How to watch all NFL games without cable in 2025/26

The NFL is a professional American football league that takes place every year. The 2025/26 season is currently in the Playoffs stage, with the Divisional Round underway, the Conference Championships up next, and Super Bowl LX scheduled for Sunday, February 8th, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

All remaining NFL Playoff games air nationally on CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN/ABC, and you can watch them via cable or satellite TV, live TV streaming services like Fubo TV and Hulu + Live TV, or the official network apps with a valid TV provider login.

The best way to enjoy these games without cable is to watch them live on official streaming channels. The NFL offers various streaming options, including NFL+ Premium for mobile users or NFL Game Pass International on DAZN, available via Amazon Prime Video.

If you're traveling abroad or facing regional blackouts, using a VPN can help you access these streams by masking your location. However, it's important to note that some streaming services may have measures in place to detect and block VPN traffic. Therefore, not all VPNs may be effective in bypassing these restrictions.

In this guide, I’ll explain how to watch all NFL games without cable and recommend the best VPNs to do so.

How to watch all NFL games without cable with a VPN

1. Choose a reliable VPN. I recommend NordVPN, now 76% OFF
2. Download the app and follow the installation instructions
3. Connect to a server in the US and open the streaming service of your choice
4. Create an account and enjoy the NFL

Watch the NFL without cable with NordVPN

Can I watch the NFL playoffs for free and without cable?

Yes, you can watch the NFL playoffs for free and without cable if you are in specific countries. TVNZ+ in New Zealand and 7plus in Australia will stream all NFL 2025/26 playoff games and the Super Bowl at no cost on their official streaming platforms.

However, these services are geo-restricted, which means you can only access their NFL streams while physically located in New Zealand or Australia. Fans traveling abroad can use a reliable VPN such as NordVPN to securely connect back to their home country and continue watching their usual free playoffs coverage on TVNZ+ or 7plus.

Why do you need a VPN to watch NFL games without cable?

If you want to stream NFL games without cable, you need access to a service that broadcasts the matches. Many of these platforms, however, are geo-restricted, meaning they’re only available in certain countries.

For example, trying to watch NFL games on YouTube TV outside the US will show an error saying the content isn’t available in your location.

With a VPN, you can connect to a server in the US, making the platform think you’re physically there. This not only lets you stream all NFL games smoothly from anywhere, but it can also help you find more affordable viewing options. Some regions offer the same streaming services at lower prices, and a VPN can give you access while traveling or living abroad.

Aside from unblocking streaming services, a VPN also encrypts your data so that no third parties can view it. This includes your Internet Service Provider (ISP), threat actors, and even governments. Plus, you’re kept safe from hackers lurking on public Wi-Fi hotspots.

How to watch NFL games without cable?

Plenty of different streaming platforms will be showing the NFL games this year. However, not all of them are available globally, and some that allow you to access all the games, even after their live broadcast, aren’t available in the US.

Some of these streaming sites will only be available in the US. However, even then, you will still have to deal with content blackouts for home games. Therefore, even for viewers in the US, I recommend a reliable streaming VPN, like NordVPN, to bypass content restrictions and avoid blackouts.

In addition, some streaming channels offer extras, especially during the NFL season, so check those additional perks before committing to a long-term subscription.

Here are the main platforms where you can stream this season’s NFL games.

Fubo

Using Fubo, you can watch NFL games without cable from anywhere. The provider is available in the US, with Fubo Sports prices starting from $45.99/month.

Here’s what you can expect to watch on Fubo:

• Local matches – Fox, CBS
• Sunday Night Football – NBC
• Monday Night Football – ESPN
• NFL Network games

Watch the NFL without cable on Fubo TV

Hulu + Live TV

You can get Hulu + Live TV for $89.99/month. You can use it to watch only local NFL matches. So if you want to stream other games as well, you’ll need a VPN to bypass blackouts.

Here’s what you can watch on Hulu + Live TV:

• Local games – Fox, CBS
• Sunday Night Football – NBC
• Monday Night Football – ESPN
• NFL Network games

With this service, you won’t be able to watch Thursday Night Football or out-of-market games. If you want to gain access to NFL RedZone, you can opt for the Sports add-on package. It costs an additional $9.99/month to your subscription.

Watch the NFL with Hulu + Live TV

YouTube TV

YouTube TV offers many NFL matches for you to watch. The subscription costs $82.99/month, but new users get the first 2 months for $59.99/month.

