How to watch NFL games on Paramount Plus US

 The NFL on Paramount Plus.
The NFL on Paramount Plus.

The ability to stream live sports is a big question mark when it comes to streaming services. Some have 'em and some don't. Some have more than others. And if you're new to Paramount Plus, it's a fair question to ask. The answer? Yes, you can watch live sports on Paramount Plus. But let's narrow things down a little bit. Can you watch live NFL games on Paramount Plus?

Yes. And it turns out all subscribers, regardless of which subscription tier they have, can watch NFL games on Paramount Plus. Basically, you can stream the same games on Paramount Plus that's on your local CBS station. They're regionalized, so you can't just watch anything you want — it's not NFL Sunday Ticket — but it's also better than nothing and a perfectly fine way to watch a game.

All that said, here's everything you need to know about watching the NFL on Paramount Plus.

Watch NFL games on Paramount Plus US with a subscription

The key to watching the NFL on Paramount Plus is access to CBS. The good news is that when it comes to the NFL, it doesn't matter what subscription you have, you can live stream NFL games every Sunday.

Normally, only Paramount Plus with Showtime subscribers (paying $11.99 per month) get access to live stream what is on CBS, but the streaming service makes the exception when it comes to NFL games, allowing all subscribers live stream games, including those on the $5.99 per month for Paramount Plus Essential.

Also, in case you have any young football fans in the house, Nickelodeon's special program, NFL Slimetime, which shows weekly highlights from NFL games with a Nickelodeon edge, is also streaming on Paramount Plus.

Just FYI, this is the rare instance where a Paramount Plus with Showtime feature is available for Paramount Plus Essential subscribers. If you want complete access to Showtime content, the ability to live stream primetime CBS TV shows and no ads, then you will need to subscribe to the more expensive option.

What NFL games are on Paramount Plus?

The NFL Wild Card game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills on Monday, January 15, at 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT is the only game that is going to be streaming on Paramount Plus this weekend. It will be available to all Paramount Plus subscribers.

How to watch NFL games online without a Paramount Plus subscription

If you don't have a Paramount Plus subscription but still want to watch CBS' lineup of NFL games this season, you're not totally out of luck. CBS broadcasts of NFL games are available through the CBS app or CBS website, however you need to have a traditional cable subscription or live TV streaming service that carries CBS.

The good news is that any traditional cable subscription service is required to carry CBS as one of the four primary US TV networks. In terms of live TV streaming services, CBS is carried by FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV.

NFL Plus is also a way to stream NFL games available in your local area, but only on your mobile phone or tablet, not your TV.