How to watch the NFL on CBS

Denver Broncos' Bo Nix (Image credit: Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

NFL on CBS is home to Sunday football action every week throughout the NFL regular season. It's playoff time, and CBS continues to be one of the main homes for the NFL.

CBS is just one of the networks that covers the NFL, with NFL on Fox, NBC's Sunday Night Football, ESPN's Monday Night Football and Prime Video's Thursday Night Football carrying games. CBS is the primary home for AFC-centric games, but just about every team will play on CBS throughout the course of the season.

Here is everything that you need to know about how to watch the NFL on CBS.

How to watch the NFL on CBS

CBS is one of the four major US TV networks and as such it is required to be carried on all traditional pay-TV cable subscription packages, meaning if you still pay for cable TV, then you automatically have access to your local CBS station. Local CBS stations can also be received for free by those who use a TV antenna.

If you’ve cut the cord on traditional pay-TV services and have opted for a live TV streaming service, most of them include CBS as part of their standard channel lineup, like Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.

There is also a pure streaming option for watching NFL on CBS games — Paramount Plus. US subscribers can watch the NFL on Paramount Plus. The ad-free version of the streaming service allows for live streaming of local CBS stations, as does the ad-supported, but only for sporting events like NFL games on CBS.

Another option to stream your local CBS game is to sign up for NFL Plus. This streaming service provides live streams of games available in your area, but only through your mobile phone or tablet.

If UK football fans are wondering where they can watch NFL games — since they don’t have CBS or the other US networks — they do have a couple of options. NFL games are shown in the UK on ITV, Sky TV and the NFL Game Pass subscription service.

NFL on CBS Wild Card schedule

Here is the complete schedule for Wild Card round games on CBS:

Saturday, January 11

Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans, 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT

Sunday, January 12

Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills, 1 pm ET/10 am PT

NFL on CBS Wild Card game previews

Los Angeles Chargers Justin Herbert (Image credit: Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The NFL playoffs kick off with an NFL on CBS game, as the Los Angeles Chargers, who earned their spot in the postseason as a wild card team, play the AFC South champion Houston Texans. Despite being the road team, the Chargers are actually the favorites in the game, as they got one more win than the Texans this season and commit the fewest turnovers in the league. However, the Texans defense caused 29 turnovers throughout the season, fifth most in the league. They may need some more of that turnover luck, as they are banged up at the wide receiver position and the Chargers pass rush appears to have the edge against the Texans offensive line (though the Texans pass rush is also a dangerous unit).

CBS has one other game for Wild Card weekend, the No. 7 seed Denver Broncos against the No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills. The Bills are seen as one of the biggest favorites this week as they have MVP candidate Josh Allen under center and home field, but the Broncos, with a strong defense and improving play from rookie quarterback Bo Nix, have been one of the biggest surprises of the season. Buffalo is looking to finally get over the hump and make a run to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 90s, while Denver wants to make their first trip to the postseason since 2015 more than a one-and-done appearance.