The 2025 NFL season is fast approaching, with the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, kicking things off against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. With games now spread across multiple streaming platforms, knowing your options is crucial. This guide breaks down how to watch NFL football without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.
The Expanding Landscape of NFL Streaming
For years, fans relied on cable for full NFL access. Now, the game has changed. More streaming services are competing for your viewership, and the NFL is expanding internationally with games in Europe and even a free live stream in Brazil. The key takeaway: the era of needing a single cable package is over. Instead, a combination of streaming services will likely be the most cost-effective and comprehensive solution.
Which Networks Broadcast NFL Games?
The NFL schedule remains consistent:
- CBS: Most Sunday afternoon games (AFC teams).
- Fox: Most Sunday afternoon games (NFC teams).
- NBC: Sunday Night Football.
- ESPN/ABC: Monday Night Football.
- Amazon Prime Video: Thursday Night Football, plus a Black Friday game.
- Netflix: Two Christmas Day games.
- NFL Network: International games and select exclusive matchups.
The challenge isn’t finding where the games are, but how to access all these platforms without overspending.
Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Streaming Options
New DTC services from ESPN and Fox are changing the game. You can now bypass traditional live TV streamers entirely. Here’s how:
- Paramount Plus: CBS games ($8/month).
- Fox One: Fox games ($20/month).
- Peacock: NBC games ($11/month).
- ESPN DTC: ESPN/ABC games ($30/month).
Combining these four services will cost you $69/month, less than major live TV packages. The trade-off is having to switch apps frequently on Sunday afternoons instead of flipping channels.
Live TV Streaming Services: Still a Contender?
Services like YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu with Live TV offer all-in-one access, including the NFL Network. However, they are more expensive at around $83-85/month.
- YouTube TV: Remains a solid pick at $83/month, with multi-view capability (watch up to four games at once).
- Fubo: $85/month, also with multi-view.
- Hulu with Live TV: $83/month, but lacks multi-view.
The Bottom Line: Cost Comparison
A four-month season (September-December) with a traditional streamer (YouTube TV, Fubo) costs around $332. Using the DTC combination (ESPN, Fox One, Paramount Plus, Peacock) will save you $56 over the season.
Don’t forget: you’ll still need Amazon Prime Video ($9/month) for Thursday Night Football and Netflix for the Christmas Day games.
Additional Costs & Options
- NFL Sunday Ticket: YouTube remains the exclusive home for out-of-market games, with plans starting at $276 for new subscribers.
- NFL RedZone: Add-on for $10-$15/month to live TV streamers.
- VPNs: Can bypass regional restrictions, but check streaming service terms of service. ExpressVPN is a popular choice.
The Best Approach: YouTube TV Remains King
Despite the rise of DTC options, YouTube TV still offers the best overall experience. For $83/month, you get all the necessary channels, multi-view, and a seamless viewing experience.
If you’re budget-conscious, the DTC combination is viable, but prepare for app-switching.
Conclusion
The 2025 NFL season offers more streaming choices than ever before. Whether you opt for a traditional live TV service or a mix of DTC platforms, the key is planning ahead to ensure you don’t miss a single snap. The trend is clear: cord-cutting is no longer a niche but the new normal for NFL fans.
