How to Watch NFL Games in 2023

By Jim Kimble / Published September 15, 2023

You can watch any NFL game without cable in 2023 on a Smart TVs or streaming device. 

There are 9 live TV streaming services that carry cable channels such as ESPN, NFL Network and NFL RedZone. 

If you are trying to save money, you do not necessarily need a subscription to a streaming service. You can watch most of the NFL season for free with a TV antenna.

NFL games are carried by ESPN and local broadcast channels with the exception of Thursdays. You will need a subscription to Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football.

DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo and YouTube TV carry the necessary channels to watch football games live. Paramount Plus carries NFL on CBS, and Peacock streams Sunday Night Football. NFL Plus Premium now offers a plan so you can watch games on TV.

Only DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo and YouTube TV offer a free trial to watch football games. DIRECTV STREAM is offering $10 off per month for three months. Hulu Live TV is discounting service to $49.99 per month for three months.

You can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime ($14.99 per month) or Prime Video ($8.99 per month) to watch Thursday Night Football.

How to Watch NFL Games Live Without Cable

Most fans need ESPN and local broadcast networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX to watch live games in 2023. 

ESPN is carrying 25 Monday Night Football games this season, including 23 regular season games and two playoff games. The remaining coverage is split among NBC, CBS and FOX. 

A number of MNF games that ESPN has the rights to are being simulcast on ABC this season due to multiple games.

Smart TVs by Samsung, Sony Bravia, Vizio and LG support most live TV streaming services. You can use a Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast or Apple TV to stream live TV. Game consoles including XBox and PlayStation support watching TV as well. 

These live TV streaming services carry a number of other sports networks.

ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN3, ACC Network (ACCN), Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, FS1, Longhorn Network, and PAC-12 Network cover professional and college sports.

Some of these services have a free trial that lasts a week without any obligation. Just remember to cancel before the trial ends if you decide that the streaming service isn’t for you.

Hulu Live TV

Hulu Live TV has more than 75 TV channels, including ESPN, local channels and a variety of entertainment and sports networks. 

You can watch TV on up to two screens at once.

Hulu comes with unlimited DVR storage so you can record sports, news, movies or whatever else you want. Hulu carries local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC across the U.S.

A subscription costs $76.99 per month. You get unlimited access to ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu’s on-demand library of movies and TV shows when you sign up for a subscription. 

Subscribers can activate the ESPN app and unlock all live sports on ESPN Plus. Hulu no longer offers a free trial. You can look over the channel lineup before deciding whether to sign up.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) has ESPN Networks and local channels in three of its channel packages.

You can sign up for a free 5-day trial on every plan without any obligations.  DIRECTV STREAM is offering $10 off the first three months of service on any plan. 

The Choice plan has more than 105 channels for $99.99 per month. Choice subscribers get a wide selection of 40 regional sports channels, including YES Network, and Bally Sports networks.

The Ultimate package has more than 140 channels, including locals, and sports channels such as NHL Network. The Ultimate package is $109.99 per month. 

The Premier Package has over 150 channels, including premium channels such as HBO, Cinemax and Showtime. The Premier package is $154.99 per month.

All of these channel lineups are virtually identical to DIRECTV satellite service, but with a slight price difference.

Subscribers can get three months of Max, Showtime, Cinemax and MGM+ for free before the monthly rates kick in.

All subscribers get unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows. You can watch TV on unlimited screens within your home. 

DIRECTV STREAM works on Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. You can use apps on supported Smart TVs running on Google TV and Android TV. Subscriptions run month to month and so you can cancel whenever you want.

You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.

fubo

fubo (formerly fuboTV) offers three plans, Pro, Elite and Premium. 

The Pro channel package costs $74.99 per month and has more than 170 TV channels. You can get a free 7-day trial to any plan. 

The channel lineup includes local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in most areas of the U.S. 

ESPN, Food network, Fox News, HGTV, Big Ten Network, and Disney Junior are part of the Pro bundle.

The fubo Extra bundle adds 59 more channels for $7.99 per month. It includes NBA TV, INSP, Tennis Channel, MTV Live, MTV Classic, FXM, and Pac-12 Network.

The Sports Plus bundle adds 32 more channels and costs $10.99 per month. It includes NFL RedZone, all four Stadium networks, Sports Illustrated TV, Golf TV English, Golf TV Spanish, PAC 12 Arizona, PAC 12 Bay Area, PAC 12 Los Angeles, PAC 12 Mountain, PAC 12 Oregon, PAC 12 Washington, FOX College Sports Atlantic, FOX College Sports Pacific, FNTSY, Fight Network and TyC Sports.

All subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR storage. You can watch TV on 10 screens at once. If you miss a game, you can use fubo’s “look back” feature to watch sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours

The Elite plan is $84.99 per month, and has 65 more sports, news and entertainment channels. The Premier plan has 231 channels, including Showtime, for $94.99 per month

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

Sling TV

Sling TV is the cheapest option to stream NFL games on ESPN.

The Sling Orange package includes 32 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2 and entertainment networks like AMC, A&E, Bravo, and History. A subscription to Sling Orange costs $40 per month. 

The Sling Blue package has 40 channels, including Discovery, NFL Network, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, MSNBC, and Stadium, but doesn’t include ESPN. 

Sling Blue carries local FOX, NBC and ABC stations in a small number of markets across the U.S. 

The Sports Extra package adds 15 channels, including ACC Network, ACCNX, NFL RedZone, SEC Network, SEC Network+, MLB Network, NBA TV, and ESPNU for $11 per month.

Subscribers can get half off for the first month by signing up for a plan.

You can combine Sling Orange and Sling Blue for $55 per month and add the Sports Extra package to maximize your channel lineup.

All subscribers get 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage. 

Sling TV works on just about any streaming device: Roku, Firestick, Apple TV and even an Xbox. It is supported by Samsung Smart TVs and Smart TVs operating on Android TV or Google TV. Sling TV supports mobile apps for iOS and Android.

There are no hidden fees or contracts if you decide to keep the service. You can look over the latest offer Sling TV has for new and returning customers.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV has 128 channels including ESPN and local channels for $72.99 per month.

YouTube TV only has one live TV plan, but has add-ons for sports. 

The YouTube TV base plan carries other key sports channels such as TNT, TBS, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNews, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, and MLB Network.

You’ll be able to watch CNN, Golf Channel and FX. Unlimited Cloud DVR is included with a subscription. And you can create up to 6 profiles for a household per account.

The service works with Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, NVIDIA Shield TV, Apple TV and Chromecast. You can get a free 7-day trial, or look over 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. The Primetime Channel NFL Sunday Ticket (without YouTube TV) is $399. You can read more details and prices of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube TV.

Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus is an affordable option to stream NFL on CBS every week.

A subscription to the Essential plan costs $5.99 per month. The on-demand side of this streaming service has a library of movies, live news, and full seasons of TV shows from CBS, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Smithsonian Channel.

There are a number of Paramount+ Originals such as Special Ops: Lioness, Tulsa King and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. 

Subscribers to the Paramount Plus with Showtime plan get access to more live sports such as the PGA Tour, and college football on CBS.

You can sign up for Paramount Plus with Showtime for $11.99 per month You can get a discount from Paramount Plus with Showtime. Get 50 percent off when you pay for an annual subscription and use the code SPORTS. The offer ends on 9/20.

Peacock

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

College football fans will find games from the Big Ten Football. You can sign up for Peacock Premium plan for $5.99 per month, and start watching SNF, movies and TV shows.

Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal, which means that it has a large library of TV shows and programs from NBC, MSNBC, NBC Sports and Telemundo. You can stream Hallmark Channel and its two sibling networks Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama live without a cable subscription. 

The Peacock Premium Plus plan costs $11.99 per month. You will get 24/7 access to your local NBC station that carries local news, and favorite NBC shows and sports. 

You can read more about my review covering sports on Peacock.

Vidgo

Vidgo lets you live stream NFL on three different plans. 

The Vidgo Plus plan is $69.99 per month, and comes with 110 channels, including Big Ten Network, CMT, Disney Channel, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, Great American Family, SEC Network, ESPN Deportes and ESPNews.

The Premium package adds 40 more channels, and costs $84.99 per month. The Ultimate plan has more than 200 channels, and has all 45 Spanish-language channels.

If you’re someone who likes to weigh in online during sporting events, Vidgo’s mobile app is worth a try because you can participate in ‘watch parties’ for TV shows and sporting events.

Subscribers get local FOX and ABC affiliates in some markets.  

Vidgo works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and iPhone. You can look over the channel packages before deciding whether to sign up.

NFL Plus

NFL Plus lets you watch live, local in-market games.

The entry-level plan lets you watch local and primetime games on mobile, not on TV. A subscription costs $6.99 per month. You get access to NFL Network as well.

The Premium Plan is $14.99 per month, but you can watch games on TV. You get 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 one of the big perks for cord-cutters or anyone who uses 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 watch these over-the-air TV channels for free.

