How to watch, stream NFL football games live online free without cable: Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN: Week 1
The Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams kicked things off on Thursday. Now it’s time for the rest of the league to get the 2022 season underway.
Last season, the Rams won it all, narrowly beating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. The odds makers are betting on the favorites of the Buffalo Bills or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this year. The Bills have made the playoffs three straight years and the Tom Brady-led Bucs are hoping to lift their second Lombardi Trophy in three seasons.
Before we get there, however, there are first 18 weeks of the regular season and the playoffs to watch. Here’s a look at who’s playing who and how best to follow the game.
Which NFL teams are playing this week? And which channels will broadcast the games?
The regular season begins with some major rivalries including the Saints and the Falcons and the Packers and Vikings. Here’s who’s playing where and when. (The home team is listed second.)
Sunday September 11th
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Cleveland Browns vs. Charlotte Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Baltimore Colts vs. Houston Texans, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
New York Giants vs. Tennessee Titans, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
Monday 12 September
Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
How can I watch NFL games for free – even if I’m no longer in the market?
The best way to watch any kind of network programs on a big screen for free is with a good HD antenna. And watching preseason NFL games is easy, as many are aired on broadcast networks, meaning you can watch them without a cable subscription. To ensure you are getting the most reliable signal, you should test the antenna in multiple locations around your home.
Can I stream NFL games live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
Actually there are several possibilities.
peacock
NBC’s streaming service gives you access to multiple games. You can get a seven-day free trial followed by a $5 or $10 monthly fee. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)
Outstanding+
CBS’s streaming service gives you access to games that air on that network. You can get a week-long free trial followed by a monthly fee of $5 or $10.
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $13.99 a month for all three together (or $19.99 a month with no ads on Hulu). Including Live TV in the package bumps the price up to $70 per month ($76 without ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial version of this service is also no longer offered. It will cost you $70 per month.
YouTubeTV
After a trial period of up to two weeks, you can expect monthly fees of $65.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s lower-tier “Orange” Sling plan costs $35 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan increases the cost to $50 per month. You have a seven-day free trial first – and already the cord cutting service cuts the first month’s bill in half.
DirectTV stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow, and AT&T TV, this often-rebranded streaming service costs $70 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks to most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly fees ranging from $70 to $100 depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch NFL games on Amazon?
Not on Sundays, but starting September 15 it will be the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football.
Does the NFL offer viewership packages to watch the games I want?
Three even.
NFL app
That NFL app you can stream games broadcast locally in your market on Sundays. If you want to check out an “out of print” game, you have two options.
NFL+
Watch local and out-of-market games and (with the premium subscription) replays live. There is a seven-day free trial, after which you pay a fee of $30 per season. ($80 for Premium.)
NFL Sunday Ticket
DirecTV customers have access to it, but (if you meet the conditions, e.g. live in an apartment complex or in an area where you can’t receive DirecTV) you can also sign up for an online version that allows you can watch every NFL game live season. There’s a week-long trial, then you’ll see monthly charges of $73.49 per month for a four-month period, or $293.36 for the entire season (or $99 for four months, or $396).
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