2026 NFL Games on CBS Today: Schedule, Streaming & How to Watch
Looking for the NFL games on CBS today? CBS is the primary television home of the AFC in 2026, which means most Sunday afternoon action, the Thanksgiving matinee, the first NFL game in Rio de Janeiro and the road to the AFC Championship all live on your local CBS station.
The next NFL game on CBS is a preseason broadcast: Bengals at Eagles on Friday, August 28, at 8:00 p.m. ET, the only preseason game CBS carries nationally. Regular season coverage begins Sunday, September 13, with a doubleheader.
Below is the full week by week CBS schedule from the network official release, every legal way to watch on TV or stream, prices verified in August 2026 and the answers people ask most.
NFL Games on CBS Today: Kickoff Windows Explained
CBS uses three Sunday windows during the regular season: 1:00 p.m. ET, 4:05 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET. Which game you see depends on your market and the NFL regional coverage map, not on a single national feed.
- Doubleheader week: CBS airs an early game and a 4:25 p.m. ET late game in every market. CBS has 10 doubleheader windows in 2026.
- Single header week: CBS shows one game in most markets, and its late games kick at 4:05 p.m. ET with regional coverage only.
- Rotation with FOX: the two networks alternate doubleheader Sundays. Weeks 1 and 18 are the exceptions, when both carry a doubleheader.
- Scheduling changes: the NFL can shift a Sunday afternoon game between the 1:00 p.m. and 4:05 or 4:25 p.m. windows, and can move one to Sunday night (Weeks 5 to 13, at least 12 days notice) or Monday night (Weeks 12 to 17). Games can also swap between CBS and FOX, but that happens when the schedule is built, not on a published in season notice period.
To confirm the exact matchup in your area on any given Sunday, check your local CBS affiliate listing or a broadcast coverage map before kickoff.
2026 NFL Games on CBS Schedule Week by Week
All 93 announced CBS regular season games, transcribed from the official CBS Sports schedule released on May 14, 2026. All times Eastern.
| Week | Date | Matchup | Kickoff (ET) | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sept 13 | Bills at Texans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 1 | Sun, Sept 13 | Ravens at Colts | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 1 | Sun, Sept 13 | Jets at Titans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 1 | Sun, Sept 13 | Browns at Jaguars | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 1 | Sun, Sept 13 | Packers at Vikings | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 1 | Sun, Sept 13 | Cardinals at Chargers | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 2 | Sun, Sept 20 | Steelers at Patriots | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 2 | Sun, Sept 20 | Bengals at Texans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 2 | Sun, Sept 20 | Browns at Buccaneers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 2 | Sun, Sept 20 | Saints at Ravens | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 2 | Sun, Sept 20 | Raiders at Chargers | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 2 | Sun, Sept 20 | Jaguars at Broncos | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 27 | Chiefs at Dolphins | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 27 | Bengals at Steelers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 27 | Patriots at Jaguars | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 27 | Texans at Colts | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 27 | Titans at Giants | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 27 | Ravens at Cowboys (Rio de Janeiro) | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 27 | Raiders at Saints | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | Patriots at Bills | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | Jaguars at Bengals | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | Titans at Ravens | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | Cardinals at Giants | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | Broncos at 49ers | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | Chiefs at Raiders | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | Chargers at Seahawks | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | Colts at Steelers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | Raiders at Patriots | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | Texans at Titans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | Browns at Jets | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | Broncos at Chargers | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | Panthers at Eagles | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | Steelers at Buccaneers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | Jets at Patriots | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | Chargers at Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | Bills at Raiders | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | Bengals at Ravens | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | Colts at Vikings | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | Dolphins at Jets | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | Browns at Titans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | Broncos at Cardinals | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | Ravens at Bills | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | Browns at Steelers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | Titans at Bengals | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | Colts at Jaguars | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | Chiefs at Broncos | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | Patriots at Dolphins | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | Jets at Chiefs | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | Broncos at Panthers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | Browns at Saints | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | Raiders at 49ers | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | Texans at Chargers | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | Chiefs at Falcons | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | Bills