Ways to Watch All Local NFL Games Without Cable

NFL games are split among three four broadcast networks this year, cable sports networks and streaming services like Amazon Prime.

It can seem tough to quickly pick a way to watch your favorite team. However, the easiest way for most people to watch your local NFL team throughout the week is by using a TV antenna for local broadcast channels.

While it’s true that Amazon has streaming rights to Thursday Night Football, you can still watch your local NFL team on a local broadcast channel.

DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV carry the channels you need for live football. Paramount Plus has NFL on CBS, and Peacock streams Sunday Night Football. NFL Plus Premium offers a TV game-watching plan.

How to Watch NFL Games Live An Antenna

The Digital TV Reception Maps tool published on the FCC’s website is a good starting point to understand what channels are available within your zip code. You should note whether your local NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC stations are transmitting on the UHF or VHF band. That should inform what kind of design and gain you need.

If local broadcast towers are within 20 miles from your home, you might be able to use an indoor antenna. If you are in a suburban or rural area, then you will likely need an outdoor antenna. A multi-directional or directional antenna elevated in an attic or mounted on a roof will get you the best reception. You should be mindful about picking an antenna with VHF elements if you need it.

You can read my hands-on review of TV indoor and outdoor antennas.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu Live TV offers over 90 TV channels, including ESPN, local channels, and various entertainment and sports networks.

You can watch on up to two screens simultaneously, and Hulu provides unlimited DVR storage for recording sports, news, movies, or anything else you want. 

Local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC are available across the U.S. Subscribers enjoy a lineup featuring CNN, ESPN, FX, HGTV, MSNBC, NFL Network, SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, and USA Network. 

The subscription costs $76.99 per month and includes unlimited access to ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu’s on-demand library of movies and TV shows. There’s no more free trial, but you can review the channel lineup before deciding.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) includes ESPN Networks and local channels in four packages. 

The Entertainment package, at $79.99/month, offers a mix of channels like AMC, ESPN, CNN, FOX Sports 1, Comedy Central, HGTV, Food Network, History, National Geographic Channel, and FOX News. 

While DIRECTV STREAM presents a comprehensive package for sports, including NFL Network and NBA TV, its higher cost compared to the Sling TV and TV antenna combo may not appeal to budget-conscious NFL viewers.

All subscribers receive unlimited Cloud DVR storage and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows, with the ability to watch live TV on unlimited screens at home. 

The Choice plan, at $108.99 per month, is ideal for basketball and hockey fans, featuring channels like ESPN, ESPN2, CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, NBA TV, NFL Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNews, and ESPNU. 

It also includes entertainment channels like AMC and HGTV. 

The Ultimate package, at $119.99 per month, has over 140 channels, including NHL Network. The Premier Package, at $164.99 per month, includes premium channels such as HBO, Cinemax, and Showtime.

Fubo

Fubo (formerly fuboTV) offers three plans: Pro, Elite, and Premium. The Pro package costs $79.99 per month and includes over 189 TV channels, with a free trial available for any plan. 

It offers local ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX in most U.S. areas, along with ESPN, Food Network, Fox News, HGTV, Big Ten Network, and Disney Junior. 

For an additional $7.99 per month, the Fubo Extra bundle adds 59 more channels, including NBA TV, INSP, Tennis Channel, MTV Live, MTV Classic, FXM, and Pac-12 Network. 

The Sports Plus bundle, priced at $10.99 per month, adds 32 more channels, featuring NFL RedZone and others. All subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR storage and can watch on 10 screens simultaneously. Fubo offers a “look back” feature to watch sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours. 

The Elite plan, at $89.99 per month, adds 65 more sports, news, and entertainment channels, while the Premier plan, at $99.99 per month, includes 231 channels, including Showtime.

With its extensive sports-centric package, Fubo can be an alternative to the Sling TV and antenna combo, especially for viewers seeking additional sports content beyond NFL.

Fubo also has a library of on-demand content, including movies and TV shows, and the Fubo app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Smart TVs. The fuboTV Elite package adds 60 more channels.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the most budget-friendly option for streaming NFL games on ESPN. The Sling Orange package offers 32 channels, including ESPN and ESPN2, along with entertainment networks like AMC, A&E, Bravo, and History. The subscription for Sling Orange is $40 per month.

Sling Blue, priced at $40 per month, provides 40 channels, including Discovery, NFL Network, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, MSNBC, and Stadium. However, it doesn’t include ESPN.

Sling Blue offers local FOX, NBC, and ABC stations in select U.S. markets.

For an additional $11 per month, the Sports Extra package adds 15 channels, including ACC Network, ACCNX, NFL RedZone, SEC Network, SEC Network+, MLB Network, NBA TV, and ESPNU. Subscribers can enjoy a 50% discount for the first month by signing up for a plan.

You can combine Sling Orange and Sling Blue for a total of $55 per month and further enhance your channel lineup.

All subscribers receive 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage.

Sling TV is compatible with various streaming devices, including Roku, Firestick, Apple TV, and Xbox. It also supports Samsung Smart TVs, Smart TVs running on Android TV or Google TV, and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Sling TV offers an economical solution for NFL fans, with its Sling Orange package including ESPN at a lower cost than competitors. While Sling TV focuses on affordability, it may require an additional streaming service or add-on YouTube TV’s extensive channel offering. 

There are no hidden fees or contracts, and you can explore the latest offers for new and returning Sling TV customers.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV offers 128 channels, including ESPN and local channels, for $72.99 per month. While it has only one live TV plan, it offers add-ons for sports enthusiasts.

