The 2026–27 NFL regular season begins Wednesday, September 9, with the New England Patriots visiting the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. NBC is scheduled to carry the opener, which starts at 8:20 p.m. ET / 5:20 p.m. PT. It is the annual reminder that watching every game without a traditional cable package is entirely possible—though it requires more planning than simply finding one magic app with a tiny football icon.
NFL coverage is distributed across NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NFL Network, with streaming options spread among ESPN Unlimited, Paramount+, FOX One, Peacock, Prime Video, and NFL+. In other words, the modern NFL viewing setup is less like buying a ticket and more like assembling a fantasy roster: every service has a role, but a few roster decisions matter much more than others.
For viewers who want a broad live-TV substitute, DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV are the principal bundles listed here. For people interested in specific national windows, Prime Video, Peacock, ESPN Unlimited, Paramount+, FOX One, and NFL+ each cover different pieces of the weekly schedule. The right choice depends on the games a household prioritizes, the local market, and how much a viewer is willing to spend to avoid an elaborate game-day remote-control ritual.
The first game and the channels that matter
The Patriots-Seahawks matchup is on NBC, making it a straightforward opening-night test for an antenna, a broad live-TV streaming bundle with NBC, or Peacock. Over the rest of the season, the major broadcast networks and cable sports channels divide the schedule, while certain packages specialize in individual windows.
- NBC: Includes major games such as Sunday Night Football, with NBC games also available through Peacock.
- ABC and ESPN: Key destinations for select games including Monday Night Football, with ESPN Unlimited positioned as a streaming option for select ESPN games.
- CBS: NFL on CBS is available through Paramount+.
- FOX: FOX games can be accessed through FOX One, which also includes a local FOX station.
- NFL Network: Included in several live-TV packages and part of the wider NFL viewing picture.
- Prime Video: The home of Thursday Night Football.
Some games are also expected to stream on Netflix during the season. That makes the complete schedule more important than ever: rather than subscribing blindly, viewers should identify their team’s national games, regular local broadcast windows, and any marquee matchups they do not want to miss. For an adjacent look at how digital tools are entering the fan routine, see Google Search’s AI fantasy football advice and live game feeds.
Live-TV bundles: the closest replacement for cable
DirecTV: the widest listed channel mix
DirecTV’s Entertainment package is presented as the most comprehensive overall route among the listed services. It is priced at $59.99 per month for the first month, then $89.99 per month afterward. The package includes NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NFL Network, along with more than 90 local, broadcast, and cable channels.
It also includes unlimited cloud DVR and 105 additional channels from DirecTV’s MyFree networks. The practical advantage is obvious: a household attempting to cover the main weekly television windows with minimal service-hopping gets the core networks in one broad package. The catch is equally obvious: the regular monthly price after the introductory month is substantial. This is the “I want the whole controller, not just the D-pad” option.
Fubo: broad coverage plus a trial
Fubo is another broad package carrying NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NFL Network. It starts at $63.99 for the first month and rises to $88.99 per month afterward. More than 220 live TV channels, unlimited cloud DVR, and streaming on up to two devices at once are listed features.
Related coverage includes How to Watch the 2026-27 NFL Season Without Cable.
A five-day free trial is also available. Fubo is a strong fit for viewers who want a traditional channel-grid experience but still prefer streaming flexibility. As with any live-TV offering, confirm local affiliate availability before committing, particularly if watching local Sunday games is the goal.
Hulu + Live TV: live channels with a broader entertainment library
Hulu + Live TV starts at $89.99 per month and includes NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, NFL Network, and more than 100 other channels. The package also includes access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited.
This may make sense for a home already using Disney and Hulu regularly, since the non-football library has value beyond kickoff. It is less a minimalist football purchase and more an all-purpose household entertainment bundle. A buyer comparing the standard monthly totals should decide whether those bundled services will actually be used once the final whistle blows.
