You can watch Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football without cable in 2026, but the two packages use different broadcasters.
Sunday Night Football airs on NBC and streams on Peacock, while Monday Night Football is centered on ESPN with selected games also simulcast on ABC.
For cord-cutters, the simplest setup is usually Peacock for Sunday nights and either ESPN Unlimited or a live TV streaming service for Monday nights. An over-the-air antenna can also cover NBC and ABC broadcasts where local reception is available.
If you need to check where a specific matchup is airing, our complete 2026 NFL live streaming guide with TV channels and game-by-game viewing options explains how the full season is divided across broadcast and streaming partners.
Quick Answer: Where Can You Watch SNF and MNF Without Cable?
| Package | Main Broadcaster | Best Cable-Free Options |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night Football | NBC / Peacock | Peacock, antenna, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN / selected ABC simulcasts | ESPN Unlimited, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling, DIRECTV |
The important distinction is that Peacock can directly replace NBC for Sunday Night Football, while Monday Night Football usually requires access to ESPN unless the matchup is also shown on ABC.
How to Watch Sunday Night Football Without Cable
Sunday Night Football is available on NBC and Peacock throughout the 2026 season. The NFL’s official 2026 Sunday Night Football schedule lists the weekly prime-time matchups and identifies NBC as the television home of the package.
NBC’s 2026 slate also includes the season-opening Patriots-Seahawks game, the Chiefs-Bills Thanksgiving night matchup and additional late-season games outside the normal Sunday window.
Option 1: Peacock
Peacock is the most straightforward option if you want Sunday Night Football without a cable or live TV bundle. The service streams every NFL game airing on NBC during the 2026-27 season, along with pregame coverage.
Peacock currently lists its Premium plan at $12.99 per month and Premium Plus at $19.99 per month. Both include live sports, although live events can still contain advertising even on Premium Plus.
The official Peacock NFL page also confirms that NBC’s Sunday Night Football package is available live through the service.
Option 2: Watch NBC Free With an Antenna
If your local NBC station is available over the air, an antenna can be the cheapest long-term way to watch normal Sunday Night Football broadcasts. After buying the antenna, there is no monthly television fee.
Reception depends on your location, distance from the broadcast tower, terrain, building materials and antenna placement. An antenna only helps when the game is actually being broadcast on your local NBC affiliate.
It will not replace a Peacock-exclusive game. The 2026 schedule includes a Week 17 Saturday game that will stream exclusively on Peacock.
Option 3: Use a Live TV Streaming Service
You can also watch NBC through a cable-replacement service that carries your local affiliate. Common options include YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DIRECTV.
This approach costs more than Peacock alone but can make sense if you also need CBS, FOX, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network for the rest of the NFL schedule.
What Time Does Sunday Night Football Start?
The normal Sunday Night Football kickoff time is 8:20 p.m. ET. NBC’s Football Night in America pregame coverage begins earlier in the evening.
Some games within NBC’s NFL package take place on Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday rather than Sunday, so always check the weekly schedule before assuming the date or kickoff time.
How to Watch Monday Night Football Without Cable
Monday Night Football is primarily an ESPN package. ESPN’s 2026 NFL portfolio includes 17 Monday Night Football matchups, with 10 simulcast on ABC, according to ESPN’s current 2026 NFL coverage information.
That means ABC can provide some Monday games over the air, but it does not replace ESPN for the full season.
Option 1: ESPN Unlimited
ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service gives cord-cutters access to the full ESPN network lineup without a traditional television subscription.
ESPN Unlimited is currently $29.99 per month and includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN on ABC and additional ESPN services.
For viewers who mainly need Monday Night Football and other ESPN sports, this is the most direct standalone route to the complete ESPN channel rather than buying a larger live TV package.
Option 2: Watch ABC Simulcasts With an Antenna
Ten Monday Night Football matchups in ESPN’s 2026 package are scheduled for ABC simulcasts. If your local ABC station carries one of those games and you receive the station with an antenna, you can watch that broadcast without a monthly TV subscription.
This does not mean every Monday night game is free over the air. For ESPN-only matchups, you still need ESPN access.
Option 3: Use a Live TV Streaming Service With ESPN
Several cable-replacement services carry ESPN. Depending on your plan and market, options include:
- YouTube TV
- Hulu + Live TV
- Fubo
- Sling
- DIRECTV
This can be more expensive than ESPN Unlimited, but it may be better value if you also need local CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC and NFL Network coverage.
Can You Watch Sunday and Monday Night Football on the Same Service?
Yes. A broad live TV service that carries both your local NBC affiliate and ESPN can cover most standard Sunday and Monday night games in one subscription.
YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DIRECTV are examples of services that can provide both networks in supported markets.
