Thursday Night Football Tonight: 2026 Schedule, Channel & Where to watch
The NFL Thursday Night Football Schedule 2026 is officially set, bringing primetime action straight to your screens. Amazon Prime Video remains the primary home for these matchups, hosting 15 regular-season games.
Here’s everything you need to know about Thursday Night Football: tonight’s matchup time, the TV channel, where to watch, and a complete live stream guide. Whether streaming at home or catching the local broadcast, fans have plenty of viewing options.
Who Plays Thursday Night Football Tonight?
The Detroit Lions play the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football tonight, September 17, 2026. The game starts at 8:15 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium and streams live on Amazon Prime Video.
What channel is Thursday Night Football on?
Amazon Prime Video holds the exclusive national streaming rights for standard Thursday Night Football games in 2026. Since it is a streaming exclusive, no national cable or satellite channel carries the regular broadcast.
Amazon’s 2026 package includes 15 Thursday night games from Week 2 through Week 17. Every Prime Video matchup kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET. The package also features a Black Friday game on November 27 and one Wild Card playoff matchup in January 2027.
Two Thursdays are absent from Prime Video. Week 1 on September 10 streams on Netflix. Thanksgiving Day on November 26 carries three separate games split across CBS, FOX, and NBC.
If your local team is playing, you can watch on free local television. The NFL requires every Thursday night game to air on an over-the-air station in each competing team’s home market. An antenna is sufficient to catch these local broadcasts.
Prime Video’s exclusive rights are limited strictly to the United States. In Canada, Thursday night games air on TSN, and Canadian viewers also access NFL Game Pass bundled into a regular DAZN subscription.
For viewers located everywhere else, NFL Game Pass on DAZN carries the entire season. DAZN sells this as a standalone package or an add-on rather than including it in a base plan.
2026 Thursday Night Football Schedule
Prime Video streams a weekly game from Week 2 through Week 17. Most matchups start at 8:15 PM ET. Pregame coverage usually starts at 7:00 PM ET.
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Network |
| Week 1 | Thu, Sep 10 | 49ers at Rams (Melbourne) | 8:35 PM | Netflix |
| Week 2 | Thu, Sep 17 | Lions at Bills | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 3 | Thu, Sep 24 | Falcons at Packers | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 4 | Thu, Oct 1 | Steelers at Browns | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 5 | Thu, Oct 8 | Buccaneers at Cowboys | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 6 | Thu, Oct 15 | Seahawks at Broncos | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 7 | Thu, Oct 22 | Patriots at Bears | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 8 | Thu, Oct 29 | Panthers at Packers | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 9 | Thu, Nov 5 | Jaguars at Ravens | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 10 | Thu, Nov 12 | Commanders at Giants | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 11 | Thu, Nov 19 | Colts at Texans | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | Thanksgiving Triple Header | 1:00, 4:30, 8:20 PM | CBS, FOX, NBC |
| Week 12 | Fri, Nov 27 | Broncos at Steelers (Black Friday) | 3:00 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 13 | Thu, Dec 3 | Chiefs at Rams | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 14 | Thu, Dec 10 | Vikings at Patriots | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 15 | Thu, Dec 17 | 49ers at Chargers | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 16 | Thu, Dec 24 | Texans at Eagles | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Week 17 | Thu, Dec 31 | Ravens at Bengals | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| Wild Card | Jan 16 or 17 | Matchup TBD | TBD | Prime Video |
Thanksgiving on November 26 features the Bears at Lions on CBS, Eagles at Cowboys on FOX, and Chiefs at Bills on NBC.
The Week 16 Prime Video game on December 24 takes place on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day itself features three separate games across Netflix and FOX.
How to Watch Thursday Night Football
Watching the games requires a reliable internet connection and a compatible device.
- Sign Up: Obtain an Amazon Prime membership or a standalone Prime Video subscription.
- Download the App: Install the Prime Video app on your Smart TV, streaming stick, game console, phone, or tablet. Devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV stick all support the application.
- Log In: Enter your account details and password.
- Select the Game: Click the Thursday Night Football banner on the homepage before kickoff.
You can also watch directly in a web browser by visiting the Amazon Prime Video website.
Can You Watch Thursday Night Football for Free?
Yes, legitimate free options exist for specific viewers.
Fans living in the participating teams’ local markets can watch the broadcast for free using a digital television antenna. The NFL requires these games to air on a local broadcast station in those specific cities.
Also, Amazon streams the games for free on Twitch. You can watch the Twitch stream on your phone, computer, or gaming console without paying for a subscription.
New users can also sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime to watch legally.
Prime Membership and Streaming Cost
Amazon has different subscription tiers. Prices remain subject to change over time.
| Plan | Price | Relevant Benefits |
| Amazon Prime (Monthly) | $14.99/mo | Live TNF, free shipping, full Prime Video catalog |
| Amazon Prime (Annual) | $139/yr | Live TNF, free shipping, full Prime Video catalog |
| Prime Video Only | $8.99/mo | Live TNF, full Prime Video catalog |
| Twitch | Free | Live TNF stream only |
Students and qualifying government assistance recipients can often receive discounted memberships. Check the Amazon website to verify current eligibility requirements.
Can You Watch TNF With NFL+?
NFL+ provides another way to watch, but it comes with specific hardware restrictions.
A standard NFL+ subscription allows you to watch live local and primetime regular-season games, including Thursday Night Football. However, you can only watch these live streams on a phone or tablet. You cannot cast the live game to your television screen.
NFL+ Premium has full game replays across all devices immediately after the broadcast ends.
Thursday Night Football Announcers and Broadcast Features
The Prime Video broadcast team includes familiar sports media personalities. Al Michaels provides the play-by-play commentary. Kirk Herbstreit works as the main game analyst. Kaylee Hartung reports from the sidelines during the game.
The TNF Tonight pregame show crew includes Charissa Thompson, Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Richard Sherman, and Andrew Whitworth.
Viewers can switch to alternative streams during the game. Prime Vision has real-time Next Gen Stats, routing trees, and player tracking on the screen. A Spanish-language broadcast is also available for every Prime Video game.
Thursday Night Football FAQs
What time does Thursday Night Football start?
Most standard Thursday Night Football games kick off at 8:15 PM ET. The pregame coverage generally begins at 7:00 PM ET on Prime Video.
Is Thursday Night Football only on Prime Video?
Yes, Prime Video holds the exclusive national rights for standard Thursday games. However, fans in the local markets of the playing teams can watch on standard broadcast television.
Can I watch Thursday Night Football for free?
You can watch for free on Twitch. Local fans can also watch on a local broadcast channel using a digital television antenna.
Do I need Amazon Prime to watch TNF?
You need either a full Amazon Prime membership or a standalone Prime Video subscription to watch through the Prime Video app. Twitch provides a free alternative without a membership.
Can I watch Thursday Night Football on my phone?
Yes. You can watch using the Prime Video app, the Twitch app, or the NFL+ app on a compatible smartphone or tablet.
Is Thursday Night Football available in 4K?
Prime Video generally streams the games in 1080p high definition with HDR (High Dynamic Range), rather than native 4K resolution.
Is there a Thursday Night Football playoff game?
Yes. Prime Video holds the exclusive national streaming rights to broadcast one Wild Card game during the NFL Playoffs Games each season.
Editorial Disclaimer: Schedule, streaming availability, subscription prices, and broadcast information may change. Fans should verify current details with the NFL, Prime Video, or the relevant official provider. This article lists official licensed viewing options and does not promote unauthorized streams.
