2026 NFL Games on Paramount Plus: Price, Schedule & How to Watch
NFL games on Paramount Plus return on Sunday, September 13, 2026, when CBS opens its regular season with six matchups. Paramount Plus streams every NFL on CBS broadcast that airs on your local station, so you can follow Sunday afternoon football without a cable box.
CBS holds the AFC package again this season. In its own words it will present more than 100 regular season games plus a full slate of playoff games, including the AFC Championship.
Below you will find the 2026 schedule, current pricing, the ways to save, and the games this service will not show.
What You Get With NFL Games on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus is the streaming home of CBS. During football season it carries the full NFL on CBS slate live, in real time, with the same broadcast and announcers you would see on television.
- Sunday afternoon games at 1:00 PM ET and 4:05 or 4:25 PM ET
- The Thanksgiving Day early game
- A Saturday night game in Week 15
- The NFL’s first regular season game in Rio de Janeiro
- A Wild Card game, a Divisional game, and the AFC Championship
- CBS Sports HQ and Fantasy Football Today as live and on demand extras
One rule shapes everything. Your local CBS affiliate decides which game reaches you, and Paramount Plus mirrors that station. You stream the matchup your market receives and nothing outside it. Both subscription tiers include the live NFL on CBS games.
The service also became the exclusive US home of UFC on January 1, 2026 under a seven year deal worth a reported $7.7 billion. Every numbered event and Fight Night is included at no extra charge, which ends the old pay per view model for fight fans.
Paramount Plus Price and Plans in 2026
Prices rose on January 15, 2026 and have held steady since. Two plans are available and both carry live football.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Live NFL on CBS | 24/7 Local CBS Channel | Ads | Top Video Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $8.99 | $89.99 | Yes | No | Limited ads | 1080p |
| Premium (with SHOWTIME) | $13.99 | $139.99 | Yes | Yes | Ads on live TV only | 4K UHD on select titles |
The difference that matters to football fans is the local channel. Essential opens your local CBS feed while an NFL game is actually airing, then closes it once the game ends.
Premium gives you that station around the clock in supported markets, adds pause and rewind on the live stream, and drops ads from on demand titles. If you only want Sunday football, Essential is enough.
Both plans allow streaming on up to three devices at once. Live games stream in HD rather than 4K, since the 4K library covers select movies and series on Premium only.
Supported Devices and Internet Speed
Paramount Plus runs on web browsers, iPhone and Android, tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG and Vizio smart TVs, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Paramount lists 2 Mbps as the minimum for live TV, 3 Mbps for 720p, 5 Mbps for full 1080p, and 25 Mbps for 4K. A 10 Mbps connection gives you comfortable headroom for a live game.
Is There a Paramount Plus Free Trial?
No. Paramount announced in November 2025 that it would phase out free trials, and the seven day trial is no longer offered to new US subscribers. You pay at checkout, although discounted intro promotions appear from time to time around major sports windows.
The most reliable free route runs through Walmart. A 30 day Walmart Plus trial carries the membership streaming benefit with it, which covers Paramount Plus Essential during the trial period.
Ways to Save on Your Subscription
- Students save 50% for a year. Verify enrollment through SheerID and take half off either plan, which drops Essential to about $4.49 per month. The rate covers the first 12 months, then renews at full price unless you reverify.
- Military and veterans save 50% for life. Active duty, retirees, veterans, Reserve and National Guard members, and dependents qualify after SheerID verification. Existing subscribers need to sign up again through the offer link, since it is not applied retroactively.
- Teachers save 50%. Verified US educators receive the same half price rate on any plan with annual reverification.
- Walmart Plus includes it free. Membership costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year and includes your choice of Paramount Plus Essential or Peacock Premium with ads. You can switch between the two once every 90 days, and members can upgrade to Paramount Plus Premium for $5.49 per month or $54.49 per year.
- Pay yearly. Annual billing saves $17.89 on Essential and $27.89 on Premium compared with 12 monthly payments.
2026 NFL on CBS Schedule: Games Worth Streaming
CBS released its 2026 slate in May. These are the standout dates. All times are Eastern, and each game streams live on Paramount Plus in the markets where it airs.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sept 13 | Bills at Texans | 1:00 PM | Week 1 AFC opener |
| Sun, Sept 27 | Ravens at Cowboys | 4:25 PM | First NFL game in Rio de Janeiro |
| Sun, Oct 4 | Chiefs at Raiders | 4:25 PM | AFC West rivalry |
| Sun, Oct 18 | Chargers at Chiefs | 4:25 PM | National doubleheader window |
| Sun, Nov 1 | Chiefs at Broncos | 4:25 PM | Division title implications |
| Sun, Nov 22 | Steelers at Eagles | 4:25 PM | Cross conference headliner |
| Thu, Nov 26 | Bears at Lions | 1:00 PM | Thanksgiving early game |
| Sun, Dec 6 | Bills at Patriots | 4:25 PM | AFC East showdown |
| Sat, Dec 19 | Bears at Bills | 8:20 PM | CBS Saturday night game |
| Sun, Dec 27 | 49ers at Chiefs | 4:25 PM | Super Bowl LIV rematch |
CBS carries 10 national doubleheaders in 2026, in Weeks 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, and 18. On those Sundays most of the country gets a late afternoon CBS game on top of the 1:00 PM window.
