The NFL season is right around the corner. The schedules are out, and if you’re a total millennial and have a streaming service (and lazy AF), going to numerous different network sites trying to figure out what package you need to watch your team is not happening. I break it down by each package and streaming service below. There are no start times, I’m a millennial and I’m too lazy to include it.
Thursday Night Football
There are a few ways to watch Thursday Night Football this season, depending on your cord-cutting status. And as you are probably aware, the NFL Network came to terms to simulcast most of the TNF games on Amazon Prime for this season (no more Twitter). Here’s the schedule below.
Sept 28: Bears @ Packers
Oct 5: Patriots @ Buccaneers
Oct 12: Eagles @ Panthers
Oct 19: Chiefs @ Raiders
Oct 26: Dolphins @ Ravens
Nov 9: Seahawks @ Cardinals
Nov 16: Titans @ Steelers
Nov 30: Redskins @ Cowboys
Dec 7: Saints @ Falcons
Dec 14: Broncos @ Colts
Dec 25: Steelers @ Texans
To get NFL Network and all TNF games, here are the packages you’ll need to ask for, along with the full schedule. If you’re a DirecTV Now or a new Hulu LIVE subscriber, NFL Network is currently not available.
Package needed: Sling TV (Blue), Playstation Vue (Core Slim)
The latest
Sept 21: Rams @ 49ers
Sept 28: Bears @ Packers
Oct 5: Patriots @ Buccaneers
Oct 12: Eagles @ Panthers
Oct 19: Chiefs @ Raiders
Oct 26: Dolphins @ Ravens
Oct 29: Vikings @ Browns
Nov 2: Bills @ Jets
Nov 9: Seahawks @ Cardinals
Nov 16: Titans @ Steelers
Nov 30: Redskins @ Cowboys
Dec 7: Saints @ Falcons
Dec 14: Broncos @ Colts
Dec 16: Bears @ Lions
Dec 16: Chargers @ Chiefs
Dec 25: Steelers @ Texans
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football games can be seen all on ESPN, of course. ESPN is available on most basic streaming service packages. Here’s what you’ll need to purchase, along with the full schedule.
Package needed: Sling TV (Orange), Playstation Vue (Access Slim), DirecTV NOW (Live a Little), HULU LIVE
Sept 11: Saints @ Vikings
Sept 18: Lions @ Giants
Sept 25: Cowboys @ Cardinals
Oct 2: Redskins @ Chiefs
Oct 9: Vikings @ Bears
Oct 16: Colts @ Titans
Oct 23: Redskins @ Eagles
Oct 30: Broncos @ Chiefs
Nov 6: Lions @ Packers
Nov 13: Dolphins @ Panthers
Nov 20: Falcons @ Seahawks
Nov 27: Texans @ Ravens
Dec 4: Steelers @ Bengals
Dec 11: Patriots @ Dolphins
Dec 18: Falcons @ Buccaneers
Dec 25: Raiders @ Eagles
NFL Sunday
CBS, FOX, NBC
You’ll have to check your local broadcast channel availability on your streaming service, as it varies. By logging in with your streaming service subscription, you have access to NFL games if your local broadcast affiliate has a deal with your provider. (Remember, just because it’s a FOX affiliate doesn’t mean it’s owned by FOX, for example).
And the bigger the city, the better chance you have to see your team play. For instance, in Cleveland I only have access to the local stations’ on demand content with Hulu LIVE, but in New York and LA, those stations are available. And you can of course get away with an HD antenna if you’re a true cord cutter. This can be searched with your zip code on the streaming sites. And like I mentioned above, CBS is currently the only major network that has not finalized a deal with the DirecTV Now, but safe to say this will be finalized before the regular season begins, along with other premium networks (like the NFL Network).
Now that I put this together, I can’t wait to watch the Browns lose on so many different platforms.
About Holly Wetzel
Holly has spent the majority of her career in affiliate distribution negotiating contracts with content providers across the US. She covers the media landscape of rights fees, retransmission consent, carriage disputes, and the regional sports network business.
She's a Cleveland native and graduate of The University of Mount Union and constantly wishes she was still a student. Since that's never happening, she compensates for it over wine, cooking, sports, not working out, and any Turner Classic movie. Holly can be followed on twitter @HollyanneLiz