Here’s what matches you can expect to find on YouTube TV:

• Local games – Fox, CBS
• Sunday Night Football – NBC
• Monday Night Football – ESPN
• NFL Network games

You can bundle the NFL Sunday Ticket with YouTube TV for an additional price. Overall, YouTube TV seems to include basically all the channels that broadcast the NFL.

Paramount+

If the match you want to watch is broadcast on the local CBS station, you can watch it on Paramount+. CBS streams regular-season, playoff, and other matches. And if you want to watch other NFL games that aren’t local, you’ll need to use a VPN, such as NordVPN.

The prices of Paramount+ start from $8.99/month. However, note that with Paramount+, you can only watch local games on CBS. This means you won’t get to stream it on Fox, or Sunday Night, Monday Night, or Thursday Night Football, as well as out-of-market games.

DirecTV

You can watch local NFL games on multiple channels on DirecTV – CBS, ABC, Fox, ESPN, and NBC. DirecTV offers separate sports packages covering the NFL, starting from $84.99/month. Keep in mind that DirecTV is only available in the US.

• Local matches – CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC
• Sunday Night Football – NBC
• Monday Night Football – ESPN
• NFL Network games

However, keep in mind that DirecTV doesn't provide access to watch Thursday Night Football games.

Sling TV

To get all the sports channels for the NFL, you should get both the Sling Blue and Orange packages, which, bundled, cost $35.00/month for the first month and $69.99/month thereafter. You can also get NFL RedZone, which comes with the Orange & Blue + Sports Extra pack, costing $50.00/month for the first month and renews at $84.99/month. The Sling TV platform is available in the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. You can watch various NFL matches on the streaming service. This includes:

• Local games – Fox
• Sunday Night Football – NBC
• Monday Night Football – ESPN
• NFL Network games

However, you won’t be able to watch local games on CBS, Thursday Night Football, or out-of-market games. Still, you can watch the latter if you get a VPN service to change your location.

Amazon Prime Video

The prices of Amazon Prime Video start from $8.99/month. It’s the best place to watch exclusive Thursday Night Football games. However, you won't be able to watch anything else. Local games, including Monday and Sunday Night football games, will be out of reach.

NFL+

NFL+ gives access to almost all NFL games in the US. You can watch almost everything on this platform, which offers two tiers: the Basic plan at $6.99/month or $29.99/year, and the Premium plan at $14.99/month or $59.99/year, which includes NFL RedZone and game replays. It’s available only in the US and only on mobile. You get to watch:

• Local games – Fox, CBS
• Sunday Night Football – NBC
• Monday Night Football – ESPN
• Thursday Night Football games
• NFL Network games
• NFL RedZone (Premium)

NFL Game Pass

NFL Game Pass has been replaced by NFL+ and is now managed through the DAZN platform, giving you access to everything related to the NFL season. Regular games, preseason, Super Bowl – it’s all there. It’s available in most countries, except the US, so you’ll get to enjoy the sport from anywhere.

That said, the service can be quite expensive, but keep in mind that the price is for the whole season, whereas on other platforms, you typically pay monthly. Here are the approximate prices for the full season:

• Brazil – from R$24.90/season, which is approximately $4.70/season
• Japan – from ¥999/season, which is approximately $6.30/season
• UK – from £9.99/season, which is approximately $13.50/season

3 best VPNs to watch the NFL without cable

Using a high-quality VPN to watch the NFL without cable is helpful because it changes your IP address by routing your traffic through a server location you connect to. This lets you trick streaming services into thinking that you’re from a location where NFL games are available. We tested 41 VPN providers to find which services work best when watching NFL games without cable. Here are our top 3 options in terms of streaming capabilities, speeds, price, and more.

1. NordVPN – best VPN to watch the NFL without cable. It offers fast, reliable servers across the globe. Known for its strong security features and ability to bypass geo-restrictions, NordVPN is ideal for accessing local broadcasts and out-of-market games.
2. Surfshark – top VPN to watch the NFL on unlimited devices. It is perfect if you need to stream NFL games on multiple devices simultaneously. Additionally, with robust privacy features, the provider ensures your online activity remains secure while you enjoy the games.
3. Proton VPN – secure VPN to stream NFL without cable. Proton VPN keeps your connection safe with strong encryption and fast servers, making it easy to watch NFL games from anywhere.

What are NFL game blackouts?

