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How to watch NFL games on Thanksgiving Day 2025 live online for free — and without cable

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In 1934, the Portsmouth Spartans football team moved to Detroit and changed their name to the Lions. To boost the franchise's popularity, the team's owner scheduled a game on Thanksgiving Day against the Chicago Bears. That gave birth to a Thanksgiving tradition that has only been skipped six times since, due to World War II.

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The Lions take the field once more on Thanksgiving this year, as will the Chiefs, Ravens, and more.

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So as you wait for the turkey to finish roasting, grab a spot on the couch and tuck in to some gridiron action. One programming note: While Amazon usually has the rights to Thursday games in the NFL, none of today's meet-ups will be on the streaming service. (Instead, Amazon will host an exclusive game tomorrow.)

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Here's how to watch the Thanksgiving Day NFL games.

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Which NFL teams are playing on Thanksgiving? What channels are airing the games?

Here's who's facing off this week. The home team is listed second.

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Thursday, Nov. 27

Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox

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Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS

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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

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Can I watch the NFL's Thanksgiving games for free over the air?

Yes. All three of today's games will be broadcast over traditional networks, meaning they're free to watch if you have a TV. The best way to watch those games is with a good HD antenna. Be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home to find the most reliable signal.

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Can I stream 2025-2026 NFL games live online if I don't have a cable subscription?

You can, and sometimes you can do so for free. There are plenty of options, though.

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Peacock

NBC’s streaming service offers access to all Sunday night matchups. You'll pay an $8 or $14 monthly charge or $80 for an annual plan. (The service has recently done away with its free trial.)

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Disney+

Disney's bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ does not offer a free trial either, meaning you'll need to pay $17 per month for all three combined (or $30 per month for no ads on Hulu and Disney+).

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Hulu with Live TV

This service is going away soon, but at the moment it's still accepting new members, who will pay $83 per month (with ads) or $95 per month without ads.

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YouTubeTV

After a free trial, monthly charges of $83 will kick in.

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Sling TV

The seven-day trial on this service is no more, but Dish is offering a Day Pass, giving you 24-hours of Live TV for $5. Sports fans can opt for the lower-tiered "Orange" plan, which costs $46 per month. Adding the "Blue" plan, which gives you more sports options, takes that monthly cost to $61 per month.

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DirecTV Stream

The streaming arm of DirecTV costs $85 per month and more after the free trial expires. (If you want the package with NFL Network, brace for a $90 monthly bill.)

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Fubo TV

Like Hulu, this standalone app is going away. For now, though, you can take advantage of a seven-day trial, after which you'll be looking at monthly charges of $85 and up.

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Can I watch this week's NFL games on Amazon?

No. To maximize viewership, the NFL is broadcasting all of the Thanksgiving games via over-the-air TV. Amazon will host an exclusive game on Black Friday, however.

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