Navigating NFL Thanksgiving Day Games: Streaming and Cable Options

Nov 25, 2024 at 2:27 PM
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. Thanksgiving Day isn't just about feasting with family; for football enthusiasts, it's a day of non-stop NFL action. With three hard-hitting games scheduled on November 28th, here's how you can catch all the excitement.

At a Glance: How to Watch NFL Thanksgiving Games Online

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions

The first game on Thanksgiving Day pits the Chicago Bears (4-7) against the Detroit Lions (10-1) at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Kickoff is at 9:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET and is broadcasted on CBS, with a simultaneous livestream available on Paramount+ for subscribers. This matchup is a classic battle between two teams with different trajectories. The Bears, struggling this season, will look to turn things around against the dominant Lions. Meanwhile, the Lions, with their strong record, aim to maintain their winning streak.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

The second game features the New York Giants (2-9) taking on the Dallas Cowboys (4-7) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kicks off at 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET and is broadcast on Fox. This game is a showdown between two teams looking to turn their seasons around. The Giants, despite their poor record, will bring their fighting spirit, while the Cowboys will aim to secure a win and boost their playoff hopes.

Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers

The last game of the day is the Miami Dolphins (5-6) facing off against the Green Bay Packers (8-3) at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Kickoff is set for 5:20 p.m. PT/8:20 p.m. ET and airs on NBC, with a livestream on Peacock for subscribers. This game is a clash between two teams with contrasting styles. The Dolphins, known for their offensive prowess, will face off against the Packers, who rely on their strong defense and quarterback play.

How to Watch the NFL on Thanksgiving Day Games Without Cable

Since the games are broadcast across CBS, Fox, and NBC, they can also be streamed on internet-based streaming cable services. Some of these services even offer free trials.

DirecTV

Watch all the NFL Thanksgiving Day games on DirecTV Stream. Its packages offer CBS, Fox, and NBC, along with over 90 channels like ESPN, NFL Network, AMC, Bravo, CNBC, Disney Channel, and CNN. It has a free trial available for five days, which is enough time to catch the Thanksgiving Day football games. Prices start as low as $74.99 for the "Entertainment" package.

Fubo

With a subscription to Fubo, you can watch CBS, Fox, and NBC for all the NFL Thanksgiving Day games, along with over 200 other news, entertainment, and sports channels like the NFL Network, ESPN, BET, and more. It starts at $49.99 per month with current deals. You can record over 1,000 hours of TV shows, movies, games, and more and watch them later on your smartphone, tablet, or TV. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial.

Hulu

Subscribe to Hulu + Live TV to watch all three NFL Thanksgiving Day games. It has access to over 95 live channels like A&E, BET, CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN, Food Network, and more, starting at $82.99 per month. It also includes Hulu's entire streaming library, as well as Disney+ and ESPN+. It has an unlimited cloud DVR and a three-day free trial.

Sling

Sling might be a good fit to watch the Giants-Cowboys game and Dolphins-Packers game. With Sling Blue, which includes Fox and NBC, you can watch most of the NFL Thanksgiving starting at $22.50 for the first month ($45 per month afterward). However, it doesn't include CBS for the Bears-Lions game. Sling Blue also has ABC, Bravo, Discovery Channel, NFL Network, National Geographic, and other channels. Pricing and channel availability may vary depending on your local TV market.

Paramount Global

Paramount+ has a livestream of the Bears-Lions game on Thanksgiving Day starting at $7.99 per month for the "Essential" ad-supported plan. If you want to go ad-free, the "Paramount+ with Showtime" package costs $12.99 per month. Save up to 37 percent when you sign up for an annual package ($60 or $120 per year, respectively).

Amazon

Paramount+ is available as an add-on channel on Prime Video. When you sign up by Dec. 2, you'll get your first two months for $2.99 per month (a savings of 63 percent). Prime members and new subscribers can get a free seven-day trial for Paramount+ on Prime Video; after that, it auto-renews at $7.99 per month in addition to the Prime or Prime Video membership fees. (Prime membership is $14.99 per month or $139 per year, and the standalone Prime Video service is $8.99 per month). Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to access Prime Video, Prime Gaming, and Amazon Photos; fast free shipping in less than two days with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events like Prime Day and Black Friday, and more.

Peacock

If you want to watch the Dolphins-Packers game on Thanksgiving Day, it's available to stream at home on Peacock. For Black Friday, you can sign up for just $1.99 per month for six months with promo code REALDEALMONTHLY, or $19.99 for an annual subscription with promo code REALDEAL for the ad-supported plan. Afterwards, the monthly price goes back up to $7.99 per month, and the yearly price is $79.99 per year. Not a Peacock subscriber? You'll get access to the NFL game, as well as originals like Poker Face, Bel-Air, Girls5Eva, Sick, and more; hit movies like Five Nights at Freddy’s, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Fast X, Asteroid City, Strays, and more; live sports and entertainment from NBC Sports and WWE; more than 50 “always-on” streaming channels, and much more.

NFL

NFL+ is the NFL's own streaming service. It offers the most comprehensive coverage online. Starting at $6.99 per month (or $49.99 per year), it provides live out-of-market preseason games, live local and primetime regular season and postseason games including playoff games, the Pro Bowl, and the Super Bowl, local and national radio game broadcasts, the NFL Network, and the NFL Films archive. If you want more NFL action, NFL+ Premium has everything NFL+ offers, but also full game replays, condensed game replays, coaches’ films, and NFL Red Zone for $14.99 per month (or $99.99 per year).

How to Watch the NFL on Thanksgiving Day Games With Cable

This year, the NFL Thanksgiving Day games broadcast on CBS, Fox, and NBC. You can watch through your cable TV provider; on CBSSports.com, FoxSports.com and NBC.com; or with the CBS Sports, Fox Sports and NBC Sports mobile apps with your cable TV account login such as DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Verizon, Xfinity, and others.

How to Watch the NFL on Thanksgiving Day Games Outside of the U.S.

Outside of the U.S., you can still stream the NFL Thanksgiving Day Games on any of the streaming services above when paired with ExpressVPN. It's a virtual private network that allows you to legally access U.S. web servers even if you're in another country to stream on a smart TV, smartphone, tablet, and laptop. For Black Friday, you can get an additional six months of ExpressVPN for free when you sign up for 24 months of service at $4.99 per month.

Where to Buy NFL on Thanksgiving Day Games Tickets Online

Want to watch the games in person? Tickets are still available for the Thanksgiving games at StubHub, Ticket Liquidator, Ticketmaster, and GameTime. Prices depend on the stadium and seat location. For more info, visit NFL.com. One of the best deals on last-minute tickets right now is at TicketNetwork, which offers The Hollywood Reporter readers $150 off orders of $500 with promo code THR150 or $300 off orders that are $1,000 and up with code THR300. Meanwhile, other deals on tickets can be found at Vivid Seats, where you can save $20 with code THR2024; or at SeatGeek where you can use promo code HOLLYWOOD10 to save $10 on eligible purchases of $250 and up.