How to Watch NFL Games on Paramount Plus

What NFL Games Are on Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus carries Thursday Night Football, a package of regular-season NFL games that air live each Thursday during the football season. These are full games, not highlights or recaps. The service streams them at the same time they broadcast on CBS, so you can watch live or use the on-demand replay if you miss the broadcast window.

Thursday Night Football runs from September through early January, with the exact schedule released by the NFL before each season begins. Paramount Plus does not carry Sunday or Monday games, playoff games, or the Super Bowl—those air on other networks and streaming services. If you want to watch those, you'll need a different service or cable subscription.

The number of Thursday games varies year to year. In recent seasons, Paramount Plus has streamed 13 to 15 Thursday Night Football games per season. Check the NFL schedule on the official NFL website or Paramount Plus's sports section to see which specific games are included this year.

Key Takeaways

Paramount Plus streams Thursday Night Football live during the regular season, with on-demand replays available after the broadcast ends.
You need an active Paramount Plus subscription to watch—a free trial may be available, but it expires after a set period.
Games stream on the Paramount Plus app for phones and tablets, on the website, and on compatible smart TVs and streaming devices.
Thursday Night Football is the only NFL package on Paramount Plus; Sunday and Monday games are on other services.
Blackout rules may prevent you from watching if you are in the local market of one of the teams playing, depending on your location and cable subscription.

Setting Up Your Paramount Plus Account

To watch NFL games, you need a Paramount Plus subscription. Go to paramountplus.com or open the Paramount Plus app on your phone, tablet, or smart TV. Select "Sign Up" and choose between the ad-supported plan (cheaper, includes ads during shows and games) or the ad-free plan (more expensive, no ads). Both plans include live sports.

Enter your email address, create a password, and provide a payment method. Paramount Plus accepts credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal. Your subscription renews automatically each month or year, depending on which plan you chose. You can cancel anytime through your account settings—cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period, so you keep access until then.

Paramount Plus occasionally offers free trial periods, usually seven days. If a trial is running, you can start it without entering a payment method, but you must cancel before the trial ends or you will be charged. Set a phone reminder on the last day of your trial if you decide not to keep the subscription.

How to Find and Watch Thursday Night Football

Open Paramount Plus and look for the Sports section or search for "Thursday Night Football." On game days, the upcoming game usually appears on the home screen. Select the game tile to open the game page, then tap or click "Watch Live" to begin streaming.

If you are watching on a phone or tablet, make sure you have a strong internet connection—a WiFi network is best, but a 4G or 5G mobile connection works if your data plan allows it. If you are watching on a smart TV, use the Paramount Plus app for your TV brand (Samsung, LG, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or others). If your TV brand is not listed, you can connect a streaming device or use a cable from your phone to your TV.

The stream usually begins 10 to 15 minutes before kickoff. If you miss the live broadcast, the full game replay appears in the on-demand section within a few hours. You can watch the replay anytime during the season and for a limited period after the season ends.

Understanding Blackout Rules

Some Thursday Night Football games may not stream in your area due to local blackout rules. These rules exist to protect local TV stations and teams. If you live in the same market as one of the two teams playing, or if you have a cable subscription to a local CBS affiliate, you may be blocked from streaming that game on Paramount Plus.

Blackout rules vary by game and location. The best way to know if a game is blacked out for you is to try to watch it—Paramount Plus will show a message if the game is not available in your region. If a game is blacked out, you can usually watch it on your local CBS station or through your cable provider instead.

Using a VPN (virtual private network) to change your location and bypass blackouts violates Paramount Plus's terms of service and may result in account suspension. It is not worth the risk.

Devices You Can Watch On

Paramount Plus works on almost any device with an internet connection. On phones and tablets, read the Paramount Plus app from the Apple App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play Store (Android phones and tablets). On computers, go to paramountplus.com and watch in your web browser—no app needed.

For smart TVs, read the Paramount Plus app directly from your TV's app store if your TV is a Samsung, LG, Roku, Google TV, or Amazon Fire TV model. If your TV is older or a different brand, use a streaming device: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or Google Chromecast all support Paramount Plus. Connect the device to your TV with an HDMI cable and to power, then read the app and sign in.

You can watch on up to four devices at the same time with one subscription, though only one stream can play at a time on the ad-supported plan. If you have family members who want to watch different games simultaneously, you may need separate subscriptions or to upgrade to the ad-free plan, which allows multiple simultaneous streams.

Troubleshooting Common Streaming Problems

If the game won't load or keeps stopping, first check your internet speed. Paramount Plus recommends at least 5 Mbps for HD video and 25 Mbps for 4K. Run a speed test at speedtest.net to see what you have. If your speed is lower, move closer to your WiFi router, restart your router, or contact your internet provider.

If the app crashes or freezes, close it completely and reopen it. On phones and tablets, swipe up (iPhone) or press the back button twice (Android) to fully close the app, then tap it again to reopen. On smart TVs, go to your TV's app settings, find Paramount Plus, and select "Force Stop" or "Clear Cache," then reopen the app. If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall the app.

If you see a message that you are not in the right location or the game is blacked out, check that you are signed in to the correct account. Sign out, wait 30 seconds, and sign back in. If the problem persists, the game may genuinely be blacked out in your area—try watching on your local CBS station instead.

Comparing NFL Streaming Options

Paramount Plus is one of several ways to watch NFL games, but it only carries Thursday Night Football. If you want to watch Sunday games, you need NFL+, YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, or a cable subscription. Monday Night Football streams on ESPN+ or through a cable provider. The Super Bowl and playoffs air on CBS, NBC, Fox, or ESPN depending on the year.

NFL+ is the NFL's own streaming service and costs less than Paramount Plus, but it does not include Thursday Night Football—it focuses on out-of-market games and replays. YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV cost more than Paramount Plus but include all NFL games plus other sports and channels. A cable subscription with a sports package includes everything but costs the most.

If you only care about Thursday Night Football, Paramount Plus is the simplest and cheapest option. If you want to watch multiple games per week, compare the cost of adding other services against a cable or YouTube TV subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Thursday Night Football for free?

Paramount Plus sometimes offers a free trial period, usually seven days. During the trial, you can watch Thursday Night Football at no cost. After the trial ends, you must pay for a subscription to continue watching. Check paramountplus.com to see if a free trial is currently running.

What if I miss a Thursday night game?

Full game replays are available on-demand within a few hours of the broadcast ending. You can watch the replay anytime during the season. Paramount Plus also offers condensed versions (highlights only) if you want a shorter recap instead of the full game.

Do I need cable to watch Thursday Night Football on Paramount Plus?

No. A Paramount Plus subscription is all you need. You do not need a cable subscription or a cable login. However, some games may be blacked out in your area, in which case you would need to watch on your local CBS station or cable provider instead.

Can I watch on multiple TVs at the same time?

The ad-supported plan allows only one stream at a time across all your devices. If you want to watch on two TVs simultaneously, you need the ad-free plan or two separate subscriptions. Check Paramount Plus's current plan details, as these rules can change.

What internet speed do I need?

Paramount Plus recommends at least 5 Mbps for standard HD quality and 25 Mbps for 4K. Most home internet plans provide enough speed, but if you have multiple people streaming at once, you may need a faster plan. Run a speed test to check your current speed.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.