Not all football games are on Paramount Plus — the service carries some NFL games, but not the full schedule

Paramount Plus shows Thursday Night Football exclusively, which means every Thursday night game during the NFL regular season streams there. The service also carries some playoff games and the Super Bowl when CBS has broadcast rights that year. But Sunday, Monday, and most prime-time games air on other networks, and Paramount Plus does not carry them.

If you want to watch football on Paramount Plus, you are limited to Thursday nights and occasional postseason matchups. For a complete NFL schedule, you would need to combine Paramount Plus with other services or cable.

Key Takeaways

  • Paramount Plus carries Thursday Night Football exclusively during the regular season, meaning every Thursday game streams there.
  • The service includes some playoff games and the Super Bowl when CBS holds the broadcast rights, which rotates every few years.
  • Sunday games, Monday Night Football, and most prime-time matchups air on ESPN, Fox, NBC, or cable and are not on Paramount Plus.
  • College football is not part of Paramount Plus's football lineup, though the service may carry other sports programming.

What Thursday Night Football includes

Thursday Night Football runs from September through early January during the NFL regular season. Every game in this series streams live on Paramount Plus, and the service includes pregame and postgame coverage. You do not need cable to watch — a Paramount Plus subscription is enough.

The Thursday night schedule typically features 15 to 17 games per season. These are not always marquee matchups, but they are the only NFL games may provide to be on Paramount Plus week to week. If you have a Paramount Plus subscription and want to watch football, Thursday night is where you will find it.

Playoff games and the Super Bowl

Paramount Plus carries playoff games and the Super Bowl only when CBS has the broadcast rights. The NFL rotates playoff coverage among networks on a yearly basis, so CBS does not carry playoff games every year. In years when CBS does have playoff games, those games stream on Paramount Plus alongside the broadcast.

The Super Bowl appears on Paramount Plus in years when CBS broadcasts it. The Super Bowl rotation means CBS hosts it roughly once every three years. Check the NFL schedule for the current year to see whether CBS and Paramount Plus will carry postseason games.

Where to find other NFL games

Sunday games air on Fox and CBS through cable or their own streaming apps. Fox offers some games through its free streaming service, and CBS games stream through Paramount Plus only if they are Thursday Night Football. Regular Sunday matchups do not appear on Paramount Plus.

Monday Night Football airs exclusively on ESPN and streams through the ESPN app or ESPN Plus. Sunday Night Football is on NBC and streams through Peacock. Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football as a secondary option in some regions, though Paramount Plus is the primary streaming home.

If you want to watch the full NFL schedule, you will need multiple services: Paramount Plus for Thursday nights, ESPN Plus or cable for Monday, Peacock for Sunday nights, and Fox or CBS apps for Sunday afternoon games.

College football on Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus does not carry college football games. The service focuses on NFL content for football. College football streams on ESPN Plus, the SEC Network, the Big Ten Network, and other conference-specific platforms.

If you are looking for college football, Paramount Plus is not the right choice. You would need to use ESPN Plus, cable, or conference-specific streaming services.

How to watch Thursday Night Football

You need a Paramount Plus subscription to stream Thursday Night Football. The service offers two tiers: one with ads and one without ads. Both include Thursday Night Football at the same time as the broadcast.

Games start at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time on most Thursdays. You can watch on a phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV through the Paramount Plus app. The stream is live, so you cannot pause or rewind — you watch in real time like a cable broadcast.

What to do if your team plays on a different night

If your team rarely plays Thursday nights, Paramount Plus alone will not give you access to most of their games. You will need to use other services depending on which network broadcasts each game. Check the NFL schedule at NFL.com to see which network carries each game your team plays.

Many fans use a combination of services: Paramount Plus for Thursday, ESPN Plus for Monday, Peacock for Sunday nights, and a cable login or free Fox/CBS app for Sunday afternoon games. Some cable packages bundle these services, which can be cheaper than paying for each one separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Thursday Night Football without a Paramount Plus subscription?

No. Thursday Night Football streams exclusively on Paramount Plus, and you need an active subscription to watch. The service does not offer a free trial long enough to cover an entire season, though it occasionally runs promotional offers.

Does Paramount Plus show NFL games on Sunday?

No. Sunday games air on Fox, CBS, or NBC depending on the matchup. Some Sunday games stream through the Fox or CBS apps, but Paramount Plus does not carry Sunday football.

Will I see the Super Bowl on Paramount Plus?

Only if CBS broadcasts it that year. The Super Bowl rotates among networks, and CBS hosts it roughly once every three years. Check the current year's schedule to see which network has it.

Can I watch replays of Thursday Night Football after the game ends?

Yes. Paramount Plus keeps Thursday Night Football games available to stream on demand after they air live. You can watch the full game or highlights anytime during your subscription.

Does Paramount Plus have any other football besides the NFL?

Paramount Plus does not carry college football, high school football, or other football leagues. The service focuses on NFL content for football programming.