at Jets | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | Dolphins at Colts | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | Rams at Cardinals | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | Seahawks at Raiders | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | Cardinals at Chiefs | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | Buccaneers at Lions | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | Jaguars at Giants | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | Steelers at Eagles | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | Raiders at Broncos | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | Bears at Lions (Thanksgiving) | 1:00 p.m. | National |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | Ravens at Texans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | Saints at Bengals | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | Jets at Dolphins | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | Titans at Jaguars | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | Lions at Falcons | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | Chargers at Buccaneers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | Commanders at Titans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | Bengals at Browns | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | Bills at Patriots | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | Panthers at Vikings | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | Broncos at Jets | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | Bears at Dolphins | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | Texans at Commanders | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | Saints at Panthers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | Falcons at Browns | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | Chargers at Raiders | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 15 | Sat, Dec 19 | Bears at Bills | 8:20 p.m. | National |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | Ravens at Steelers | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | Browns at Giants | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | Jaguars at Texans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | Colts at Titans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | Cowboys at Rams | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | Broncos at Raiders | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | Patriots at Jets | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | Browns at Ravens | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | 49ers at Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. | Doubleheader |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | Bills at Dolphins | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | Steelers at Titans | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | Vikings at Jets | 1:00 p.m. | Regional |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | Raiders at Cardinals | 4:05 p.m. | Single header |
| 18 | Sun, Jan 10 | Windows set after Week 17 | TBD | Doubleheader |
CBS doubleheader weeks in 2026: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 18. Single header weeks: 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 17.
Week 18 runs across Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10, 2027. CBS games fall on the Sunday.
All 16 Week 18 matchups are division games and have been known since May, but their dates, kickoff times and networks are set only after Week 17 ends, so the biggest playoff seeding games land in the best slots.
See also the Week 1 schedule and the full list of 2026 international games.
CBS Preseason Coverage in August 2026
- National game: Bengals at Eagles, Friday, August 28, 8:00 p.m. ET. This is the only 2026 preseason game CBS airs across the country.
- Local broadcasts: several CBS stations hold team preseason rights and air exhibition games in their own markets. KDKA in Pittsburgh, for example, carries the Steelers preseason slate.
Check the full preseason schedule for every August matchup and channel.
Marquee CBS Games in 2026
- Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 (Week 12): Bears at Lions, 1:00 p.m. ET, the national matinee from Ford Field.
- Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, September 27 (Week 3): Ravens at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET at the Maracana, the first NFL game ever played in Rio. Dallas is the designated home team.
- Saturday night, December 19 (Week 15): Bears at Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET, the only CBS Saturday game of the season. FOX has a separate Saturday game that day at 5:00 p.m. ET.
- Week 16, Sunday, December 27: 49ers at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET, the one Sunday CBS sends a single game to the entire country.
CBS has no Christmas Day game in 2026. The December 25 tripleheader belongs to Netflix and FOX, and you can see that lineup in our guide to NFL Christmas games, or read more on the Thanksgiving games.
Thursday night football is on Prime Video, and Monday night is on ESPN and ABC.
How to Watch NFL on CBS on TV
- Local CBS station: every CBS NFL broadcast airs on your local affiliate at no extra cost if you already have cable or satellite.
- Over the air antenna: a digital antenna pulls in your CBS affiliate free in HD, with no monthly fee and no login.
- Cable and satellite: any package with local broadcast channels carries CBS. CBS Sports Network is a separate channel and airs no NFL games, so it is not a substitute.
- Check your channel first: CBS changed affiliates in seven markets on August 1, 2026. In Albuquerque, Jackson, Bismarck, Birmingham, Greenville, Minot and Rapid City, CBS moved off the Nexstar station and onto a subchannel of the local Hearst or Forum station, so rescan your antenna or recheck your guide before kickoff.
How to Stream NFL Games on CBS Without Cable
- Paramount+ from $8.99 per month. Paramount+ states that every NFL on CBS game airing on your local CBS station streams live with a subscription to any plan, so the $8.99 Essential tier is enough for football. The $13.99 Premium tier adds a 24/7 live feed of your local CBS station plus Showtime. Annual plans are $89.99 and $139.99.
