Peacock carries Thursday Night Football and select playoff games

Peacock streams Thursday Night Football every week during the NFL regular season, starting in September. These games air live on Thursday evenings and are available to Peacock subscribers at no extra cost beyond the subscription itself. Peacock also carries a rotating selection of playoff games, though not all postseason matchups appear on the platform — the Super Bowl, for example, does not stream exclusively on Peacock.

The exact playoff games that appear on Peacock change year to year depending on NBC's broadcast rights. To find out which specific playoff games will stream on Peacock in a given season, check Peacock's sports schedule or NBC Sports' website closer to the playoffs. Thursday Night Football is the consistent offering you can count on throughout the regular season.

Key Takeaways

  • Thursday Night Football streams live on Peacock every week during the regular season at no additional cost beyond your subscription.
  • Playoff games rotate between networks, and Peacock carries some but not all postseason matchups depending on NBC's rights that year.
  • The Super Bowl is broadcast on a different network and does not stream on Peacock.
  • You can find the full Thursday Night Football schedule on Peacock's sports section or NBC Sports' website before each season starts.

How to find Thursday Night Football on Peacock

Open the Peacock app or website and look for the Sports section. Thursday Night Football games appear in a dedicated area during the NFL season, usually labeled clearly with the game time and teams playing. Games typically start at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday evenings.

If you have a Peacock Premium subscription (the paid tier), you can watch all Thursday Night Football games live and on demand. Peacock Free (the ad-supported tier) also carries Thursday Night Football, though some games may be available only to Premium subscribers depending on the week. Check the game listing to see which tier you need before game time.

What to expect from Peacock's NFL coverage

Thursday Night Football on Peacock uses the same broadcast as NBC's television feed, so you get the same announcers, graphics, and production quality. The stream is live, meaning you watch the game as it happens, not on a delay. If you miss the live broadcast, most games remain available on demand for a period of time after they air.

Stream quality depends on your internet connection. Peacock recommends at least 8 Mbps for HD streaming and 25 Mbps for 4K, though most home internet connections support HD without issue. If your stream buffers or freezes, try lowering the video quality in Peacock's settings or moving closer to your router.

Playoff games and postseason coverage

NBC holds the rights to broadcast some NFL playoff games, and those games stream on Peacock as part of the same broadcast. The number of playoff games on Peacock varies by year — in recent seasons, Peacock has carried one or two playoff games, but this can change. The Wild Card round, Divisional round, and Conference Championship games are split among multiple networks, so not every game appears on Peacock.

The Super Bowl is always broadcast on a different network (it rotates between CBS, Fox, and NBC), and when it airs on NBC, it streams on Peacock. However, you should not assume the Super Bowl will be on Peacock — check the network assignment for that year's game. Peacock's sports schedule page will show you which playoff games are available on the platform as the postseason approaches.

Subscription tiers and what you need to watch

Peacock Premium costs $5.99 per month with ads or $11.99 per month without ads. Peacock Free is supported by advertising and does not cost anything. Most Thursday Night Football games are available on both tiers, though Peacock occasionally restricts certain games to Premium subscribers. The game listing will tell you which tier is required before you try to watch.

If you have a cable subscription that includes NBC, you may also be able to watch Thursday Night Football through the NBC app or website using your cable login. This is separate from Peacock and does not require a Peacock subscription. Check your cable provider's website to see if this option is available to you.

Other NFL options if a game is not on Peacock

Thursday Night Football is the only regular-season game that streams on Peacock. Sunday games air on CBS, Fox, and ESPN (with ESPN games also streaming on ESPN+). Monday Night Football streams on ESPN+. If you want to watch all NFL games, you will need subscriptions to multiple services or a cable package that includes these networks.

NFL+ is a separate streaming service run by the NFL itself and carries out-of-market regular-season games, plus all playoff games and the Super Bowl. It costs $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year. If you want one place to watch most NFL games, NFL+ covers more games than Peacock does, though it does not include Thursday Night Football (which remains on Peacock and NBC).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Peacock Premium to watch Thursday Night Football?

Most Thursday Night Football games are available on both Peacock Free and Premium. Occasionally, Peacock restricts a game to Premium subscribers, so check the game listing before kickoff. If you have Peacock Free, you will see ads during the broadcast.

Can I watch Thursday Night Football on my phone or tablet?

Yes. read the Peacock app on iOS or Android and log in with your account. The stream works the same way as on a TV or computer. Make sure your internet connection is strong, especially if you are using mobile data.

What if I miss a Thursday Night Football game live?

Most games remain available on demand in the Peacock app for several days or weeks after they air. Look in the Sports section or search for the game by team name. Availability varies, so games may eventually be removed.

Will the Super Bowl be on Peacock this year?

The Super Bowl streams on Peacock only if NBC has the broadcast rights that year. The network assignment rotates, so check which network is broadcasting the Super Bowl before the game. If NBC has it, Peacock will carry the stream.

Can I watch NFL games on Peacock if I live outside the United States?

Peacock is only available in the United States. If you are outside the U.S., you will not be able to access Peacock or its NFL games. Check with local broadcasters or streaming services in your country for NFL coverage options.