How to watch or stream Week 1 of the NFL’s 2023 season football live online free without cable
The Lions and Chiefs kept things exciting Thursday night. Now it’s time to see if the rest of the league can keep up.
The 2023-2024 NFL season is officially under way—and on Sunday, almost every team will be on the field, with some of the league’s biggest rivalries on display. The battle of Ohio will take place as the Bengals meet the Browns. The Eagles and Patriots will square off and the Bills and Jets, division rivals with a pair of star quarterbacks, will go head to head.
Even if you’re just an occasional fan, this isn’t a week you’ll want to miss. Here’s a look at who’s playing whom and how best to catch the game.
Which NFL teams are playing this week? And what channels are airing the games?
The regular season kicks off with some big matchups, as always. Here’s who’s playing where and when. (The home team is listed second.)
Sunday, Sept. 10
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
San Francisco 49ers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears, 8:20 p.m. ET on Fox
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
Monday, Sept. 11
Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
How can I watch NFL games for free—even if I am out of market?
The best way to watch any sort of network programming for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. And virtually all of this weekend’s games will be carried by a broadcast network, meaning you’ll be able to watch even if you don’t have a cable subscription. To ensure you’re getting the most reliable signal, be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.
Can I stream NFL games live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
Yep—and there are lots of choices.
Peacock
NBC’s streaming service will give you access to several games, including tonight’s contest and all upcoming Sunday night matchups. You can get a seven-day free trial, followed by a $6 or $12 monthly charge. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $13 per month for all three combined (or $19.99 per month for no ads on Hulu). Keep in mind that starting Oct. 1, the prices will increase to $15 and $25.
Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $70 per month ($76 with no ads). In October, that jumps to $77 for the ad-supported plan and $90 for commercial free.
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service is no longer offered, as well. It will cost you $70 per month, until October 1, when the price increases to $77.
YouTubeTV
After an up to two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73. YouTube is also now the home of Sunday Ticket. Prices on that service currently range from $300 to $439 for the season, with the current discounts.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling has a lower-tiered “Orange” plan that will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, but the cord-cutting service is offering 50% off of the first month’s bill.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $75 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $75 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch the NFL games on Amazon?
Not on Sunday or Monday, but Amazon Prime is the only place to watch Thursday Night Football. The first matchup on Amazon will be the Philadelphia Eagles facing the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 14.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the games I want?
It has three of them, actually.
NFL App
The NFL App will let you stream games that are being broadcast locally in your market on Sundays. If you want to watch an “out of market” game, you’ve got two choices.
NFL+
Watch live local and out of market games and (with the premium subscription) replays. There’s a seven-day free trial, after which you’re looking at a charge of $6.99 per month (including NFL Network). ($14.99 per month for premium, which includes NFL Network and RedZone.)
NFL Sunday Ticket
As mentioned above, YouTube has taken over broadcast duties for this channel, replacing DirecTV. With the current offered discounts, prices on the service (and the optional NFL Red Zone) currently range from $300 to $439 for the season.