However, the cheapest combined setup may be different. Peacock plus ESPN Unlimited can give you direct access to the primary SNF and MNF streaming homes without paying for a full cable-replacement bundle.
Peacock vs ESPN Unlimited for NFL Fans
| Feature | Peacock | ESPN Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Main NFL package | Sunday Night Football / NBC games | Monday Night Football / ESPN games |
| Starting monthly price | $12.99 | $29.99 |
| Full NBC NFL package | Yes | No |
| Full ESPN linear network | No | Yes |
| ABC ESPN simulcasts | No | Included through ESPN on ABC access |
| Other entertainment | Large NBCUniversal library | Sports-focused ESPN library |
These services are complementary rather than substitutes. Peacock solves the NBC/Sunday Night Football side, while ESPN Unlimited solves the ESPN/Monday Night Football side.
Can You Watch Sunday Night Football for Free?
Yes, when the game airs on NBC and your local NBC station is available through an antenna.
An antenna does not create an internet stream. It receives the same over-the-air digital television signal broadcast by your local NBC affiliate.
Peacock itself is a paid service, and Peacock-exclusive NFL games require an eligible Peacock subscription.
Can You Watch Monday Night Football for Free?
Sometimes. When a Monday Night Football game is simulcast on ABC, viewers who receive the local ABC affiliate through an antenna can watch it without paying for ESPN.
ESPN-only Monday games require an eligible ESPN subscription or a television provider that includes ESPN.
Does NFL+ Include Sunday and Monday Night Football?
NFL+ provides live nationally televised and prime-time regular-season games on phones and tablets, subject to its current viewing restrictions.
That can make NFL+ useful for mobile viewing of eligible Sunday and Monday night games, but it is not a direct replacement for Peacock or ESPN on a television. The live local and prime-time games included with NFL+ remain restricted to mobile devices.
If you want to watch the complete game on a connected television, use the broadcaster’s supported TV service instead.
Can You Watch SNF and MNF on Roku, Fire TV or Apple TV?
Yes. Peacock and the ESPN app support common connected-TV platforms, while major live TV services also offer apps for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV and many smart televisions.
The exact device requirements vary by service and television model, so check app compatibility before subscribing if you use older hardware.
What About Sunday Ticket?
NFL Sunday Ticket is not required for Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football.
Sunday Ticket is designed primarily for eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. National prime-time games belong to their designated broadcasters.
For that reason:
- Sunday Night Football → NBC / Peacock
- Monday Night Football → ESPN / selected ABC simulcasts
- Thursday Night Football → Prime Video
- Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games → NFL Sunday Ticket
Which Setup Is Cheapest?
If You Only Want Sunday Night Football
Use an antenna when NBC reception is available. Otherwise, Peacock Premium is the simplest dedicated streaming option.
If You Only Want Monday Night Football
Use an antenna for ABC simulcasts and ESPN Unlimited for the full ESPN schedule. A lower-cost live TV service can also be worth comparing if it includes ESPN.
If You Want Both Every Week
Compare two approaches:
- Peacock + ESPN Unlimited for direct access to each package’s main streaming home.
- A live TV streaming service carrying NBC and ESPN if you also need other NFL channels.
The better value depends on whether football is the only reason you are subscribing.
FAQs
What channel is Sunday Night Football on in 2026?
Sunday Night Football airs on NBC and streams on Peacock. Most weekly games begin at 8:20 p.m. ET, although NBC’s broader NFL package also includes games on other days.
What channel is Monday Night Football on in 2026?
Monday Night Football is primarily on ESPN. ESPN’s 2026 package includes 17 MNF matchups, with 10 scheduled for ABC simulcasts.
Can I watch Sunday Night Football without Peacock?
Yes. You can watch NBC through an antenna where local reception is available or through a live TV streaming service that carries your local NBC affiliate.
Can I watch Monday Night Football without ESPN?
Only when the matchup is also shown on ABC or another authorized outlet available to you. ESPN-only games require ESPN access.
Is Sunday Night Football on Peacock every week?
Peacock streams NBC’s Sunday Night Football games and other NBC NFL broadcasts during the 2026-27 season. The service also has a Week 17 game scheduled as a Peacock exclusive.
Does ESPN+ alone include Monday Night Football?
The complete ESPN linear network is part of ESPN Unlimited. Do not assume the lower-tier ESPN Select/ESPN+ offering includes every ESPN television broadcast.
Do I need NFL Sunday Ticket for SNF or MNF?
No. Sunday Ticket is primarily for eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games, not nationally televised Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football.
Can I watch SNF and MNF on my phone?
Yes. Peacock and ESPN support mobile viewing, and NFL+ also provides eligible live national and prime-time games on phones and tablets under its current rights restrictions.