NFL Playoff Games on Paramount Plus in January 2027
The regular season closes on Sunday, January 10, 2027. CBS then carries a Wild Card game, a Divisional game, and the AFC Championship, and all three stream on Paramount Plus in market.
- Wild Card Round: January 16 to 18, 2027
- Divisional Round: January 23 and 24, 2027
- AFC Championship: Sunday, January 31, 2027 on CBS and Paramount Plus
Matchups and kickoff times are set once Week 18 finishes and seeding is locked, so expect the bracket to fill in during the second week of January.
Is Super Bowl LXI on Paramount Plus?
No. Super Bowl LXI kicks off on Sunday, February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it airs on ABC and ESPN. That is the first Super Bowl simulcast between the two networks and ESPN’s first live English language broadcast of the game.
Under the four network rotation, CBS and Paramount Plus next hold the Super Bowl in February 2028, when Super Bowl LXII goes to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
What NFL Games on Paramount Plus Will Not Show
Knowing the gaps saves you from paying twice. Paramount Plus does not carry:
- Out of market games. Only your local CBS station’s game reaches you. NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube covers the rest and starts at $240 for the season for new subscribers.
- Full game replays. Football is live only here. NFL Plus Premium carries full game, condensed, and All 22 replays for $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
- Primetime packages. Sunday Night Football lives on NBC and Peacock, Monday Night Football on ESPN and ABC, and Thursday Night Football on Prime Video from Week 2 onward.
- NFL Network and RedZone. Neither is part of any Paramount Plus plan. ESPN now operates NFL Network, while RedZone streams through NFL Plus Premium.
- Christmas Day football. On Friday, December 25, 2026 Netflix has Packers at Bears and Bills at Broncos, and FOX has Rams at Seahawks. CBS has no Christmas game.
Two other season openers sit outside CBS as well. The Wednesday, September 9 kickoff game is on NBC and Peacock, and the Thursday, September 10 game from Melbourne is on Netflix.
How to Start Streaming in Four Steps
- Open Paramount Plus and pick Essential or Premium.
- Create an account and confirm your ZIP code so the service maps you to the right CBS affiliate.
- Install the app on your TV, phone, or console, or sign in through a browser.
- Open the NFL on CBS hub on game day and tap the live tile.
How to Cancel Paramount Plus
Cancel from account settings on the web, open the subscription section, and confirm. Access continues until your billing period ends, and partial months are not refunded.
If you signed up through a third party, cancel where you pay. Apple subscribers use iPhone settings or the App Store, Roku subscribers use their Roku account, and Amazon subscribers use Prime Video channel settings.
FAQ: NFL Games on Paramount Plus
When do NFL games start on Paramount Plus in 2026?
CBS opens its 2026 season on Sunday, September 13 with six games, including Bills at Texans and Ravens at Colts at 1:00 PM ET. The league itself kicks off on Wednesday, September 9 on NBC and Peacock.
How much does Paramount Plus cost in 2026?
Essential costs $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year. Premium with SHOWTIME costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year. Both plans include live NFL on CBS games. Prices last changed on January 15, 2026.
Do I need the Premium plan to watch NFL games?
No. The Essential plan streams every NFL on CBS game in your market. Premium adds the 24/7 live feed of your local CBS station, pause and rewind on that live stream, ad free on demand viewing, and SHOWTIME content.
Can I watch out of market NFL games on Paramount Plus?
No. You only get the game your local CBS affiliate airs. For out of market Sunday afternoon games you need NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube, which starts at $240 for the season for new subscribers.
Does Paramount Plus still offer a free trial?
No. Paramount phased out the seven day free trial for new US subscribers during 2026. The 30 day Walmart Plus trial is the main free workaround, since a Walmart Plus membership includes Paramount Plus Essential.
Can you rewatch NFL games on Paramount Plus?
No. Games are live only and are not available on demand afterward. NFL Plus Premium carries full game, condensed, and All 22 replays for $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
Which playoff games air on Paramount Plus?
CBS carries a Wild Card game between January 16 and 18, 2027, a Divisional game on January 23 or 24, and the AFC Championship on January 31, 2027. All three stream on Paramount Plus in market.
Is the Super Bowl on Paramount Plus in 2027?
No. Super Bowl LXI airs on ABC and ESPN on February 14, 2027 from SoFi Stadium. CBS and Paramount Plus next carry the Super Bowl in February 2028 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Is UFC included with Paramount Plus?
Yes. Paramount Plus became the exclusive US home of UFC on January 1, 2026. All numbered events and Fight Nights are included on both plans with no pay per view fee.
Does Paramount Plus stream NFL games in 4K?
No. Live NFL games stream in HD up to 1080p. The 4K UHD library covers select movies and series on the Premium plan only.
NFL games on Paramount Plus remain the cheapest legal way to stream your local CBS football broadcast, starting at $8.99 per month with no cable login required. AFC fans get the deepest value here, since CBS carries the conference package all season plus three postseason games in January 2027.
Pair it with one primetime service and you will cover most of the schedule for far less than a cable bill.
