Are you a die-hard NFL fan who doesn’t want to miss a single game but doesn’t have cable? Don’t worry, the times have changed, and so have the ways to watch your favorite sports. If you’re ready to cut the cord but still want to keep up with every tackle, touchdown, and turnover, here’s a guide to watching every NFL game without cable.
First off, let’s talk about over-the-air (OTA) antennas. These are not the rabbit ears of old; modern OTA antennas are sleek, inexpensive, and capable of receiving HD broadcasts from networks like CBS, FOX, and NBC. These networks often carry NFL games, and an antenna provides a one-time purchase solution for watching them. Installation is generally simple, and once it’s done, you’re ready to catch the action.
Next in line is the NFL’s own service, NFL Game Pass. While it doesn’t offer live games, it gives you access to replays of every NFL game during the season, plus live audio broadcasts. If you’re a fan of a team that’s not in your local broadcast area or you just want to keep up with the entire league, NFL Game Pass is a solid choice. It’s available on a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution, consider streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or Sling TV. These services offer live TV from a variety of networks, including those that broadcast NFL games. They also offer cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record games and watch them later. Most of these services offer free trials, so you can test them out before you commit.
For those willing to dabble in multiple services, there’s a way to optimize your NFL viewing. For example, CBS All Access (soon to be Paramount+) broadcasts all CBS games. If your favorite team frequently plays on CBS, subscribing to this service could be worth it. NBC games, on the other hand, can be streamed for free on the NBC Sports app with a participating service provider login. And ESPN games can be viewed through the ESPN app or via a streaming service that includes ESPN.
The Amazon Prime Video service is another great option for Thursday Night Football fans. Amazon has secured the rights to stream these games live, making it a valuable addition to any cord-cutter’s NFL toolkit. Besides, if you’re already a Prime member for the shipping benefits or Prime Video movie and TV show library, the NFL games are a fantastic bonus.
Finally, for the tech-savvy and international NFL fans, there’s the option of using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN can make it appear like you’re browsing from another country, allowing you to subscribe to international versions of NFL Game Pass which do offer live viewing. However, this option is a bit more technical and could be against the service’s terms of use, so proceed with caution.
So, even without a cable subscription, there are plenty of ways to follow the NFL season from kickoff to Super Bowl. While it may take a bit of setup and potentially juggling between services, the freedom to choose how and when you watch, not to mention potential cost savings, make it a winning strategy for any NFL fan.