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Thursday, August 1st, kicks off the 2025-2026 NFL season with one game. Many of the NFL preseason games are available through in-market broadcasts, allowing one to easily enjoy a few nationally televised games and see how the season is shaping up for every team. Learn more about how to watch preseason NFL games without cable here.
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Where to Watch NFL Preseason Games
As the 2025-2026 NFL season gets closer to gracing our TV screens, finding the best way to watch preseason NFL games is essential. Many games will be broadcast on local channels, with the closest team to your location being televised. There may also be blackouts, depending on whether channels like ESPN, Fox, CBS, or NBC are picking up the game.
For streaming, the NFL Network will broadcast the highest number of NFL games, with 21. You can also enjoy one preseason game through Prime Video, but the rest may be best viewed through a streaming service that attaches to live local channels.
| Channels Available? | Hulu & Live TV | DirecTV Stream | FuboTV |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Network | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox* | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CBS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NBC* | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Prime Video | No | No | No |
Related: How to Watch NFL Network in 2025
Watch NFL Preseason on NFL Network
The home for all things NFL, watch the majority of the preseason through the NFL Network. The service plans to broadcast 21 of the 49 preseason games, highlighting teams like the Baltimore Ravens, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Cleveland Browns. Some of these games may be subject to local blackouts based on your location.
The subscription to NFL Network is through NFL+, which starts at only $6.99 a month. Then you can enjoy preseason and regular season games, along with plenty of stats to keep your fantasy team on top.
Read More: How to Watch Sunday Night Football Live
Watch NFL Preseason on Hulu + Live TV
While Hulu + Live TV may offer just one price for its service, it is well worth the cost for the content provided. With Hulu + Live TV, viewers have access to TV broadcasts on NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, and NFL Network. All you need to have is a subscription and a live TV-supported device, such as a smart TV or phone.
Hulu + Live TV provides you with nationally televised and local affiliate networks, but it can be subject to regional restrictions or blackouts due to various contracts. You can enjoy the NFL preseason and regular season with Hulu + Live TV, starting at $82.99 a month. Note: This does not include the bundle of Disney+ and ESPN+.
Watch NFL Preseason on FuboTV
Access all your favorite sports channels to stream the NFL preseason with FuboTV. You can enjoy NFL Network through all tiers of FuboTV in addition to Bally Sports, local networks, and ESPN. Other specific channels offered on FuboTV include FS1, FS2, CBS, NBC, and ESPN2.
There are two tiers of subscriptions through FuboTV, other than their Latino package for $14.99/month. Enjoy the Pro package for $84.99/month or the Elite package for $94.99/month. FuboTV also comes with a free trial period, so if you’re not satisfied with the streaming platform, you can cancel before paying.
Watch NFL Preseason on Amazon Prime Video
While there is only one preseason game available exclusively through Amazon Prime Video, the streaming service is a great option for watching future Thursday Night Football games. Amazon Prime Video is the home for all things Thursday Night, and the $8.99/month subscription is a reasonable price for seventeen NFL games during the season.
Enjoy the NFL’s kickoff of TNF on August 21st with Prime Video as the Patriots and the Giants fight for the win. You can also attach cable services like Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV with the Amazon Fire TV Stick to watch even more preseason content.
Watch NFL Preseason on DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV not only offers cable but streaming services as well through their DIRECTV STREAM service. Viewers can watch every channel that provides nationally broadcast games, including NFL Network, ESPN, Fox, CBS, and NBC. DIRECTV STREAM also provides a large selection of local sports, providing you with around-the-clock content.
DIRECTV STREAM offers three plans for the streaming service. The Entertainment plan costs $84.99/month, the Choice plan costs $89/month, and the Ultimate plan costs $119/month. Occasionally, these plans will be on sale, offering a lower price for the first few months of streaming. The best plan for watching the NFL would be the Choice plan, as it contains access to NFL Network, Bally Sports, and Marquee Sports Network.
Best NFL Preseason Options
| Streaming Service | Price (Monthly) |
|---|---|
| NFL Network | $6.99+ |
| Amazon Prime Video | $8.99+ |
| Hulu & Live TV | $82.99+ |
| DirecTV Stream | $84.99+ |
| FuboTV | $84.99+ |
There are several TV options to choose from when watching the NFL preseason, but the best depends on which team you want to watch. Below is a breakdown of how you can cheer for your favorite team based on the game type.
- Local Games: An over-the-air antenna can pick up local channels that broadcast your team, without monthly fees.
- Out-of-market Games: Starting at only $6.99 a month, NFL Network through NFL+ is the best way to watch the majority of NFL preseason games, with 21 of them being featured through the service. While some preseason games might be restricted, the NFL Network provides the largest number of preseason games at the lowest price.
- National Games: While an antenna can access national broadcasts like CBS, Fox, and NBC, you’ll need a TV subscription to access ESPN and NFL Network. If you’re looking for a service to get you past preseason and through the 2024-2025 regular season, Hulu + Live TV is a great service that provides all your favorite sports channels in one spot.
NFL Preseason Schedule 2025
The NFL Preseason is split into four weeks, with one matchup in the first week and sixteen in the following weeks. 21 of these matchups will be featured on NFL Network. Most games will be offered in their local areas, so watch which channels will broadcast your team’s games. Check out the whole schedule here.
Check Out: How to Watch Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime
Rookies to Watch Heading into Regular Season
While we are all familiar with players like Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill and their performances on the field, the 2024 NFL Draft has provided some new talent for the league. Make sure to watch these rookies in their debut year in the NFL:
- Cam Ward (QB)
- Travis Hunter (CB/WR)
- Ashton Jeanty (RB)
- Tetairoa McMillan (WR)
- Emeka Egbuka (WR)
- Abdul Carter (EDGE)
- Mason Graham (DT)
- Colston Loveland (TE)
- Omarion Hampton (RB)
- Jalon Walker (LB)
- Jaxson Dart (QB)
- Kelvin Banks Jr. (OT)
- Mykel Williams (EDGE)
Read Next: How to Watch NFL Plus
FAQs
There will be 49 preseason games for the 2025-2026 NFL season.
All the NFL preseason games will be televised, airing on local networks within each team’s region. There will be a few games nationally televised, and one exclusively on Prime Video, so there are options to watch your favorite teams.
There are a few ways you can watch NFL games for free. You can purchase an HD antenna that can pick up local channels that carry NFL games, sign up for NFL Network for all things football, or take advantage of free trials offered by streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV or NFL Network.
While the whole NFL preseason is not available through Prime Video, there will be one game exclusively on the service. The New England Patriots will face the New York Giants on Thursday, August 21, at 8 pm ET. This game will kick off the Thursday Night Football coverage for the 2025-2026 season.
NFL+ allows users to stream live local and primetime regular and postseason games available on their local TV network. These can be subject to blackouts due to nationally televised games throughout the season.
The Cowboys and the Eagles will be kicking off the 2025-2026 NFL regular season with an NFC East battle. They will play on September 4th at 8:20 pm ET.
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