Watching NFL football games just got easier for Roku users. This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know to stream live NFL action all season long on your Roku device.
Overview
Roku has partnered with the NFL to offer football fans a centralized “NFL Zone” within Roku’s Sports experience. This NFL Zone provides:
- Live and upcoming NFL games
- Weekly game previews
- Highlights
- Additional NFL content
Between the NFL Zone, various Live TV streaming services, the NFL Channel, NFL+ streaming, and more, Roku offers football fans multiple ways to watch NFL games without needing a satellite dish.
This guide will walk through the main options for streaming live NFL games on Roku, including:
- Roku Sports experience and NFL Zone
- Live TV streaming services
- Where to find Sunday Night Football
- Where to find Monday Night Football
- Amazon Prime for Thursday Night Football
- Channels for AFC and NFC games
- NFL Sunday Ticket
- NFL RedZone
- NFL+, NFL Network, and NFL replays
We’ll also cover tips for choosing a streaming device or Roku TV, useful apps for highlights and analysis, and more.
Whether you want to watch your hometown team every week or never miss a primetime matchup, Roku can deliver the NFL football streaming experience you need. Let’s get started!
How to Watch NFL Games on Roku
The Roku platform offers NFL fans several pathways for streaming professional football games all season long. Here are the main options available.
1. Roku Sports Experience and NFL Zone
Roku’s Sports experience provides centralized access to live and upcoming sports content across the Roku platform. The tailored experience surfaces sports based on your viewing habits and favorites.
Within the Sports experience, the new NFL Zone offers football fans:
- Live look-ins and listings for NFL games
- Weekly matchup previews
- NFL highlights
- Additional NFL programming
The NFL Zone lets you easily see what NFL games are on now or coming up to stream through various services. Rather than channel surfing to find games, just navigate to the Sports section of your Roku Home screen. You can also watch NBA games on Roku for free through the Sports experience.
2. Live TV Streaming Services
Live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM and Sling TV carry multiple NFL game broadcasts every week.
Services with NFL channels typically include:
- CBS
- NBC
- FOX
- ESPN
- NFL Network (some services)
Live TV services offer one of the easiest pathways for cord cutters to stream live NFL action without a cable package. Most offer free trials to test the lineup.
Here’s how the major options compare for NFL streaming:
- YouTube TV ($73/month) – Offers CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and NFL Network along with NFL RedZone and full NFL Sunday Ticket package. Plus unlimited DVR.
- DIRECTV Stream ($70/month) – Access to CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN and regional sports networks like NFL Network based on location. 20 hours cloud DVR included.
- Hulu + Live TV ($70/month) – Streams CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, along with NFL Network and RedZone (as separate add ons). 50 hour DVR included.
- FuboTV ($70/month) – Offers CBS, Fox, NBC, NFL Network and RedZone included with their base packages. 250 hour DVR.
- Sling TV ($40/month + add ons) – Streams NBC, Fox, ESPN, and NFL Network depending on location and package add-ons selected. 50 hour DVR available.
NFL streaming availability may vary by region on live TV services. Check each provider’s website to confirm local channel lineups.
3. Where to Watch Sunday Night Football
NBC and Peacock have exclusive rights for Sunday Night Football. An active Peacock Premium or live TV streaming subscription that includes your local NBC station lets you stream these weekly matchups. Learn how to watch MSNBC on Roku as well, as NBC owns MSNBC.
- NBC is available locally with DIRECTV Stream, Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV
- Can also stream NBC broadcasts with a Peacock Premium account ($5/month)
- Use an HD antenna on a Roku TV for over-the-air NBC
Check the Sunday Night Football schedule to see upcoming matchups.
4. Where to Watch Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football broadcasts live exclusively on ESPN. Having access to ESPN opens up weekly MNF streaming:
- Access ESPN with DIRECTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV
- Use ESPN app login from a participating pay TV provider
See the Monday Night Football schedule for upcoming games.
5. How to Stream Thursday Night Football
For the 2022 and 2023 NFL seasons, Amazon Prime Video holds exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football.
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership (no added fee)
- Streams live on Prime Video
6. Where to Watch AFC Games
CBS is the main network for American Football Conference (AFC) games. Access live CBS streams through:
- Paramount+ Premium ($10/month)
- Live TV services with CBS – DIRECTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV
- CBS Sports app with participating pay TV login
Or use an antenna connected to a Roku TV for over-the-air broadcasts.
7. Where to Watch NFC Games
For National Football Conference (NFC) matchups, Fox broadcasts most of the action. You can stream live Fox NFL games through these pathways:
- DIRECTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV
- Fox Sports app with a participating pay TV subscription login
- Antenna on a Roku TV
Check which network your favorite NFC team plays on each week of the season.
8. NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket offers live Out-of-Market Sunday afternoon regular season games you can’t get on CBS or Fox with just a local channel package.
Ways to add NFL Sunday Ticket:
- Now available on YouTube TV ($90/month)
- Also available for DIRECTV satellite subscribers
So if you want to easily watch your favorite team’s games each Sunday regardless of your location, NFL Sunday Ticket is the solution.
9. NFL RedZone
No football fan should miss NFL RedZone, presenting live “whip-around” coverage bouncing to the best action around the league on Sunday afternoons.
Stream NFL RedZone through:
- Add on with YouTube TV, DIRECTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV
- Through NFL+ Premium subscription
With a Roku device and NFL RedZone, you’ll never miss a single touchdown scored all Sunday afternoon.
10. NFL Network, NFL Replays, and More
For 24/7 NFL coverage, highlights, analysis and game replays, check out:
NFL App and NFL+ Subscription
- NFL Network around-the-clock
- Live game audio
- Full and condensed replays
- All-22 Coaches Film
- NFL Films archive
- Football commentary
The Roku Channel
- NFL Channel – 24/7 NFL programming
- NFL GameCenter – Highlights, stats, scores
- The Rich Eisen Show – NFL news, analysis & interviews
Between the wealth of replays and analysis, your NFL fix goes way beyond just the live games.
Choosing a Roku Streaming Device or Roku TV
With Roku software powering 1 in 3 smart TVs sold in the U.S. and over 70 million monthly active accounts streaming, Roku dominates the streaming landscape.
It’s easy to access all the NFL football options mentioned across Roku streaming players and Roku TV models. You can also watch YouTube on Roku and watch Vimeo on Roku with these devices.
Streaming Players
Roku’s streaming devices let you add smart capabilities to an existing TV. Choose based on features needed and budget:
- Roku Express – Affordable HD streaming
- Roku Streaming Stick+ – Portable plug-in stick
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K – Ultra HD 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision
- Roku Ultra – Powerful performance, gaming remote
Roku TVs
For a smart TV option with Roku software built right in, Roku TV models come in various display sizes from all the major brands. Benefits include:
- Easy access to 500,000+ movies and TV episodes
- Voice search remote control
- Single remote controls TV functions
- Automatic software updates
- Works right out of the box
Top manufacturers offer Roku TVs, including TCL, Hisense, Sharp, JVC, Philips, Polaroid, Walmart’s Onn brand, and more.
Look for display sizes ranging from 24 to 85 inches. Higher end models also include:
- 4K Ultra HD image clarity
- High Dynamic Range (HDR)
- Dolby Vision enhanced picture
- 120Hz gaming mode
Roku TVs give you an all-in-one option to stream NFL games, analyses, replays, RedZone and more without needing to add an external device. You can even watch MeTV on Roku TVs with an antenna.
Apps to Consider for NFL Highlights and Analysis
Beyond the live games, make sure you have these apps on your Roku player or Roku TV:
NFL Channel – 24/7 NFL Films programming
NFL GameCenter – Video highlights, live scores
The Rich Eisen Show – Daily NFL talk & analysis
CBS Sports HQ – 24/7 sports news network
Bleacher Report – NFL expert analysis & highlights
Fubo Sports Network – News, analysts, programs
Stay on top of trades, injuries, analysis and highlights with these essential apps – at no added cost! And if you’re a motorsports fan, you can also watch NASCAR on Roku and watch MotoGP on Roku with some of these apps and services.
Key Takeaways to Stream NFL Games on Roku
In summary, Roku offers NFL fans different pathways for streaming live games, getting 24/7 coverage, watching replays, and more.
- Roku’s Sports experience and tailored NFL Zone provide centralized listings and details on live/upcoming NFL games across different streaming providers.
- Live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV and Sling TV allow cord cutters to easily access NFL game broadcasts from major networks like CBS, NBC, Fox and ESPN based on channel lineups and regional availability.
- Sunday Night Football streams exclusively on NBC and Peacock. Monday Night Football is only available on ESPN. And Amazon Prime Video now has rights to Thursday Night Football matchups.
- Services like NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL Network, NFL+ Premium and NFL RedZone give you access to watch additional NFL games andprogramming.
- Choosing a Roku streaming media player or Roku TV gives you fast, reliable access to all NFL streaming options mentioned across an easy to use platform.
- Complement live games by installing NFL analysis apps like NFL Channel, NFL GameCenter and The Rich Eisen Show.
Roku has transformed NFL streaming capabilities for cord cutters. Now you can easily watch your favorite teams every week during football season directly from your Roku device – without ever needing a cable TV package.