The YouTube TV base plan includes key sports channels such as TNT, TBS, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNews, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, and MLB Network. You can also watch CNN, Golf Channel, and FX. Subscribers receive unlimited Cloud DVR storage and can create up to 6 profiles per account for household members.

YouTube TV offers a 4K Plus add-on for $10 per month, with the first year at $5 per month. This add-on provides 4K resolution for select channels like Discovery, ESPN, FOX Sports, FX, Nat Geo, NBC Sports, Tastemade, and MLB Network. It also allows unlimited screen streaming and content downloads.

YouTube TV’s broad channel offering, including NFL Network and local channels, provides a more all-encompassing solution than Sling TV alone, though at a higher monthly cost, making it a secondary choice for those prioritizing affordability.

The service is compatible with Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, NVIDIA Shield TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast. You can get a free 7-day trial or review the channel lineup for your area.

NFL fans have the option to bundle NFL Sunday Ticket with YouTube TV or purchase it as a standalone Primetime Channel on YouTube. The YouTube TV NFL Sunday Ticket Add-On is $299, while the standalone Primetime Channel NFL Sunday Ticket is $399. More details and pricing for NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube TV are available.

Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus offers an affordable way to stream NFL games on CBS every week. The Essential plan is priced at $7.99 per month and provides access to an on-demand library with movies, live news, and full seasons of TV shows from CBS, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Smithsonian Channel.

Paramount Plus also features a variety of Paramount+ Originals, including Special Ops: Lioness, Tulsa King, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Subscribers to the Paramount Plus with Showtime plan can enjoy additional live sports content, such as the PGA Tour and college football on CBS, for $12.99 per month.

Peacock

Peacock offers a range of live sports, including NFL’s Sunday Night Football, Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR, and WWE events. 

College football fans can access Big Ten Football games by subscribing to the Peacock Premium plan for $5.99 per month, allowing them to watch SNF, movies, and TV shows. 

Peacock, owned by NBCUniversal, boasts a vast library of TV shows and programs from NBC, MSNBC, NBC Sports, and Telemundo. 

You can also stream Hallmark Channel and its sibling networks, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama, live without a cable subscription. 

The Peacock Premium Plus plan costs $11.99 per month, offering 24/7 access to your local NBC station with local news and favorite NBC shows and sports. For more sports coverage on Peacock, refer to my review.

NFL+

NFL Plus enables you to watch live, local in-market games. The entry-level plan allows you to watch local and primetime games on mobile devices, not on TV, for a subscription fee of $6.99 per month. 

It includes access to NFL Network. The Premium Plan, priced at $14.99 per month, allows you to watch games on TV and provides full access to game replays, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone. The service offers a free 7-day trial.

How Can I Watch Live NFL Games for Free?

Watching NFL games for free is a significant benefit for cord-cutters or those using a TV antenna for local channels. You don’t need a streaming service to watch in-market football games on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.

With the right TV antenna, you can enjoy these over-the-air TV channels for free. Finding the best TV antenna for your home may require some research, but the payoff is substantial, considering the numerous free NFL games you can watch during the regular season. You don’t even need internet service to enjoy these free over-the-air channels.  

How to Watch NFL Games Without Cable FAQs:

Here are some common questions NFL fans have about watching live football games without cable TV or satellite:

Can I Watch NFL Games on Roku?

Yes, you can watch NFL games on Roku by subscribing to a TV streaming service. DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV all offer cable networks and various local channels in your area.

Can you watch out-of-market games on NFL Plus?

NFL+ allows you to watch local, in-market games during the 2023 regular season. A basic subscription costs $6.99 per month, offering live streaming of NFL Network and live audio of games outside your home. It also provides on-demand football programs.

Does Yahoo Sports stream NFL games?

No, Yahoo Sports no longer streams NFL games for free as of the 2021 NFL season. The introduction of NFL+ marked the end of free streaming options previously available on Yahoo Sports and the NFL app, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Are local games blacked out on NFL Sunday Ticket?

Yes, the NFL Sunday Ticket package exclusively broadcasts out-of-market Sunday NFL games. For example, a New England Patriots fan residing in Florida can watch all regional Sunday afternoon games on FOX and CBS, while a Dallas Cowboys fan who has moved to Idaho can continue to watch games as if they were in their original location. NFL Sunday Ticket is available throughout the U.S. via YouTube or YouTube TV.

Can I pay to watch individual NFL games?

Currently, there is no streaming service that offers the option to purchase single NFL games. However, you can consider utilizing a free trial of a TV streaming service. For instance, if you wish to watch a game airing on ESPN, you can sign up for a free 5-day trial of DIRECTV STREAM. If you decide not to continue the service, you can cancel online before the end of the free trial to avoid being billed.

Can Amazon Prime members stream NFL games?

Yes, Amazon Prime members have the ability to stream Thursday Night Football games through the Amazon Prime app. Amazon has also introduced a DVR function for all live NFL games it broadcasts. Additionally, Amazon Prime will feature exclusive games during the season, starting on September 15. If one of the teams playing is in your local market, you can also watch the Thursday game over-the-air using a TV antenna.

Does the FOX Sports app stream NFL games?

Live NFL games on the FOX Sports app are accessible only to subscribers of cable, satellite, or a TV streaming service. The FOX Sports app, which replaced FOX Sports Go, provides live streams of local FOX stations, Big Ten Network, FS1, and FS2. If you prefer to watch games for free, you can use a TV antenna to tune into your local FOX station or opt for a free trial of a TV streaming service.