced encryption prevents anyone from monitoring your online activities, giving you peace of mind while you enjoy the game.
Avoid Buffering and ISP Throttling
Nothing ruins a game-winning drive like buffering and lag. ISPs have been known to throttle, or intentionally slow down, bandwidth during high-traffic activities, such as live streaming. A VPN helps combat this by masking your traffic through a secure server. This prevents your ISP from identifying and slowing down your stream, helping you maintain a stable connection for a smoother experience without interruptions.
Optimize Your Speed with a Global Server Network
IPVanish puts a powerful global network at your fingertips, boasting over 3,100 servers across more than 145 locations worldwide. By connecting to a server closer to your physical location or one with better connectivity, you can optimize your streaming speed and reduce latency. This is particularly useful if your regular internet connection is prone to slowdowns.
Stream Safely, Especially on Public Wi-Fi
IPVanish VPN adds a crucial layer of security that helps protect your devices from cyber threats. This is especially important when you’re catching a game on public Wi-Fi at a café, airport, or hotel. It ensures that your connection remains secure and your personal information is protected from hackers on unsecured networks.
2025/2026 NFL Schedule
The 2025 NFL regular season kicked off on Thursday, September 5, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude with Super Bowl LV on Sunday, February 7, 2026. A full schedule of games is available on the official NFL website.
Key Dates
- Nov. 27: NFL Thanksgiving Day games
- Dec. 25: NFL Christmas Day games
- Jan. 10-Feb. 8: 2025 NFL playoffs dates
- Jan. 10-12: Wild Card games
- Jan. 17-18: Divisional games
- Jan. 25: AFC & NFC Conference Championship games
- Feb. 8: Super Bowl LX
Week 2
Sunday, September 14th
1:00 PM ET Browns vs. Ravens – CBS
1:00 PM ET Jaguars vs. Bengals – CBS
1:00 PM ET Giants vs. Cowboys – FOX
1:00 PM ET Bears vs. Lions – FOX
1:00 PM ET Patriots vs. Dolphins – CBS
1:00 PM ET 49ers vs. Saints – FOX
1:00 PM ET Bills vs. Jets – CBS
1:00 PM ET Seahawks vs. Steelers – FOX
1:00 PM ET Rams vs. Titans – CBS
1:00 PM ET Panthers vs. Cardinals – CBS
1:00 PM ET Broncos vs. Colts – CBS
1:00 PM ET Eagles vs. Chiefs – FOX
8:20 PM PDT Falcons vs. Vikings – NBC, Universo
Monday, September 15th
7:00 PM ET Buccaneers vs. Texans – ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes
10:00 PM ET Chargers vs. Raiders – ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a free VPN to watch the NFL?
While it may be tempting, free VPNs often have limitations, such as slow speeds, data caps, and fewer server locations, which can result in a poor streaming experience. For safer and more reliable streaming, we recommend using a paid VPN service.
Is it legal to use a VPN to watch the NFL?
Yes, it is legal to use a VPN in most countries, including the United States. However, using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions may violate the terms of service of some streaming providers.
What’s the best way to watch out-of-market games?
If you’re in the U.S., NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is the official way to watch out-of-market games. Internationally, or with the help of a VPN, NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the best option for accessing NFL content.
