Watching the NFL used to be simple. Fans could turn on CBS, FOX, NBC, or ESPN and find nearly every game.

That is no longer the case.

The 2026 NFL season will be spread across traditional television networks and several streaming platforms. Sunday afternoon games, Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, international matchups, holiday games, and the playoffs may all require different services.

If you want access to every NFL game this season, here are the apps and streaming services you need.

The Short Answer: Which Apps Do You Need?

The simplest all-in-one setup for watching every nationally available and out-of-market NFL game is:

YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket
Amazon Prime Video
Netflix

YouTube TV supplies the major broadcast and cable channels, while NFL Sunday Ticket unlocks out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. Prime Video and Netflix are needed for their exclusive matchups.

Fans who do not want YouTube TV can build their own package using FOX One, Paramount+, Peacock, ESPN, NFL+, Prime Video, Netflix, and NFL Sunday Ticket.

1. YouTube TV

YouTube TV is arguably the most important service for serious NFL fans because its base package includes most of the channels carrying games:

CBS
FOX
NBC
ABC
ESPN
NFL Network

Those channels cover local Sunday afternoon games, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, select Saturday contests, international games, playoff matchups, and other nationally televised games.

YouTube TV also offers unlimited cloud DVR storage, allowing fans to record games and watch them later.

However, the base YouTube TV package does not provide every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game. That requires NFL Sunday Ticket.

2. NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube

NFL Sunday Ticket remains the essential package for fans who want to watch teams outside their local television market.

The service provides regular-season Sunday afternoon games that are unavailable on your local CBS or FOX station. It is particularly valuable for displaced fans who live far away from their favorite team.

NFL Sunday Ticket can be purchased in two ways:

As an add-on to YouTube TV
As a standalone package through YouTube Primetime Channels

A regular YouTube TV subscription is not required when purchasing the standalone version. However, Sunday Ticket does not include local broadcasts, nationally televised games, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, or most exclusive streaming games.

The package runs from the opening Sunday of the regular season through the final Sunday afternoon slate. NFL RedZone can also be added for an additional charge. Google’s Sunday Ticket guide explains the available purchasing options.

3. Amazon Prime Video

Prime Video is required for most Thursday Night Football games.

Amazon’s 2026 schedule includes 17 regular-season games, with special holiday presentations such as Black Friday Football also included in its NFL package. Prime Video will additionally carry a Wild Card playoff game after the regular season.

The season’s first Thursday night game may air on a traditional network as part of the NFL Kickoff Game, but the weekly package moves primarily to Amazon beginning in Week 2.

Fans can access the games through:

An Amazon Prime membership
A standalone Prime Video subscription

The 2026 Thursday Night Football schedule begins September 17 with the Detroit Lions visiting the Buffalo Bills. Amazon’s official schedule lists every matchup.

4. Netflix

Netflix is now part of the NFL viewing lineup and cannot be ignored by fans trying to watch every game.

The service will stream multiple exclusive games during the 2026 season, including a Thanksgiving Eve matchup and Christmas Day contests.

The announced games include:

Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams on November 25
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears on December 25
Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos on December 25

These games require an active Netflix subscription. They will not be included with NFL Sunday Ticket.

Netflix will also carry one of the Saturday games during Week 18, making the app necessary from the holiday season through the final weekend of the regular season. Netflix’s live-event schedule provides updated game information.

5. ESPN App

The ESPN app is the direct streaming destination for Monday Night Football.

ESPN’s 2026 NFL lineup includes 17 Monday night matchups, a Week 18 Saturday doubleheader, playoff games, and Super Bowl LXI. Ten Monday night games will also be shown on ABC, while seven are scheduled exclusively for ESPN.

The ESPN app also incorporates NFL Network coverage, including the network’s seven-game 2026 schedule. Availability depends on your ESPN subscription or participating television provider. ESPN’s official announcement details its expanded NFL coverage.

Fans using YouTube TV or another provider that already includes ESPN can sign in through the app without purchasing a separate ESPN streaming plan.

6. Peacock

Peacock streams NBC’s entire Sunday Night Football schedule, beginning with the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game between the New England Patriots and defending champion Seattle Seahawks.

The service also carries NBC’s playoff games and the Football Night in America pregame show. Fans who already receive their local NBC station through an antenna, cable provider, or live-TV service may not need Peacock separately unless an exclusive game is added.

For cord-cutters without NBC, Peacock is one of the easiest ways to watch Sunday night games. The Peacock NFL page provides its current schedule.

7. Paramount+

Paramount+ streams the NFL games televised by your local CBS station.

These are usually Sunday afternoon AFC matchups, although the exact game shown depends on your location. Paramount+ may also carry CBS playoff games and other nationally televised CBS matchups.

The key restriction is that Paramount+ does not unlock every CBS game nationwide. You receive the game assigned to your local CBS affiliate. Out-of-market games still require NFL Sunday Ticket.

Fans can check the weekly schedule through the NFL on CBS page.

8. FOX One

FOX One gives cord-cutters access to their locally available FOX Sunday games, including regional matchups and America’s Game of the Week.

The app also carries FOX playoff coverage. Like Paramount+, it does not remove regional restrictions. Fans only receive the FOX game available in their local market, while NFL Sunday Ticket is needed for the other Sunday afternoon broadcasts.

An ESPN and FOX One bundle is also available, potentially simplifying access to FOX games and Monday Night Football. Visit the FOX NFL streaming page for availability and scheduling information.

9. NFL+

NFL+ is useful, but its restrictions make it important to understand exactly what the service provides.

The standard NFL+ plan offers live local and nationally televised regular-season games primarily on phones and tablets. NFL+ Premium adds NFL RedZone, full and condensed game replays, and additional NFL programming.

NFL+ can be a good affordable choice for fans who:

Primarily watch on a mobile device
Want NFL RedZone
Enjoy watching games after they end
Need access to NFL Network programming

It does not replace NFL Sunday Ticket for watching every live out-of-market Sunday game on a television.

What Is the Easiest NFL Streaming Package?

For viewers who want the least complicated setup, the best combination is:

YouTube TV + NFL Sunday Ticket + Prime Video + Netflix

This package should provide access to:

Local CBS and FOX Sunday games
Every eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon game
Sunday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Thursday Night Football
NFL Network games
International matchups
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Week 18 games
The NFL playoffs
Super Bowl LXI

Peacock, Paramount+, FOX One, and the standalone ESPN service would generally be unnecessary because their games are already available through YouTube TV’s included channels. Exceptions are possible if the NFL announces an additional platform-exclusive game.

A More Affordable Alternative

Fans who only follow their local team may not need NFL Sunday Ticket.

A less expensive setup could include:

A digital antenna for local CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC broadcasts
Prime Video for Thursday Night Football
ESPN for Monday Night Football
Netflix for its exclusive holiday and Week 18 games
NFL+ Premium for NFL Network, RedZone, and replays

This option requires more switching between apps, but it may cost less than maintaining YouTube TV and Sunday Ticket for the entire season.

Final Thoughts

There is no single standalone app that carries every NFL game during the 2026 season.

YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket comes closest, but Prime Video and Netflix are still necessary because of their exclusive games. Fans who build a custom package will need to carefully combine local network access with ESPN, Prime Video, Netflix, and Sunday Ticket.

Before subscribing, check your favorite team’s schedule and identify which games will air locally. NFL games are subject to regional restrictions and flexible scheduling, so broadcast assignments can change during the season. The NFL’s official Ways to Watch page can help confirm the correct service for each weekly matchup.