The 57th NFL season is upon us, and millions of fans across the globe are eager for all the action. It’s time to see if the drafts paid off, if teams can improve on their off-season and overcome challenges.
Around 17 million people tune in for each game, with an estimated 100 million watching the Super Bowl. Football is simply one of America’s favorite sports and fans clamor for tickets to the games.
With 272 games across 18 weeks, if people wanted to survive on a steady diet of football then they could. The big games are held:
- Sundays – the big day in NFL, where many teams are in action
- Monday nights
- Thursday nights
There’s also added excitement with the chance to prepare Fantasy Football teams. Many fans will have kept a keen eye on pre-season and seeing what the NFL odds are ahead of it.
Football is not just about the players on the field but the community. People come together to watch the game, shout for their team and enjoy the scintillating atmosphere.
Not everyone is lucky enough to see a game live, but there are a variety of other ways to watch.
How to watch the NFL games
Every year there are new options to watch NFL, which makes it easy but can be hard to track. The great news is that there are multiple ways to watch the games.
Regular TV networks
There range of services and channels include:
- ESPN – especially for Monday night football
- NBC – Sunday night football
- CBS airs AFC games on Sunday afternoons
- FOX shows the NFC games on Sundays
- Catch Thursday night football on Amazon Prime
ESPN also has a free app, so you can watch from anywhere if you are subscribed to it.
The NFL Network is a great place to watch games live and catch up on ones you may have missed.
If keeping track of all those channels seems a drag, check out Fubo TV. It is home to all sport, but particularly football, and it includes:
- ESPN
- FOX
- NBC
- NFL
You can check it out with a free 7-day trial. Or go right ahead and be assured of your football fix for per month.
Some people want all the action live, while others like the thrill of not knowing the score til later. It’s a battle with your co-workers, friends and family – then you get to crack a cool beer and catch up.
If this is your style, then NFL Game Pass might suit. The charge is just $99.99 per year, and you can stream the games to any device, including:
- TV set
- Mobile phone
- Computer
Game Pass doesn’t just have the season games, you can also watch preseason games and watch condensed versions. These 30-minute edits show all the best bits but save you time, particularly for less interesting games.
The app also lets you listen to local radio broadcasts of each game. Game Pass is superb for those who simply aren’t available when games are shown.
As mentioned earlier, Amazon gained the contract for Thursday Night Football, so Prime Video will show most of the games. There are a few small exceptions, as the NFL Network has others.
Prime subscribers will also get exclusive streams of Saturday regular season games in the second half of the season.
Do you have cable? Check out NFL RedZone for live coverage of every Sunday game when teams are about to score.
The real-time fantasy stats plus the extended highlights make it a favorite with fantasy-football players. NFL RedZone is available:
- Through cable
- Through an app on a smartphone or tablet
- Through devices that include PlayStation 4 and Apple TV
If you’ve got DirecTV, you can access NFL Sunday Ticket to watch live games. In areas outside DirecTV subscription, you can get NFL Sunday Ticket through their site.
Hot games this season
Once you’ve got your way to watch, it’s time to look ahead to the big games of the season. With Bills vs Rams in the first week, there’s already a showdown.
Week 3 sees the Packers and Buccaneers square off, which is always promising. Those seeking some Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers action will be enthralled. The NFL odds reflect the Buccaneers as favorites for this, but it could be tight.
In Week 6, you have Bills vs Chiefs, with fans hoping for a replay of the thrilling play-off last season. Seeing two of the best quarterbacks in the league rival each other will be a fun watch.
The Cowboys vs Packers game in Week 10 has an interesting subplot. It’s the first time Mike McCarthy will return to Lambeau Field, this time as coach of the Cowboys.
How will he be received by Green Bay fans, after being fired in 2018? Don’t forget he helped them to six division titles and a Super Bowl.
In potentially one of the best games of 2022, Rams meet the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. The Super Bowl Champions will come to win, but even their strong roster could be defeated.
Week 15 sees the Patriots and Raiders meet, reminding people of the ‘Tuck Rule’ game. When Josh McDaniels meets his mentor, Bill Belichick, sparks are bound to fly.
Looking ahead to the Super Bowl, DraftKings have the Buffalo Bills as favorites to take it this year. Just behind them are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A lot can change in the intervening period so make sure you have your channels or streaming sorted. Once the season begins, you’ll be surprised how much football you can watch!