- YouTube TV at $82.99 per month for the Base Plan, with local CBS and unlimited DVR. The cheaper Sports plan launched in 2026 at $64.99 and includes local CBS, though YouTube TV lists local channels as subject to availability, so run a ZIP check.
- Fubo at $64.99 per month for Sports + News, or $88.99 for Essential and Pro. Local CBS is carried in most markets, with a regional sports fee of up to $15.99 where NBC regional channels apply.
- Hulu + Live TV at $89.99 per month with ads, bundling Disney+ and ESPN Select alongside local CBS. It is still sold separately after the Fubo and Disney combination.
- DIRECTV, formerly DirecTV Stream, at $59.99 for the first month on Entertainment and $89.99 per month after that. Locals are in the main packages. The MySports genre pack at $64.99 carries CBS in select markets only, so run a ZIP code check first.
- NFL+ at $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year. It streams live in market and primetime games, but only on a phone or tablet. That restriction applies to NFL+ Premium at $14.99 too.
Note: always run a ZIP code check before you subscribe. Local CBS carriage varies by market on every live TV service.
Free Ways to Watch NFL Games on CBS
- Digital antenna: the only permanently free option. Every in market CBS game in HD, forever, after a one time hardware cost.
- The NFL Today+: CBS streams its digital Sunday pregame show free on CBS Sports HQ and the NFL on CBS YouTube channel, as well as on Paramount+. At launch it ran two hours from 10:00 a.m. ET; CBS has not confirmed the 2026 time slot yet.
- Paramount+ promotional offers: Paramount+ ended its seven day free trial on direct signups in January 2026. Trials still appear through partners such as Prime Video Channels, and verified students get 50 percent off, so check the current offer before you buy.
- Walmart+: a membership includes your choice of Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium, and the 30 day trial costs $1. Walmart+ is $98 per year after that.
- Live TV trials: Fubo and DIRECTV run five days, Hulu + Live TV runs three days, and YouTube TV trial length varies by account and promotion.
Pluto TV carries an NFL channel with studio coverage and replays rather than live games. Tubi has streamed some live NFL games, but those are FOX broadcasts, not CBS ones. Any site promising a free live CBS stream outside these routes is not licensed.
CBS Streaming Options Compared
| Option | What You Get | Devices | Cost | Free Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local CBS (antenna) | Every in market CBS game in HD | TV with antenna | One time hardware cost | Always free |
| Paramount+ Essential | Live in market NFL on CBS | Mobile, smart TV, streaming devices | $8.99/mo or $89.99/yr | No direct trial |
| Paramount+ Premium | Adds 24/7 local CBS feed and Showtime | Mobile, smart TV, streaming devices | $13.99/mo or $139.99/yr | No direct trial |
| YouTube TV Base | CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, unlimited DVR | Mobile, smart TV, streaming devices | $82.99/mo | Trial varies |
| YouTube TV Sports | Local networks plus sports channels | Mobile, smart TV, streaming devices | $64.99/mo | Trial varies |
| Fubo Sports + News | CBS, FOX, NBC plus sports channels | Mobile, smart TV, streaming devices | $64.99/mo | Short trial |
| Hulu + Live TV | CBS plus Disney+ and ESPN Select | Mobile, smart TV, streaming devices | $89.99/mo | 3 days |
| DIRECTV Entertainment | CBS plus 90+ channels | Mobile, smart TV, streaming devices | $59.99 first month, then $89.99 | 5 days |
| NFL+ | Live in market and primetime games | Phone and tablet only | $6.99/mo or $49.99/yr | None listed |
United States list prices checked on August 4, 2026, excluding tax and regional fees.
CBS NFL Announcers for 2026
CBS had not released its full 2026 announcer roster as of early August. What is confirmed: Jim Nantz returns on play by play with Tracy Wolfson on the sideline, and J.J. Watt fills the lead analyst chair.
Watt stepped in after CBS said on July 31, 2026 that Tony Romo “is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice.” Romo faces a court date on September 21, 2026, two weeks into the season, so Watt is set to call at least the opening weeks including the Rio game.
