Paramount Plus shows some NFL games, but not all of them
Paramount Plus carries Thursday Night Football, a package of 15 regular-season games each year. These games air live on the streaming service starting in September through the end of the regular season. You do not need cable — a Paramount Plus subscription is enough to watch them.
Paramount Plus does not show Sunday or Monday night games, playoff games, or the Super Bowl. Those air on other networks and streaming services. If you want to watch most NFL games, you will need subscriptions to multiple services or cable.
The Thursday Night Football package moved to Paramount Plus in 2022. Before that, Amazon Prime Video carried it. The games are included with any Paramount Plus plan — Essential (with ads) or Premium (ad-free).
Key Takeaways
- Paramount Plus streams Thursday Night Football live during the regular season, which runs from September through early January.
- A Paramount Plus subscription covers the Thursday games at no extra cost beyond your monthly plan.
- Sunday, Monday, and playoff games are not on Paramount Plus and require other services like ESPN Plus, NFL Plus, or cable.
- The Essential plan with ads costs less than Premium, and both include the same Thursday Night Football games.
What games are actually on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus shows 15 Thursday Night Football games per regular season. These are spread across the 18-week schedule, so you will not see a game every single Thursday. The network picks which matchups to broadcast based on fan interest and team records.
Games start at 8:20 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday nights. Paramount Plus streams them live, and you can also watch replays on demand after the game ends. The service offers multiple camera angles and broadcast options on some games.
You can watch on any device that runs the Paramount Plus app — phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Roku or Apple TV. The stream quality depends on your internet speed; Paramount Plus recommends at least 8 Mbps for 4K video.
How to find Thursday Night Football on Paramount Plus
Open the Paramount Plus app and look for the sports section or search for "Thursday Night Football." During the season, the games are featured prominently on the home page. You can also check the NFL schedule on the official NFL website to see which games are on Paramount Plus that week.
Games are available to stream starting a few minutes before kickoff. If you miss the live broadcast, the full game is usually available on demand within an hour of the final whistle. Paramount Plus keeps replays available for several weeks.
You do not need to set a reminder or do anything special — just log in on Thursday evening and the game will be there. If you have the Essential plan, you will see ads during the broadcast, similar to watching on cable.
Other ways to watch NFL games if Paramount Plus does not have what you want
NFL Plus is the league's own streaming service. The Premium tier shows all out-of-market regular-season games on Sunday and Monday, plus some playoff games. The Basic tier shows replays only, not live games. NFL Plus does not include Thursday Night Football.
ESPN Plus carries Monday Night Football and some playoff games. You can also bundle it with Hulu and Disney Plus at a lower combined price. Amazon Prime Video previously had Thursday Night Football but no longer does.
Cable and satellite (through providers like Comcast, Charter, or DirecTV) still show the most games overall — Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and playoff broadcasts. If you want to watch every game your team plays, cable or a combination of streaming services is usually necessary.
Local broadcast networks like CBS, Fox, and NBC show some Sunday games for free over the air if you have an antenna. These are typically the most popular matchups in your region.
Paramount Plus plans and what they cost
Paramount Plus offers two subscription tiers. The Essential plan includes ads and costs less per month. The Premium plan removes ads and costs more. Both plans include Thursday Night Football at the same quality.
Paramount Plus occasionally offers discounts for annual subscriptions or promotional rates for new members. Prices vary by region and change periodically, so check the Paramount Plus website for current pricing. Some cable and phone providers bundle Paramount Plus into their packages at no extra cost.
If you already subscribe to Paramount Plus for movies and TV shows, you do not pay anything extra to watch the Thursday games. The service does not charge per game or require an upgrade.
When Thursday Night Football games air during the season
The NFL regular season runs from September through early January. Thursday Night Football games are spread across these months, though not every Thursday has a game. The schedule is announced in the spring before the season starts.
Games always start at 8:20 p.m. Eastern time. If you live on the West Coast, that is 5:20 p.m. Pacific time. Paramount Plus streams the game live, so you can watch it at kickoff or wait and watch the replay later.
Playoff games and the Super Bowl are not part of the Thursday Night Football package, so Paramount Plus does not stream them. The Super Bowl airs on CBS, NBC, or Fox depending on the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a cable login to watch Thursday Night Football on Paramount Plus?
No. You only need a Paramount Plus subscription. You do not need cable or a cable provider login. The Thursday games are included with any Paramount Plus plan.
Can I watch Thursday Night Football on Paramount Plus if I live outside the United States?
Paramount Plus availability and sports content vary by country. In Canada, some games air on CTV and TSN. Check what Paramount Plus offers in your region, or contact the service directly for details about international streaming.
What happens if I miss a Thursday Night Football game?
The full game is available on demand within about an hour of the final whistle. You can watch the replay anytime during the season. Paramount Plus keeps past games available for several weeks.
Can I watch Thursday Night Football on Paramount Plus without ads?
Yes, if you have the Premium plan. The Essential plan includes ads during the broadcast, just like cable. Both plans stream the same games at the same quality.
Does Paramount Plus show playoff games or the Super Bowl?
No. Paramount Plus only carries Thursday Night Football during the regular season. Playoff games and the Super Bowl air on other networks like CBS, NBC, Fox, or ESPN depending on the year.