How to watch, stream NFL Thursday Night Football week 3 games live online free without cable: NBC, Amazon

Week two of the NFL saw the rough play continue (with a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit on Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams). No one ever thought professional football was a game for the meek, but so far 2023 is off to a brutal start.

The New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers will set the (hopefully less bloodthirsty) pace for Week Three. The 49ers are looking to stay atop the NFC West, while the Giants look to escape the basement of the NFC East.

Amazon is once again the host of Thursday’s game. Here’s a look at how to watch tonight and what you can expect from Thursday night games tonight and moving forward.

Which NFL teams are playing on Thursdays this season?

Here’s who’s playing where and when. (The home team is listed second.)

Can I watch NFL Thursday night games for free on broadcast television?

Yes, but …

If you’re in the home town of one of the two teams that are playing on any particular Thursday, you’ll likely have an opportunity to watch, even if you don’t have an Amazon Prime account. Simulcasts will be offered on broadcast networks, letting you watch for free with a good HD antenna.

But if you’re outside of the range of those stations, streaming is your only option.

Can I stream NFL Thursday night games live online if I don’t have an Amazon Prime account?

While games on other days generally offer a variety of options, Amazon has exclusivity to virtually all Thursday night games, preventing other streaming services from carrying them. The only exception will be on Thanksgiving.

What changes has Amazon brought to 2023 NFL games?

For the 2023-2024 season, Amazon plans to use machine learning to identify pivotal situations, letting fans read the play. This includes tracking open receivers in real time and guiding viewers how fourth-down decisions will be made. And a feature called Field Goal Target Zones will overlay multiple lines on the field that show the statistical likelihoods that a kicker will make a field goal.

Additionally, if you join the game in progress, a Rapid Recap feature will let you catch the action you missed before you jump into the livestream.

It will also feature many of the twists from last year, including overlaying stats and game updates using its “X-Ray” technology, much like it offers information on which actors are in a scene during a film or TV show. And an alternate stream for younger audiences, with the YouTube troop Dude Perfect replacing the standard play-by-play and color commentary team, is available.

Who has Amazon tapped for its broadcast team?

Amazon has hired Al Michaels, who has called both Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football, to lead the team. Kirk Herbstreit, who until last year had focused mainly on college games and been a key player on ESPN’s “College GameDay” program, will return as color commentator.