With Drake Maye turning the New England Patriots back into appointment television, a lot of people are asking the same question: where are these games actually on? The answer depends on two things — where you live, and which network carries that week's game. This guide covers every legal option in the US, what each one costs, and the cheapest way to see every snap.
The fast answer
- If you live in New England (or your opponent's market): most Patriots games air on your local CBS station, free with an antenna. Streaming them live is easiest with Paramount+ (CBS games) or a live-TV service like YouTube TV or Fubo.
- If you live outside New England: you need NFL Sunday Ticket (on YouTube/YouTube TV) to watch out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
- Cheapest full-season path for locals: an antenna (one-time ~$30) for CBS/Fox/NBC games, plus a short-term subscription only in weeks the Patriots land on ESPN, Prime Video, or another streamer.
Because the Patriots are an AFC team, CBS carries most of their Sunday afternoon games, with a handful on Fox (interconference weeks), plus any prime-time slots on NBC (Sunday Night Football), ESPN/ABC (Monday Night Football), Prime Video (Thursday Night Football), or a streaming exclusive. The week-by-week network schedule is the one thing that changes constantly — check the schedule on Patriots.com or NFL.com before each game.
Every way to watch, with costs
| Option | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Antenna (over-the-air) | ~$25–$50 one time | CBS, Fox, NBC games free in your local market |
| Paramount+ | ~$8–$13/mo | Live local CBS games (higher tier includes your CBS station) |
| YouTube TV | ~$73–$83/mo | CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN — nearly every game in-market |
| Fubo | ~$80–$85/mo | CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, plus sports extras |
| Hulu + Live TV | ~$77–$83/mo | Same core networks, bundled with Disney+ and Hulu |
| DirecTV Stream | ~$80–$90/mo | Core networks; sports-focused packages available |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | ~$300–$480/season | Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games |
| NFL+ | ~$7–$15/mo | Live local and prime-time games on phone/tablet only; replays |
| Prime Video | ~$9–$15/mo | Thursday Night Football exclusives |
| Peacock | ~$8–$14/mo | Sunday Night Football simulcasts, plus any NBC/Peacock exclusives |
| ESPN streaming / ESPN+ tiers | varies | Monday Night Football when the Patriots draw that slot |
Prices shift and promos come and go, so treat these as ballpark figures and confirm on each service's official site before subscribing.
If you're in New England: local-market options
Living in the Patriots' home market (most of New England) is the cheap seat. Your local CBS affiliate — WBZ in Boston, plus regional CBS stations across the market — carries the bulk of the schedule.
Antenna: A basic indoor antenna pulls in CBS, Fox, and NBC in HD for free. That covers most of the season, including Sunday Night Football on NBC. This is the single best value in sports TV.
Paramount+: The plan that includes your live local CBS station streams every CBS Patriots game. It's the cheapest streaming path to the majority of the schedule.
Live-TV streaming services: YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream all carry CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN, which means nearly every Patriots game in one place. They cost the most, but they're the no-thinking-required option.
NFL+: Streams live local-market and national games, but only on phones and tablets — no TV casting for live games. Great as a cheap backup or for watching on the go; frustrating as your only option.
If you're outside New England: out-of-market options
When the Patriots' Sunday afternoon game isn't shown in your market, NFL Sunday Ticket is the answer. It's sold through YouTube and YouTube TV, streams every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game, and typically runs a few hundred dollars for the season (student discounts and early-bird pricing exist — check YouTube's official page).
Two important caveats:
- Prime-time games are national. Sunday, Monday, and Thursday night games air everywhere, so you don't need Sunday Ticket for those — just NBC/Peacock, ESPN/ABC, or Prime Video.
- If the Patriots are playing your local team, the game airs on your local station and Sunday Ticket blacks it out — use an antenna or your local CBS/Fox feed instead.
If you only want highlights and replays, NFL+ Premium includes full-game replays shortly after games end, which is a much cheaper way to follow the team from afar.
The free and cheapest options
- Antenna is genuinely free (after the one-time hardware cost) for anyone in the Patriots' market or their weekly opponent's market — that's most of the schedule.
- Free trials: Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, and Paramount+ regularly offer trials; a well-timed trial can cover a big game at no cost.
- NFL+ on mobile is the cheapest paid way for locals to stream live games, if you're fine watching on a phone or tablet.
- Radio is always free: every game airs on the Patriots Radio Network (98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston) and streams on the team app in-market.
What's true for 2026 specifically (time-sensitive)
This section reflects the 2026 season and will change; everything above is the durable playbook.
Drake Maye's MVP-caliber 2025 means the Patriots are likely to be flexed into more prime-time windows this year, not out of them — so expect more NBC, ESPN, and Prime Video dates than a typical Patriots season, and double-check the network the week of each game. The NFL also continues to place select games on streaming exclusives (including holiday games on services like Netflix in recent seasons); when the Patriots draw one, that service is the only way to watch nationally. Exact carriage and pricing for 2026 exclusives should be confirmed on NFL.com.
FAQ
What channel are most Patriots games on? CBS. As an AFC team, the Patriots play most Sunday afternoon games on CBS, with occasional Fox games against NFC opponents and prime-time games on NBC, ESPN/ABC, or Prime Video.
Can I watch Patriots games free without cable? Yes, if you're in the local market: an over-the-air antenna picks up CBS, Fox, and NBC free in HD, which covers most of the schedule. Out-of-market viewers don't have a free live option beyond service trials.
Do I need NFL Sunday Ticket if I live in Boston? No. Sunday Ticket only carries out-of-market games, and Patriots games are in-market throughout New England. Locals are better served by an antenna, Paramount+, or a live-TV streaming service.