The fastest way to watch NFL on Firestick

The NFL+ app is the most direct route. read it from the Firestick app store, sign in with your Amazon account, and you can stream regular season games, playoffs, and Super Bowl coverage. The service costs money — currently around $7 per month or $80 per year — but it works without a cable subscription.

If you already pay for cable or a streaming bundle that includes ESPN, NBC, CBS, or Fox, those apps (ESPN+, Peacock, Paramount+, and the Fox Sports app) all let you watch NFL games on Firestick at no extra cost. You sign in with your cable or streaming account credentials, and the games appear in the app's schedule.

Amazon Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football during the regular season. If you have a Prime membership, the games are included at no additional charge. Search for "Thursday Night Football" in the Prime Video app on your Firestick.

Key Takeaways

  • NFL+ is a standalone app that costs money but requires no cable subscription and streams regular season games, playoffs, and the Super Bowl on Firestick.
  • ESPN+, Peacock, Paramount+, and the Fox Sports app all carry NFL games if you already subscribe to those services or have cable that includes them.
  • Thursday Night Football streams free on Prime Video during the regular season if you have an Amazon Prime membership.
  • read apps directly from the Firestick app store, sign in with your account, and look for the NFL schedule in each app's menu.

Setting up NFL+ on your Firestick

Open the Firestick home screen and go to the search icon (magnifying glass). Type "NFL+" and select the official app from the results. Choose "Get" or "read" to install it. Once installed, open the app and sign in with your Amazon account or create a new one if you don't have one.

After you sign in, you'll see the current week's games listed on the home screen. Select a game to watch. If it's a live game during broadcast hours, it will stream when ready. If the game has already aired, you can watch a replay or highlights depending on what the app offers.

NFL+ has two tiers: the basic plan (around $7 per month) includes regular season games, playoffs, and Super Bowl coverage, but some games are blacked out if they're being broadcast on local TV in your area. The premium tier (around $15 per month) removes most blackouts and adds access to RedZone, which shows live action from all games simultaneously during Sunday afternoon slots.

Using cable or streaming apps to watch NFL games

If you subscribe to cable, a cable-replacement service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, or a standalone streaming app, check which networks carry games that week. The main NFL broadcasters are CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN. Each has its own app on the Firestick app store.

read the app for the network showing the game you want. Open it and select "Sign In" or "Log In." You'll be asked to enter your cable account username and password, or your streaming service login. Once authenticated, the live games appear in the app's schedule during broadcast hours.

ESPN+ carries Monday Night Football and some playoff games. Peacock (NBC's streaming service) carries Sunday Night Football and some playoff games. Paramount+ (CBS's service) carries some games. Fox Sports app carries games on Fox and Fox Sports 1. Check the app's schedule for the specific week to see which games are available.

Watching Thursday Night Football on Prime Video

Open the Prime Video app on your Firestick. Use the search function to look for "Thursday Night Football" or browse to the Sports section. During the NFL regular season, Thursday games appear in a dedicated section or in the search results.

Select the game you want to watch. If it's a live broadcast, the stream starts when ready. If the game has already aired, you can usually watch a replay for several days afterward. You don't need to pay extra — the game is included with your Prime membership.

Thursday Night Football is only available during the regular season (September through early January). Once the playoffs begin, Thursday games may move to other networks or apps depending on the NFL's broadcast schedule that year.

Dealing with blackout restrictions

Local blackout rules mean some games won't stream in your area even if you have a subscription. This happens most often with Sunday afternoon games on CBS and Fox if a local team is playing. The NFL enforces these rules to protect local broadcasters and stadium attendance.

The basic NFL+ plan has more blackouts than the premium tier. If you live in a market where your local team plays, you may not be able to stream their Sunday afternoon home games on the basic plan. The premium plan removes most blackouts, though some restrictions still explore depending on your location and the game.

If a game is blacked out, the app will tell you before you try to play it. Your options are to watch on local TV, upgrade to a higher tier if available, or use a different app that carries the game (like Peacock for Sunday Night Football or ESPN+ for Monday Night Football).

Troubleshooting common streaming problems

If a game won't load, restart your Firestick. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Once it restarts, open the app again and try the game. A restart clears temporary files that sometimes block streaming.

If the video keeps stopping or buffering, check your internet speed. NFL streams need at least 5 Mbps for standard quality and 25 Mbps for 4K. If your connection is slower, move your Firestick closer to your router or restart your router. You can also lower the video quality in the app's settings if available.

If you're signed into the wrong account or the app won't recognize your subscription, sign out completely. Go to the app's settings, find "Sign Out" or "Log Out," and confirm. Then sign back in with the correct account. Make sure you're using the same email and password you used when you bought the subscription.

Comparing the cost of different streaming options

NFL+ basic costs around $7 per month or $80 per year. NFL+ premium costs around $15 per month or $150 per year. These prices are set by the NFL and don't change based on your location.

ESPN+ costs around $11 per month or $110 per year on its own, but you can bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for a lower combined price. Peacock Premium costs around $6 per month or $60 per year. Paramount+ costs around $6 per month with ads or $12 per month without ads. Prices vary by region and change periodically, so check each service's website for current rates.

If you already have cable or a cable-replacement service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, you don't pay extra for the apps — they're included. Cable-replacement services typically cost $65 to $85 per month and include all major networks, so they're more expensive upfront but give you access to many sports and channels beyond just NFL games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch NFL games for free on Firestick?

Thursday Night Football on Prime Video is free if you have an Amazon Prime membership. Some games on the NFL's official website or app may be free to stream, though availability changes week to week. Most regular season games require either a cable subscription, a streaming service subscription, or NFL+ membership.

Do I need a cable subscription to watch NFL on Firestick?

No. NFL+ lets you watch most games without cable. Thursday Night Football is free with Prime membership. Some games on ESPN+, Peacock, or Paramount+ require those subscriptions instead of cable. Cable is one option, but not the only one.

Why is my game blacked out?

Local blackout rules prevent streaming of some games in certain areas to protect local TV broadcasters and stadium attendance. Sunday afternoon games on CBS and Fox are most commonly blacked out in the home team's market. Upgrading to NFL+ premium removes most blackouts, or you can watch the game on local TV instead.

What's the difference between NFL+ and NFL+ Premium?

NFL+ basic ($7/month) streams regular season games, playoffs, and Super Bowl but has blackout restrictions. NFL+ Premium ($15/month) removes most blackouts and adds RedZone, which shows live action from all Sunday afternoon games at once. Choose basic if you don't mind blackouts or have cable for local games; choose premium if you want to watch any game without restrictions.

Can I watch games on multiple Firesticks at the same time?

Most streaming services allow simultaneous streams on a limited number of devices — usually two to four at once depending on the service. Check the terms of your specific subscription. If you exceed the limit, the oldest stream stops and you'll see an error message on that device.