How to watch the NFL on CBS (original) (raw)

Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen (Image credit: Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

NFL on CBS is home to Sunday football action every week throughout the NFL regular season, so we've got everything die-hard football fans need to know so they can tune in for all the action.

CBS is just one of the networks that covers the NFL, with NFL on Fox, NBC's Sunday Night Football, ESPN's Monday Night Football and Prime Video's Thursday Night Football carrying games. CBS is the primary home for AFC-centric games, but just about every team will play on CBS throughout the course of the season.

Here is everything that you need to know about how to watch the NFL on CBS.

How to watch the NFL on CBS

CBS is one of the four major US TV networks and as such it is required to be carried on all traditional pay-TV cable subscription packages, meaning if you still pay for cable TV, then you automatically have access to your local CBS station. Local CBS stations can also be received for free by those who use a TV antenna.

If you’ve cut the cord on traditional pay-TV services and have opted for a live TV streaming service, most of them include CBS as part of their standard channel lineup, like Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.

There is also a pure streaming option for watching NFL on CBS games — Paramount Plus. US subscribers can watch the NFL on Paramount Plus. The ad-free version of the streaming service allows for live streaming of local CBS stations, as does the ad-supported, but only for sporting events like NFL games on CBS.

Another option to stream your local CBS game is to sign up for NFL Plus. This streaming service provides live streams of games available in your area, but only through your mobile phone or tablet.

The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!

If UK football fans are wondering where they can watch NFL games — since they don’t have CBS or the other US networks — they do have a couple of options. NFL games are shown in the UK on ITV, Sky TV and the NFL Game Pass subscription service.

NFL on CBS week 5 schedule

Here is the complete schedule of week 5 games that CBS has for fans to enjoy:

What game is going to be playing on your CBS station depends on where you live. To find out what game you're getting, check out this broadcast map from 506 Sports.

Best NFL game on CBS this week

Houston Texans' Nico Collins and Joe Mixon

Houston Texans' Nico Collins and Joe Mixon (Image credit: Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Though CBS has the doubleheader this week, it's not the late afternoon games that draw our attention, instead it is a 1 pm ET/10 am PT matchup between AFC division leaders the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Texans.

The Bills are looking to correct themselves after they played their worst game of the season in week 4, a blowout to the Baltimore Ravens that gave them their first loss. Even with that poor effort, Josh Allen is looking like an MVP candidate with his nine total touchdowns and no turnovers through four games, but it will get a bit harder without leading receiver Khalil Shakir playing in the game. There are also some key injuries on the defensive side, with safety Taylor Rapp and defensive lineman Ed Oliver already ruled out. Can they overcome these injuries and snag a road win?

Houston got back in the win column in week 4 to bring their record to 3-1. The young team, led by second-year quarterback CJ Stroud, has been on the rise and a win against the Bills will help prove that they are a legitimate AFC contender. Stroud and league-leading receiver Nico Collins have helped powered a top 10 offense so far this season, though they are expected to be without their starting running back, Joe Mixon, for the third straight game. The Texans defense (outside of their loss to the Vikings) have been stout this year, and look to make life difficult for Allen and the Bills.

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.