How to watch NFL games on Thanksgiving live online for free—and without cable

As the smell of roast turkey begins to permeate the house, the fight for a playoff position will continue unabated on the gridiron. But the odds of being able to watch undisturbed are slim—and this isn’t exactly a day where you can sneak out to your favorite watering hole without being noticed. So, whether you’re in charge of making dinner or peeling potatoes, you’ve still got an opportunity to watch any of today’s three games. Just be aware that because it’s a holiday, the usual Thursday night viewing habits will shift. Amazon, despite its new contract, will not be airing the evening game.

Whatever your circumstances, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a look at who’s playing today—and several different ways to watch the games.

Which NFL teams are playing this week? And what channels are airing the games?

This is, arguably, the best part of NFL games on Thanksgiving: They don’t compete against each other. The NFL has stacked all three so you can marathon view them (or, at least, use them as a vehicle to tune out family if a political argument breaks out before the pumpkin pie is served.)

Thursday, Nov 24

Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions, 12:30 p.m. ET on CBS

New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox

New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

How can I watch my local NFL team 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 NFL games are one of the easiest to view, since they air on broadcast networks, meaning you’ll be able to watch even if you don’t have a cable subscription. Best of all? All of the Thanksgiving games are being broadcast by an over-the-air channel. To ensure you’re getting the most reliable signal, be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.

How can I stream NFL games live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?

You’ve got several options to choose from: 

Peacock

NBC’s streaming service will give you access to several games, including all Sunday night matchups. You can get a seven-day free trial, followed by a $5 or $10 monthly charge. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)

Paramount+

CBS’s streaming service will give you access to games aired on that network. You can get a one-week free trial, followed by a $5 or $10 monthly charge.

Disney+

Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $13.99 per month for all three combined (or $19.99 per month for no ads on Hulu). Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $70 per month ($76 with no ads).

Hulu with Live TV

The free trial on this service is no longer offered, as well. It will cost you $70 per month.

YouTubeTV

After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $65.

Sling TV

Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $35 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $50 per month. You’ll have a seven-day free trial first—and right now, the cord-cutting service is cutting the first month’s bill in half.

DirecTV Stream

Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $70 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 $70–$100, depending on the channels you choose.

Can I watch NFL games on Amazon?

Here’s where it gets a little confusing. Amazon has the exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football for 2022 and the following 10 seasons. However, there’s an exception for the Thanksgiving game this year. So, while you’ve gotten in the habit of tuning into Amazon Prime on Thursday evening, tonight’s game won’t be there. It will air on NBC instead.

Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the games I want?

It offers three, in fact.

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 Game Pass

There are couple hitches with this service. You can’t use it to watch live games, but you can watch anything once its main broadcast ends. There’s a seven-day free trial, after which you’re looking at a $100 charge per season.

NFL Sunday Ticket

DirecTV customers have access to it, but if you’re not a subscriber and live in an area where it’s not available, you can watch any NFL game live, online or on TV for $73.49 per month or $293.36 for the entire season.