Sling TV: lower cost, but a CBS-sized gap
Sling Orange + Blue starts at $69.99 per month and lists NBC, ABC, ESPN, FOX, and NFL Network, plus more than 50 other channels. It includes 50 hours of cloud DVR and free on-demand movies and television shows.
Its major NFL limitation is clear: CBS is not included. Channel access and pricing can also vary by local market. Sling therefore works best for viewers who have another plan for CBS games—potentially Paramount+ or an antenna—or who do not need every CBS broadcast. It can be an economical piece of a carefully assembled setup, but it is not a universal one-service answer.
Standalone services for specific NFL windows
Prime Video for Thursday Night Football
Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football. A standalone Prime Video plan starts at $8.99 per month, while an annual Amazon Prime membership is listed at $139.99. Amazon Prime includes Prime Video and Prime Gaming, along with shopping and delivery benefits; new members can use a 30-day trial.
For fans whose must-watch list is concentrated on Thursday nights, Prime Video is one of the cleanest subscriptions to understand. It is also a useful example of why the total NFL bill can creep upward: a viewer may have a capable live-TV bundle yet still need a separate service for this exclusive weekly window.
Peacock for NBC games
Peacock subscriptions start at $12.99 per month and provide the streaming path for NFL games on NBC, including Sunday Night Football. For an antenna owner, Peacock may be optional for live local NBC reception. For viewers without an antenna or a live-TV bundle, it is a direct route to NBC’s NFL schedule.
ESPN Unlimited for select ESPN coverage
ESPN Unlimited costs $29.99 per month and streams select NFL games, including Monday Night Football. A new-subscriber bundle with Disney+ and Hulu is listed at $35.99 per month. Unlike a pay-per-view event, eligible NFL games are included for subscribers rather than sold separately.
ESPN Unlimited is described as including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN on ABC, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, and ESPN+. It does not offer a free trial. That makes it especially appealing to viewers who want the larger ESPN sports ecosystem in addition to selected NFL coverage, rather than shoppers seeking a short-term trial run.
Paramount+ for CBS
Paramount+ starts at $8.99 per month for access to NFL on CBS. It is the focused choice for viewers who mainly need CBS games and do not want to buy a large channel bundle. The service itself does not list a direct free trial here, though a Walmart+ trial promotion is described as including Paramount+ as a membership perk.
FOX One and NFL+
FOX One starts at $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually. It includes the FOX network and local FOX station as well as FOX Sports, FS2, Big Ten Network, FOX Deportes, FOX News, FOX Weather, FOX Business, FOX Nation, and other FOX offerings. It can also be added through Prime Video, though that route requires a Prime Video subscription; a three-day trial is listed for the add-on.
NFL+ starts at $6.99 per month and includes NFL programming around the clock, with coverage described as spanning regular season, postseason, preseason, and Super Bowl LXI across broadcast and cable networks. Before relying on it as a complete replacement for a live-TV bundle, viewers should examine the current device and live-game viewing terms carefully, since NFL rights frequently distinguish between local, national, live, replay, and mobile viewing.
Before kickoff: a practical subscription checklist
- Check local channels. NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX availability can differ by address and plan. Do this before treating a bundle as full local-game coverage.
- Map the games you truly need. National windows are easy to identify; regular Sunday coverage depends much more on market and network assignments.
- Price the post-promotion month. DirecTV and Fubo list lower initial-month pricing that increases afterward.
- Use an antenna where it makes sense. An antenna can receive local NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX broadcasts without a live-TV subscription, subject to reception conditions.
- Do not overlook DVR limits. Fubo and DirecTV list unlimited cloud DVR, while Sling lists 50 hours—an important distinction for busy Sundays.
The NFL remains a massive television draw; Super Bowl LX reportedly reached more than 125 million viewers earlier in 2026. That scale explains the many homes for its games, and the resulting subscription maze. The most sensible approach is not automatically to buy every app. Start with local broadcast access, add the exclusive windows that matter most, and let the schedule—not panic at 8:19 p.m.—make the final call.