Figuring out what is the best TV antenna for your home does take some homework.

But the payoff is tremendous when you consider how many free NFL games you can watch during the regular season. You don’t even need internet service to start enjoying free over-the-air channels.

If you are new to TV antennas, here is a list of resources that I have written to get you started.

• How to Choose the Best TV Antenna
• How to Connect Multiple TVs to One Antenna
• Review: The Best Indoor TV Antennas
• Review: The Best Outdoor TV Antennas

How to Watch NFL Games Without Cable FAQs

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

Am I able to watch NFL games on Roku?

Yes. You can watch NFL games on a Roku when you subscribe to a TV streaming service.

DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo, and YouTube TV all carry cable networks and different local channels in your area.

Does Paramount Plus have NFL games?

Yes. Paramount Plus streams NFL games live as it airs on CBS.

The service is the cheapest way to stream all NFL games that are broadcast on CBS without cable TV. A subscription to the Essential plan costs $4.99 per month. There is a free trial for new customers.

You get access to live NFL games once the game starts by heading over to the “Live TV” tab under the main menu. For more live sports on Paramount Plus, you will need to sign up for the Premium plan. The Premium Plan costs $9.99 per month following a free trial.

Can you watch NFL games on Peacock?

Peacock is the way to stream any NFL game live that airs on NBC.

But you need to subscribe to the Premium plan to watch live football games. Peacock live streams Sunday Night Football for all 18 weeks of the regular season.

You can sign up for a free 7-day trial of Peacock’s Premium plan to start watching NFL games. The Premium plan costs $4.99 per month. Peacock also streams live Notre Dame football games during the college football season.

You can also stream NBC live on a number of live TV streaming services, including DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo, and YouTube TV.

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. Subscribers get to live stream NFL Network, and listen to live audio of games outside of their homes.

There are also on-demand football programs.

Does Yahoo Sports stream NFL games?

No. The 2021 NFL season was the last year Yahoo Sports streamed football games free of charge. According to The Los Angeles Times, the arrival of NFL+ brought an end to free streaming options that were once available on Yahoo Sports and the NFL app.

Are local games blacked out on NFL Sunday Ticket?

Yes. The NFL Sunday Ticket package shows out-of-market Sunday NFL games. So if you are a New England Patriots fan living in Florida, you can watch all the regional Sunday afternoon games on FOX and CBS.

Likewise, a Dallas Cowboys fan who moved to Idaho, can watch games as if he were still back home. NFL Sunday Ticket is available across the U.S. through YouTube, or YouTube TV.

Can I pay to watch individual NFL games?

Currently, there is no streaming service that gives you the option to buy a single game. But you might want to consider tapping into a free trial of a TV streaming service.

So for example, if you wanted to watch a game that’s airing on ESPN, you could sign up for a free 5-day trial of DIRECTV STREAM.

If you don’t want to keep the service, you can cancel online before the end of the free trial so you are not billed.

Can Amazon Prime members stream NFL games?

Yes. Amazon Prime members can stream Thursday Night Football games within the Amazon Prime app.

Amazon has added a DVR function for all live NFL games it carries. Amazon Prime will have exclusive games this season starting on Sept. 15. If one of the teams is in your local market, you can also watch the Thursday game over-the-air with a TV antenna.

Does the FOX Sports app stream NFL games?

Only subscribers to cable, satellite or a TV streaming service can watch live NFL games on the FOX Sports app. The FOX Sports app, which replaced FOX Sports Go, carries live streams for local FOX stations, Big Ten Network, FS1 and FS2.

If you want to watch games for free, try a TV antenna to watch your local FOX station, or a free trial of a TV streaming service.

Are there any NFL games on ABC?

Yes, ABC will simulcast a number of Monday Night Football games that air on ESPN during the 2023 season. You can watch these games for free using a TV antenna, or with a live TV streaming service.

How to Watch the NFL in 2023

You can watch the NFL on DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo and YouTube TV. 

Only DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo and YouTube TV currently offer a free trial. 

Hulu with Live TV has the most comprehensive bundle for NFL fans. New subscribers can pay $49.99 per month for three months. The regular rate of $76.99 per month kicks in after that. Hulu includes ESPN+ and Disney+ as part of its subscription. (Offer ends on Oct. 11, 2023.)

Sling TV is the cheapest option for watching ESPN, but is lacking with local networks such as NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC. Antenna users can watch games for free on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. 

This article was published on August 30, 2022, and has been updated to reflect new pricing.

For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.