The NFL blackouts attract more viewers to the stadium, naturally generating more profit. If the team is playing in its home city, then the game's broadcast will be blacked out for the citizens of that area. So, any local games will be unavailable to stream.

The best solution to blackouts is getting a reliable VPN. I recommend NordVPN because it has undergone rigorous in-house testing and has proved that it can easily bypass content restrictions, such as game blackouts. It also delivers excellent performance for lag-free streaming thanks to its fast speeds.

How to watch local NFL games without cable?

All you need to do is connect to a VPN server in a state other than the home state where the team is playing. Then, head over to your chosen streaming platform to watch the game. Let’s say you’re in New York, and the local broadcast has blacked out the New York Giants game. To bypass this, you can use a VPN to connect to a server in a different city, such as Chicago, where the game isn’t blacked out. Once connected, your internet traffic will appear to be coming from Chicago, allowing you to access the stream as if you were physically there.

It works exactly the same with international viewers – if you pick a US-centric streaming platform, just select a server in a state where the game is available and enjoy cheering for your favorite NFL team.

Watch the NFL with NordVPN

How to watch all 2025/26 NFL games without cable from anywhere in the world?

When watching without cable, NFL broadcasting rights vary largely by country. So it depends on the streaming platform that you choose.

Stream NFL games 2025/26 without cable

Dates:	4 September 2025 – 8 February 2026
Stream in the US:	YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Amazon Prime Video, NFL+
Stream anywhere:	Get 76% OFF NordVPN + 3 months free
Steam in the UK:	Sky Sports, NFL Game Pass (DAZN)

For US users, I think that NFL+ is the best streaming option. On the other hand, international users will find Game Pass offers the best deal. US users might also consider using a VPN to access Game Pass at cheaper rates available in other countries.

So here’s how to watch the NFL games without cable on NFL Game Pass with a VPN:

1. Download your chosen VPN to the device you’ll use to watch the NFL on. I recommend NordVPN, which is now 76% OFF
2. Follow the installation instructions and sign in to the app
3. Connect to a server in the US, or a completely different country if you’re using a Game Pass
4. Sign up for the streaming service
5. Enjoy the matches from your own home

Watch the NFL without cable with NordVPN

How to watch Sunday Football without cable

You can watch Sunday Football by choosing a streaming service. Most of them are only available in a select number of countries, so if you’re not from the US, you’ll need to use a VPN.

You can stream Sunday Football matches on YouTube TV, Sling TV Blue, Peacock Premium, Paramount+, or Amazon Prime Video.

Here’s how to watch Sunday Football without cable:

1. Choose a reliable VPN for the NFL, such as NordVPN
2. Download the app and follow the instructions
3. Log in to the app and connect to a server in a location where your chosen NFL streaming service is available
4. Sign up or log in to the chosen streaming service
5. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the NFL games

Stream Sunday Football with NordVPN

How to watch Monday Night Football without cable

You can watch Monday Night Football on various services, including YouTube TV, Sling TV Orange, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, Fubo, and ESPN+ (select games only). But if you’re outside the countries where these platforms are available, you’ll need a VPN.

Here’s how to watch Monday Night Football without cable:

1. Choose a reliable VPN. My top recommendation is NordVPN
2. Download and install the VPN
3. Connect to a server where the streaming service is available
4. Sign up or log in to the streaming service
5. Stream the NFL from your own sofa

Watch Monday Night Football outside the US

How to watch Thursday Night Football without cable

NFL Thursday Night Football is exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in the US. If you’re outside the countries where your chosen streaming service is available, you’ll need a VPN to watch the NFL from home.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to watch Thursday Night Football without cable:

1. Pick a streaming VPN, such as NordVPN, and download it
2. Install the app and log in
3. Connect to a server where your chosen streaming platform is available
4. Log in to your chosen streaming site
5. Watch the games from anywhere

Enjoy the NFL from anywhere

Conclusion

The newest NFL season is going to garner lots of interest and viewers. However, streaming the games can take time and effort. For those without cable, viewers outside the US, and those affected by local game blackouts, a reliable VPN is the best way to enjoy this sports season.

I recommend NordVPN as the best solution to watch the 2025/26 NFL season. This VPN can easily bypass content restrictions and provides fast speeds for lag-free streaming. It has everything you need to watch the new NFL season from anywhere in the world.

For US users, NFL+ is the top streaming service. However, international users will find the best value with Game Pass. US citizens could also use a VPN to access Game Pass from countries where it's cheaper.

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