The short answer is yes, you can watch Buffalo Bills games on the NFL Network as part of your cable or live TV streaming subscription. As an AFC team, the Bills play on both CBS and Fox throughout the regular season. For primetime and national games, you can catch the Bills on NBC, ESPN, Amazon Prime and the NFL Network. Here’s a quick rundown of the options:
Watch on CBS or Fox
CBS and Fox alternate broadcasting AFC teams like the Bills each week. So one week CBS will air the Bills game to their regional audience and the next week Fox will broadcast the game. If the Bills are playing an NFC opponent, then the game will air on Fox.
To watch these games, you’ll need access to CBS and Fox through either a cable TV package or a live TV streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream. Most packages that have both local CBS and Fox channels will allow you to watch the Bills when they are playing on either network.
Watch on NBC and ESPN/ABC
For Sunday Night Football games on NBC and Monday Night Football on ESPN, you can watch the Bills by having those channels through a cable or live TV streaming package. NBC and ESPN are available on all major services including FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.
The Bills will also play games on ESPN and ABC during the regular season since those networks share sports programming. So Monday Night Football will air on ESPN and some select games will be shown on ABC.
Watch Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime
Starting in 2022, Amazon Prime Video is now the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football. That means if the Bills are playing on Thursday night, the game will only be available on Prime Video. You can access Prime Video as part of a $14.99 monthly Prime membership or a standalone Prime Video membership for $8.99 per month.
The good news is you can often get a 30-day free trial to Prime Video, so you may be able to watch some Thursday night Bills games for free if you time it right!
Watch on NFL Network
While it’s not a primary broadcaster for most games, the NFL Network will show select Bills matchups throughout the season. The NFL Network is included in most cable packages and also comes with every live TV streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.
In addition to live games, NFL Network will air condensed replays of every Bills game all season long. So it’s a great way to catch up on a Bills game you may have missed live. They also air classic Bills games and other NFL programming year-round.
Watch with NFL Sunday Ticket
DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket is the only way to watch every single Bills game live every Sunday, regardless of what market you are in. Sunday Ticket provides access to all out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on CBS and Fox. So if you don’t live in the Buffalo market, it’s the best way to never miss a Bills game.
NFL Sunday Ticket is available as a standalone package or as an add-on for DirecTV satellite and AT&T TV customers. The cost is $293.96 for the To Go package that lets you stream games on devices or $399.99 for the Max package that includes the Red Zone channel and fantasy football features.
Listen on SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Can’t watch the game? You can always listen to every Bills game live on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. They broadcast every NFL game from every team over the entire season on their radios. There are specific channels dedicated to each team like Bills Radio Network on channel 227.
To get SiriusXM, you need a satellite radio or an internet connected device like a phone, tablet or smart speaker. Packages start at around $8/month for streaming only plans. Satellite radios require additional hardware but also get you access to hundreds of channels.
Watch Bills Highlights on YouTube
While it doesn’t allow live streaming of full games, the NFL does upload highlights of every Bills game for free on YouTube. You can find extended highlights and condensed games on the official NFL channel early next day after the game airs live.
It’s a nice way to get Bills highlights throughout the season without an expensive subscription package. While not a replacement for watching the full game live, it allows you to keep up with what’s happening each week.
Use a VPN to Watch Local Games
If you’re outside the Bills local broadcast area, you can use a VPN service to stream local games live on CBS, Fox and NBC. VPNs spoof your location so streaming services and websites think you’re somewhere else. That allows you to bypass blackout restrictions and stream local games live wherever you are.
Some top VPNs options to consider using to stream live Bills games include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark and Private Internet Access. Make sure to get a VPN with high speeds for smooth streaming without buffering.
Conclusion
Watching the Bills this season can easily be accomplished with some combination of cable/satellite TV, live TV streaming subscriptions and NFL specific packages like NFL Sunday Ticket or NFL Plus. With multiple viewing options readily available, it’s easy for Bills fans to catch every game live from just about anywhere.
While free streaming options are limited, services like YouTube combined with subscriptions to CBS/Fox, NBC/ESPN and NFL Network provide full coverage of the Bills week to week. Die-hard fans can unlock access to every game with NFL Sunday Ticket as well. Using a VPN is another option for streaming local games live when traveling or living outside the Buffalo area.
With Super Bowl aspirations, Bills fans won’t want to miss any of the action this season. Thankfully there are plenty of ways to tune into Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and the rest of the talented Bills roster as they battle it out in the ultra-competitive AFC East and chase a world championship.
Network | How to Watch |
---|---|
CBS | Cable/live TV streaming subscription with CBS |
Fox | Cable/live TV streaming subscription with Fox |
NBC | Cable/live TV streaming subscription with NBC |
ESPN | Cable/live TV streaming subscription with ESPN |
NFL Network | Cable/live TV streaming subscription with NFL Network |
Amazon Prime | Amazon Prime Video membership |
NFL Sunday Ticket | DirecTV or AT&T TV subscription plus NFL Sunday Ticket package |
NFL Plus | NFL Plus subscription ($29-$79/season) |
SiriusXM | SiriusXM satellite radio or streaming subscription |
YouTube | Free NFL channel |
VPN | ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, etc |
Here are some additional details on how to watch the Bills this season:
Week 1 – Bills at Rams
The Bills kick off the 2022 season on the road against the defending champion Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Sept. 8. This high profile opening matchup will be broadcast nationally on NBC and Peacock.
Week 2 – Titans at Bills
For the home opener, the Bills host the Titans at Highmark Stadium on Monday, Sept. 19. The game will be shown on ESPN and ESPN+ for Monday Night Football.
