YouTube TV does not carry every NFL game, and which ones you see depends on your location and the week
YouTube TV carries most regular-season NFL games through its live sports channels, but it does not have all of them. The network broadcasts you get — CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN — show the majority of games each Sunday and Monday, but some matchups air only on NFL+, Amazon Prime Video, or regional channels YouTube TV does not include. Thursday Night Football moved to Amazon Prime Video in 2023, so you will not find those games on YouTube TV at all. Playoff games and the Super Bowl appear on the networks YouTube TV does carry, but you need to check your local listings each week because which games air where changes based on your region and the NFL's scheduling.
The gap matters most if you follow a specific team or want to watch every game in a given week. YouTube TV's four main networks cover roughly 70 to 80 percent of the regular-season schedule, but the remaining games scatter across services you would need to pay for separately. Understanding what YouTube TV includes and what it does not helps you decide whether the service alone meets your needs or whether you need to add another subscription.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN, which broadcast most Sunday and Monday NFL games, but not every game airs on these channels.
- Thursday Night Football streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, not on YouTube TV.
- Some games air only on NFL+, a separate subscription service, and YouTube TV does not include access to it.
- Your location determines which regional games you receive, so two viewers in different cities may see different matchups on the same Sunday.
- Playoff games and the Super Bowl appear on YouTube TV's networks, but you should verify the channel and time in your local listings before game day.
What networks YouTube TV includes for NFL coverage
YouTube TV carries four of the main NFL broadcast networks: CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN. These four channels show the bulk of regular-season games each week. CBS and Fox typically split Sunday afternoon games based on your region — CBS shows AFC matchups in most markets, while Fox shows NFC games, though this varies by location. NBC broadcasts Sunday Night Football, and ESPN airs Monday Night Football. These are the channels where you will find the most consistent NFL content on YouTube TV.
The catch is that not every game airs on these four channels. The NFL also sells broadcast rights to Amazon Prime Video, NFL+, and regional sports networks. YouTube TV does not include any of these, so games that land on those platforms will not appear in your YouTube TV guide, no matter which package you pay for. This means you could miss games involving your favorite team if they happen to land on one of these excluded services during a given week.
Games you cannot watch on YouTube TV
Thursday Night Football moved entirely to Amazon Prime Video starting in 2023. If you want to watch Thursday games, you need an Amazon Prime membership or a Prime Video subscription — YouTube TV does not carry them. This is a significant gap if you follow the NFL closely, since there is one Thursday game nearly every week during the regular season. The shift happened because Amazon paid for exclusive rights to the package, meaning no other streaming service or cable provider carries these games.
NFL+ is a separate subscription service run by the NFL itself. It streams some games that do not air on traditional broadcast networks, particularly games that air on regional channels in markets outside the teams' home regions. YouTube TV does not bundle NFL+ or give you access to it, so you would need to pay for that service separately if you want those games. The NFL uses NFL+ to reach fans in markets where their team does not have local broadcast coverage.
Some games also air on regional sports networks that YouTube TV does not carry. If a game is scheduled for a regional channel in your market and that channel is not part of YouTube TV's lineup, you will not see it through the service. These regional broadcasts are less common than they once were, but they still happen, particularly for teams in certain markets.
How your location affects which games you see
The NFL uses a system called regional blackouts and market assignments to decide which games broadcast in which areas. Your location determines whether you see an AFC or NFC game on Sunday afternoon, and it affects which regional games appear in your guide. A game that airs on a regional channel in New York might not broadcast in Los Angeles, and YouTube TV respects these regional boundaries. The NFL designed this system to protect local broadcasters and encourage attendance at stadiums, though the rules have loosened in recent years.
When you set up YouTube TV, you enter your home address. The service uses this to show you the correct local channels and regional sports networks for your area. If you travel, you may see different games depending on where you are, though YouTube TV's out-of-market rules generally prevent you from watching games that are blacked out in your home region. This means a game available in one city might be blocked if you are trying to watch it from your home market.
Playoff games and the Super Bowl on YouTube TV
Playoff games and the Super Bowl air on the major broadcast networks — CBS, Fox, and NBC — which YouTube TV includes. You will be able to watch the wild-card round, divisional round, conference championships, and Super Bowl through YouTube TV as long as they air on one of these three networks. The NFL rotates which network gets which playoff games each year, so check your local listings a few days before each game to confirm the channel and time.
The Super Bowl typically airs on one of the major networks and rotates annually. In recent years it has appeared on CBS, NBC, and Fox. YouTube TV will carry it when it airs on any of these channels, but you should verify the broadcast details on the NFL's official schedule or your YouTube TV guide closer to the date. Playoff games are not subject to the same regional blackout rules as regular-season games, so you should see all of them on YouTube TV regardless of where you live.
What to do if a game you want is not on YouTube TV
If the game you want to watch is on Thursday Night Football, you will need Amazon Prime Video. A Prime membership includes Prime Video, or you can buy a Prime Video subscription separately. If the game is on NFL+, you can subscribe to that service directly through the NFL's website. Some regional games may also air on local channels that are not part of YouTube TV, in which case you would need to find another way to watch.
Before the season starts, check which games matter most to you and which networks will carry them. The NFL publishes its full schedule with broadcast assignments weeks in advance. If most of the games you want are on YouTube TV's networks, the service covers your needs. If you follow a team that plays many Thursday games or regional matchups, you may need to add another service to your setup. Many people use YouTube TV as their base and add Amazon Prime Video or NFL+ for the games YouTube TV does not carry.
How to find out which games are on YouTube TV this week
Open the YouTube TV app or website and look at the guide for Sunday, Monday, or the day you want to watch. The guide shows you every game that will air on your available channels. You can also search for a specific team's name to see when their games appear. The NFL's official website and ESPN's schedule also list every game and which network carries it, so you can cross-reference before you sit down to watch.
YouTube TV's sports section in the guide lets you filter by sport and league, making it easier to scan for NFL games without scrolling through everything else. If a game does not appear in YouTube TV's guide, it is not on one of your included channels, and you will need to look elsewhere. Bookmark the NFL's schedule page so you can quickly check which network has the games you care about each week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Thursday Night Football on YouTube TV?
No. Thursday Night Football moved to Amazon Prime Video in 2023 and is not available on YouTube TV. You need an Amazon Prime membership or a separate Prime Video subscription to watch these games.
Will YouTube TV show me playoff games?
Yes, as long as the playoff game airs on CBS, Fox, or NBC, which YouTube TV includes. The NFL rotates playoff broadcasts among these networks, so check your local listings to confirm which channel carries each game.
Why can't I see a game that's supposed to be on Sunday?
The game may air on a regional channel, NFL+, or a network YouTube TV does not carry. Check the NFL's official schedule or ESPN to see which network has the broadcast rights. If it is on a channel outside YouTube TV's lineup, you will need another service to watch it.
Do I need NFL+ if I have YouTube TV?
Not necessarily. YouTube TV covers most games through its broadcast networks. You only need NFL+ if you want to watch games that air exclusively on that service, which is a smaller subset of the schedule.
How do I know which games are in my region?
YouTube TV uses your home address to determine your region and show you the correct local channels. The NFL also publishes its full schedule with broadcast assignments online, so you can check there to see which games will air in your market each week.