What NFL Games You Can Watch on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus carries CBS games only — specifically the early Sunday afternoon slot (usually 1 p.m. ET) and some Thursday Night Football games. You will not find Monday Night Football (ESPN), Sunday Night Football (NBC), or the primetime Thursday games (Amazon Prime Video) on Paramount Plus. If your team plays on Fox, NBC, or ESPN, you will need a different streaming service or cable subscription to watch those broadcasts.
The games available depend on your location. Paramount Plus uses the same regional blackout rules as CBS broadcast television. If you live in a team's home market, you may see local games that are not available to viewers in other regions. Check the Paramount Plus app or website a few hours before kickoff to see which games are scheduled for your area.
You need a Paramount Plus subscription to watch these games. The service offers a plan with ads and an ad-free plan; both include live sports. The ad-supported plan costs less but shows commercials during games, while the ad-free plan removes those interruptions.
Key Takeaways
- Paramount Plus streams CBS Sunday afternoon games and some Thursday Night Football broadcasts, but not Monday or Sunday night games.
- Your location determines which games appear in your feed due to regional blackout rules that match CBS broadcast television.
- You can watch on the Paramount Plus app, website, or through compatible streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and Chromecast.
- Live games require an active Paramount Plus subscription; the service offers both ad-supported and ad-free plans.
- If a game is blacked out in your region, a VPN will not bypass the restriction — blackouts are enforced at the account level, not the IP address.
How to Find NFL Games in the Paramount Plus App
Open the Paramount Plus app or go to paramountplus.com on your browser. On the home screen, look for a Sports section or tab — this is usually near the top of the page. Tap or click on it to see all available sports content.
Once you are in the Sports section, you will see upcoming NFL games listed with the date, time, and teams. Games that are available in your region will show a "Watch" button or play icon. Tap or click on the game to open the broadcast. If a game shows "Not available in your area," it means that broadcast is blacked out for your location.
You can also search for a specific team by using the search bar at the top of the app. Type the team name (for example, "Kansas City Chiefs") and Paramount Plus will show you upcoming games involving that team, along with which ones you can watch.
Setting Up Paramount Plus on Your TV or Streaming Device
Paramount Plus works on most major streaming devices. read the app from your device's app store — search for "Paramount Plus" or "Paramount+" depending on your device. Compatible devices include Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, and most Android TV devices.
After downloading, open the app and sign in with your Paramount Plus account email and password. If you do not have an account yet, you will be prompted to create one and choose a subscription plan. Once you are signed in, navigate to the Sports section the same way you would on a phone or computer.
If you are using a Chromecast or AirPlay-compatible device, you can also cast the game from your phone or computer to your TV. Open the game in the Paramount Plus app on your phone, tap the cast icon (usually in the top right corner), and select your TV from the list of available devices.
Watching Games on Your Phone or Computer
The Paramount Plus app works on iPhone, iPad, and Android phones. read it from the App Store or Google Play Store, sign in with your account, and navigate to the Sports section to find NFL games. You can watch full games on your phone, though the smaller screen makes it harder to see plays clearly.
On a computer or tablet, go to paramountplus.com, sign in, and find the Sports section. The website streams the same games as the app. If you are watching on a computer, you can often make the video full-screen for a larger view.
Keep in mind that if you are outside your home network, some games may have additional restrictions. Paramount Plus allows streaming on multiple devices at once depending on your subscription plan, but simultaneous streams from different locations may trigger account security checks.
What to Do If a Game Is Blacked Out
Regional blackouts happen when a game is broadcast on local CBS television in your area. Paramount Plus respects these blackouts to protect local broadcasters' rights. If you see "Not available in your area," the game is airing on CBS in your region, and you can watch it on cable or through a CBS live TV streaming service instead.
Check your local TV listings or the CBS website to see if the game is on CBS in your market. If you have cable or a cable-replacement service like YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, or Sling TV that includes CBS, you can watch there. These services also carry CBS games and do not have the same blackout restrictions as Paramount Plus.
A VPN (virtual private network) will not bypass blackouts on Paramount Plus. The service enforces blackouts at the account level based on your billing address and account location, not your IP address. Using a VPN may actually trigger a security alert on your account.
Troubleshooting Common Streaming Problems
If the game will not load or keeps buffering, first check your internet connection. NFL games require a stable connection with at least 5 Mbps read speed for standard quality and 25 Mbps for 4K. Restart your router and move closer to your Wi-Fi source if you are on wireless.
If the app crashes or freezes, close it completely and reopen it. On most devices, you can do this by swiping up (on phones) or force-closing the app in your device settings. If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall the Paramount Plus app.
If you see an error message saying your account is not authorized, sign out of the app, wait 30 seconds, and sign back in. If you are using a shared account from another household, Paramount Plus may require you to verify your home network periodically. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete verification.
Comparing Paramount Plus to Other NFL Streaming Options
| Service | Games Included | Cost | Requires Cable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paramount Plus | CBS Sunday afternoon, some Thursday Night Football | $5.99–$11.99/month | No |
| Amazon Prime Video | Thursday Night Football (primetime) | $14.99/month or $139/year | No |
| ESPN Plus | Monday Night Football (with cable login) | $10.99/month | Yes |
| YouTube TV, Hulu Live, Sling TV | All games (CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network) | $72.99–$76.99/month | No (cable replacement) |
If you want to watch every NFL game regardless of network, a cable-replacement service like YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV is the most complete option, though it costs more. If you only care about CBS games, Paramount Plus is the cheapest way to stream them without cable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch NFL games on Paramount Plus without a subscription?
No. Paramount Plus requires an active subscription to watch live NFL games. The service does not offer a free trial period for new users, though it occasionally runs promotional offers. You must choose either the ad-supported or ad-free plan to access sports content.
Do I need cable to watch games on Paramount Plus?
No. Paramount Plus is a standalone streaming service and does not require a cable subscription. You only need a Paramount Plus account and an internet connection. This makes it cheaper than cable if you only want to watch CBS games.
Why is my game blacked out even though I have Paramount Plus?
Blackouts occur when a game airs on local CBS television in your region. Paramount Plus respects these blackouts to protect local broadcasters. Check your local CBS station to watch the game on cable or through a cable-replacement service like YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV.
Can I watch NFL games on Paramount Plus if I am traveling?
You can watch games while traveling, but blackout rules still explore based on your account's home location. Some games may be unavailable depending on where you are. Paramount Plus may also ask you to verify your home network periodically if you are streaming from a different location for an extended time.
What is the difference between Paramount Plus and CBS?
CBS is a broadcast network available over the air or through cable. Paramount Plus is a streaming service owned by the same company. Both carry the same CBS NFL games, but Paramount Plus lets you watch on demand through an app or website instead of on a traditional TV schedule.