What NFL Games Are on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus carries Thursday Night Football, a package of regular-season games that airs live each Thursday during the NFL season. These are the only NFL games available through Paramount Plus — you will not find Sunday, Monday, or playoff games there. The Thursday Night Football package includes roughly 15 games per season, running from September through early January.
The games stream live as they air, and Paramount Plus also makes them available on demand after broadcast. If you have a Paramount Plus subscription, you can watch on any device the app supports: phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Roku or Apple TV.
Key Takeaways
- Paramount Plus shows Thursday Night Football only — about 15 regular-season games per year, not Sunday or Monday games.
- You need an active Paramount Plus subscription to watch; the games are not included in the free tier.
- Games stream live and remain available on demand after they air.
- Paramount Plus is owned by CBS, which has held the Thursday Night Football rights since 2022.
- Blackout rules may prevent you from watching if you are in the local market of a team playing that night.
Which Subscription Tier Includes Thursday Night Football
Thursday Night Football requires a paid Paramount Plus subscription. The free tier of Paramount Plus does not include live sports or Thursday Night Football games. You must have either the ad-supported plan or the ad-free plan to stream the games.
Both paid tiers include the same content — the difference is whether you see advertisements during playback. Check Paramount Plus directly for current pricing, as subscription costs vary by region and change periodically. Some cable or internet providers bundle Paramount Plus with other services, so if you already subscribe to certain packages, you may already have access.
How to Find and Watch Thursday Night Football
Open the Paramount Plus app or website and look for the Sports section or search for "Thursday Night Football." During the season, the upcoming game is usually featured prominently on the home screen. You can also browse the schedule to see which teams are playing on upcoming Thursdays.
Games typically start at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday nights. If you cannot watch live, the full game is available on demand shortly after it ends. You can rewind, pause, and resume just as you would with any other streaming content on the platform.
Local Blackout Rules and Restrictions
Even with a Paramount Plus subscription, you may not be able to watch if you live in the local market of one of the teams playing. Blackout rules prevent streaming services from showing certain games in the home team's region to protect local broadcast rights and stadium attendance. If a game is blacked out for you, Paramount Plus will show a message when you try to watch.
Blackout rules vary by game and by your location. There is no way to know in advance whether a specific game will be blacked out in your area — you have to check when the game is about to start. Using a VPN to bypass blackouts violates Paramount Plus's terms of service and is not recommended.
Other Ways to Watch NFL Games
If you want to watch games beyond Thursday Night Football, you will need other services. Sunday games are split among CBS, Fox, and ESPN depending on the matchup. Monday Night Football airs on ESPN. Sunday Night Football is on NBC. Playoff games and the Super Bowl air on multiple networks depending on the round.
The NFL also offers NFL Plus, a separate subscription service that streams out-of-market regular-season games on phones and tablets (not on TV). Cable and satellite providers like Comcast, DirecTV, and others carry most NFL games as part of their sports packages. If you want comprehensive coverage, you typically need a combination of services or a cable subscription.
Troubleshooting Common Streaming Issues
If you have a Paramount Plus subscription but cannot watch Thursday Night Football, check that your subscription is current and that you are using a paid tier, not the free version. Log out and log back in to refresh your account status. Clear your app cache or reinstall the app if you are using a mobile device.
If the game appears blacked out, verify your location settings in the Paramount Plus app. Some devices use GPS or IP address to determine your region. If you are traveling or recently moved, your location data may not have updated. Restart your device and check again. If the problem persists, contact Paramount Plus support through the app or their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Thursday Night Football on the free Paramount Plus tier?
No. Thursday Night Football requires a paid Paramount Plus subscription. The free tier does not include live sports or access to NFL games.
What if I have a cable subscription that includes CBS?
Having CBS through cable does not automatically give you Paramount Plus access. You would need to either subscribe to Paramount Plus separately or use your cable login to authenticate through the Paramount Plus app, depending on your cable provider's agreement with Paramount. Check with your provider to see if they offer Paramount Plus as part of your package.
Can I watch Thursday Night Football on my TV?
Yes. Paramount Plus works on smart TVs, streaming devices like Roku and Fire Stick, and through casting from phones or computers. read the Paramount Plus app on your TV device or use the web version if your TV supports it.
Are Thursday Night Football games available the next day?
Yes. Games are available on demand shortly after they finish airing live. You can watch them anytime during your subscription period, though Paramount Plus may eventually remove older games to make room for new content.
Do I need a VPN to watch if I am traveling?
No. Paramount Plus works in most countries where the service is available. If you are outside the United States, check whether Paramount Plus operates in that region. Using a VPN to bypass blackouts or access content outside your region violates the service's terms and is not recommended.