CBS has not named a permanent replacement and has said the rest of the roster will follow at a later date. Ian Eagle is expected to lead the second team, though his analyst has not been announced.
In the studio, James Brown hosts The NFL Today alongside Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson and 2026 additions Russell Wilson and Kyle Long, who also appear on The NFL Today+.
CBS Playoff Coverage in January 2027
- Wild Card weekend, January 16 to 18, 2027: CBS airs one game.
- Divisional round, January 23 and 24, 2027: CBS is expected to air one game, as each of the four broadcast partners has in recent seasons. Assignments are confirmed in January.
- AFC Championship, Sunday, January 31, 2027: CBS carries the game that decides the AFC representative.
- Super Bowl LXI, Sunday, February 14, 2027: not on CBS. ABC and ESPN simulcast the game from SoFi Stadium. Under the current rotation CBS next has the Super Bowl in February 2028.
Every CBS playoff broadcast also streams on Paramount+ on either plan. Matchups and kickoff times are set once the bracket is final.
NFL Games on CBS: FAQs
What NFL games are on CBS today?
CBS airs its 2026 regular season games on Sundays at 1:00 p.m., 4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET, plus Thanksgiving on November 26 and a Saturday night game on December 19. Before that, CBS has one national preseason game, Bengals at Eagles on Friday, August 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Sunday matchup you see depends on your market.
When does CBS start airing NFL regular season games in 2026?
Sunday, September 13, 2026, with a doubleheader. Four games kick at 1:00 p.m. ET and two more at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Does CBS show NFL preseason games?
Yes. CBS carries one national preseason game in 2026, Bengals at Eagles on August 28. Some CBS stations also hold local team preseason rights, such as KDKA in Pittsburgh with the Steelers.
Can I watch NFL games on CBS with Paramount+?
Yes. Paramount+ says every NFL on CBS game airing on your local CBS station streams live on any plan, so the $8.99 Essential tier is enough. Premium at $13.99 adds a 24/7 live local CBS feed.
Does Paramount+ still have a free trial in 2026?
Not on a direct signup. Paramount+ ended its seven day trial in January 2026. Trials still turn up through partners such as Prime Video Channels, and a $1 Walmart+ trial includes your choice of Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium.
Does CBS air an NFL doubleheader every week?
No. CBS and FOX alternate. CBS has 10 doubleheader windows in 2026, in Weeks 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 18. In the other weeks its late games kick at 4:05 p.m. ET and are regional only.
What is the CBS Thanksgiving game in 2026?
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions on Thursday, November 26, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET from Ford Field. It is the first of three Thanksgiving games.
Which international game is on CBS in 2026?
Ravens at Cowboys from the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, September 27, at 4:25 p.m. ET. It is the first NFL game played in Rio; the two previous Brazil games were in Sao Paulo.
Can I stream CBS NFL games on NFL+?
Yes, but only on a phone or tablet. The mobile restriction applies to both NFL+ at $6.99 and NFL+ Premium at $14.99, and the games cannot be cast to a TV.
How do I watch out of market CBS games?
NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels carries out of market Sunday afternoon games. New subscribers pay $240 for the 2026 season; the regular rate is $378 with YouTube TV or $480 standalone.
Who calls NFL games on CBS in 2026?
Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt and Tracy Wolfson are the lead crew. Watt moved into the analyst chair after CBS placed Tony Romo on leave until further notice on July 31, 2026. CBS has not released the rest of its 2026 roster.
Does CBS show the Super Bowl in 2027?
No. Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, airs on ABC and ESPN from SoFi Stadium. CBS does carry the AFC Championship on January 31, 2027, and has Super Bowl LXII in February 2028.
The NFL games on CBS in 2026 run from one preseason broadcast on August 28 through 93 announced regular season games, the Thanksgiving matinee, the first game in Rio de Janeiro, a Saturday night showcase in December and the AFC Championship in January 2027.
An antenna keeps it free, Paramount+ at $8.99 keeps it cheap, and YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV cover the rest. Bookmark this page and check back each Sunday for the current CBS slate.
