You can watch NFL preseason games through a mix of local channels, national sports networks, and streaming services, with some quirks that are different from the regular season.

How NFL preseason broadcasts work

  • Many preseason games are local-only broadcasts on a team’s regional TV partner (often a local CBS, FOX, NBC, or independent station).
  • A chunk of games air nationally on NFL Network and sometimes ESPN, plus occasional games on major networks (CBS, FOX, NBC) and one on Prime Video each year.
  • Every out-of-market preseason game is available live through NFL+, the league’s own streaming service, with broader device support in preseason than in the regular season.

Think of it as three layers: local TV for your home team, national channels for “big” matchups, and NFL+ if you want everything else.

Main ways to watch (legal options)

1. Free over-the-air (antenna)

If you live in your team’s market:

  • Use a basic HD antenna to pick up local affiliates (CBS, FOX, NBC, sometimes an independent station) that carry your team’s preseason games.
  • Antenna also gets you national preseason games on those same broadcast networks at no monthly cost.

This is the cheapest setup if you only care about your local team and national games.

2. NFL Network and ESPN

For the bigger nationally carried preseason games:

  • NFL Network shows a large slate of live preseason games across all weeks, including some doubleheaders.
  • ESPN carries select high-profile preseason matchups.
  • To get these, you can either:
    • Use traditional cable/satellite, or
    • Use a live TV streaming service that includes NFL Network and ESPN (e.g., YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, DirecTV Stream, etc.).

Most of these services allow streaming on smart TVs, phones, tablets, and browsers, often with free trials for new subscribers.

3. NFL+ (for out-of-market preseason)

NFL+ is the league’s own streaming option:

  • Streams every out-of-market preseason game live.
  • Works on most devices that support the NFL app during preseason (less restrictive than in-season where some devices are limited).
  • Only out-of-market and national games are included live; in-market preseason games are usually not live on NFL+ and are better watched via local TV/antenna.
  • Has a cheaper base tier and a Premium tier that adds extras like NFL RedZone (mainly relevant once the regular season starts).

If you’re a fan of a team outside your area, this is often the simplest legitimate way to see all their preseason snaps.

4. Prime Video game

  • Each year, one preseason game streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video , separate from their regular-season Thursday Night Football package.
  • You need an active Prime subscription and a compatible device (smart TV, Fire TV, console, or browser).

Without cable: common streaming setups

If you’ve cut the cord and want broad coverage:

  • Budget “local + some national” combo
    • HD antenna for local and network preseason games.
* NFL+ for out-of-market preseason games and mobile viewing.
  • “All-in” streaming fan setup
    • YouTube TV / Hulu + Live TV / Sling / DirecTV Stream for ESPN, NFL Network, and broadcast networks.
* NFL+ if you specifically want every out-of-market preseason game live.

Rolling Stone and other guides emphasize that because preseason rights are fragmented, you often need a combo of one live TV streaming service plus NFL+ if you want maximum coverage without traditional cable.

Blackouts and regional quirks

  • National games shown on NFL Network can be blacked out in the home markets, where you’re expected to watch on the local affiliate instead.
  • Streaming services may show a blackout icon or note in the guide for affected games; Reddit forums point out that, for instance, YouTube TV uses an “eye with a slash” icon to indicate this.
  • “Out-of-market” for NFL+ means you’re outside the local TV territory of the playing teams; inside that territory, you usually need the local station.

What fans are saying (forum flavor)

Public forum threads and fan discussions hit a few consistent themes:

  • Some fans love preseason because you see rookies and fringe players fighting for roster spots and making chaotic, high-effort plays.
  • Others say it reminds them why they skip preseason , calling the games “glorified practices” with low stakes and vanilla playcalling.
  • A lot of fans recommend just watching team-posted highlights and condensed clips on social media if you don’t want to chase multiple services.
  • There’s also recurring conversation about avoiding shady illegal streams and sticking to legitimate options like NFL+, antenna, or licensed streaming services.

Quick mini-checklist for “nfl preseason how to watch”

  1. Find your team’s preseason TV partner on the team or NFL site; plan for antenna or a service that carries that channel.
  1. Decide if you care about every game (get NFL+) or just your team and big national matchups (antenna + one live TV service).
  1. Note the Prime Video preseason game and make sure your Prime account and device are ready if it involves a team you follow.
  1. Check for blackout notes in your streaming guide on game day so you know whether to switch to local broadcast.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.