Week 3 – Bills at Dolphins
Buffalo heads to Miami to face the Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 25. This AFC East rivalry matchup will air on CBS in the regional broadcast area.
Week 4 – Bills at Ravens
The Bills defense will get a tough test facing Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 2 in Baltimore. The game will be available on CBS locally and live streamed on Paramount+ for out of market viewers.
Week 5 – Steelers at Bills
Buffalo returns home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 9. This interconference showdown can be seen on CBS in western New York and streamed on Paramount+ elsewhere.
Week 6 – Bills at Chiefs
In a rematch of last year’s playoff overtime thriller, the Bills battle Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 16. This potential AFC Championship preview will air on CBS and Paramount+.
Week 7 – Bye
The Bills have their bye week in Week 7 and don’t play on Sunday, Oct. 23.
Week 8 – Packers at Bills
Coming off the bye week, Buffalo hosts Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. This matchup will be broadcast nationally on NBC and Peacock on Sunday, Oct. 30.
Week 9 – Bills at Jets
The Bills head back on the road to face their AFC East rival New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 6. This divisional matchup can be seen on CBS in western New York and live streamed on Paramount+ elsewhere.
Week 10 – Vikings at Bills
Buffalo returns home to host Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 13. Look for this interconference clash on Fox in the regional area and streamed on Fox Sports app and NFL+ out of market.
Week 11 – Browns at Bills
The Bills take on the Cleveland Browns led by quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday, Nov. 20. Catch this AFC showdown on CBS in western New York and Paramount+ for out of market live streaming.
Week 12 – Bills at Lions
Traveling to Detroit for Thanksgiving, the Bills battle the Lions on Thursday, Nov. 24. This holiday matchup will be broadcast nationally on CBS and available on Paramount+.
Week 13 – Bills at Patriots
For a big AFC East rivalry game, the Bills head to New England to face the Patriots on Thursday, Dec. 1. This key divisional game will be aired nationally on Prime Video.
Week 14 – Jets at Bills
Returning home, the Bills host the Jets on Sunday, Dec. 11. Watch this matchup against their division foe on CBS in western New York and live stream it on Paramount+ out of market.
Week 15 – Dolphins at Bills
In another crucial AFC East contest, the Bills welcome the Dolphins to town on TBD (Saturday, Dec. 17 or Sunday, Dec. 18). The game time and broadcast network are still to be announced.
Week 16 – Bills at Bears
Heading on the road, the Bills will face Justin Fields and the Bears in Chicago on Saturday, Dec. 24. This Christmas Eve game will be shown nationally on CBS and Paramount+.
Week 17 – Bills at Bengals
For a Monday night matchup, the Bills take on Joe Burrow and the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Jan. 2. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and ESPN+ to close Week 17.
Week 18 – Patriots at Bills
In the regular season finale, the Bills will host the Patriots on TBD (Saturday, Jan. 7 or Sunday, Jan. 8). The game time and network are still to be announced for this pivotal AFC East matchup to close the regular season.
As you can see, the Bills are scheduled to play on national broadcasts during most primetime and holiday games. They should have multiple appearances on NBC, ESPN, CBS and Amazon Prime in 2022 based on their status as contenders.
For local broadcasts on CBS and Fox, availability will vary depending on regional markets. In the Buffalo area, almost every game will be available on local affiliates. Out of market fans will need access to Paramount+ and Fox Sports streaming options to watch the Bills local broadcasts.
No matter where you live, following the Bills and catching every game this season is straightforward with the right subscriptions. NFL Sunday Ticket provides the most comprehensive coverage but isn’t cheap. Otherwise combining services like FuboTV, Paramount+, Peacock and Prime Video will have you covered all year long.
Let’s take a deeper look at some of the best options for streaming the Bills without cable in 2022:
FuboTV
One of the best all-around options for cord-cutters, FuboTV offers extensive NFL coverage and a cloud DVR. The base plan includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network and more. An Elite plan adds additional channels plus more DVR space. FuboTV costs $69.99 per month but offers a 7-day free trial to test it out.
Paramount+
Paramount+ has live CBS feeds in most markets so you can stream local Bills games broadcast on CBS. They also carry CBS national games and programs like SEC football. Essential plan is $4.99 per month and Premium is $9.99 to ditch ads. Sign up now and get 50% off your first year.
Peacock
Home of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, Peacock streams new shows, sports and news. Watch Sunday night Bills games live with a Peacock Premium subscription for just $4.99 per month. Their free tier has highlights and classic programming.
Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football exclusively. That includes a handful of Bills games throughout the season on Thursday nights. Access comes with a Prime membership or Prime Video membership starting at $8.99 per month.
NFL Plus
Launching in July 2022, NFL Plus offers live local games on mobile devices for $29.99 per season. You can stream in-market NFL games including the Bills every Sunday. Out of market access runs $79.99. Games can’t be cast to a larger screen.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now and AT&T TV, the newly branded DirecTV Stream carries CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network to watch the Bills every week. Packages start at $69.99 per month and you can use any streaming devices.
NFL Sunday Ticket
Only on DirecTV, Sunday Ticket lets you stream every out of market NFL game. It’s the best option for watching the Bills without cable. There are various packages for streaming only or bundled with satellite TV. Prices range from $293 for streaming to $396 with premium features included.
No matter which NFL streaming option you choose, the good news is access to the Bills schedule has never been easier without a cable subscription. As long as you have Internet and a supported streaming device, you can watch Josh Allen and the Bills make a run at the Super Bowl from anywhere!