Are you ready to dive into the world of America's Team and make sure you never miss a single tackle, touchdown, or dramatic moment from the Dallas Cowboys? As a fellow fan, I know the thrill of game day, and there's nothing worse than scrambling to find a way to watch the Cowboys live. Whether you're in market, out of market, or even across the globe, this comprehensive guide will walk you through every option to ensure you catch all the action. Let's get started!
How to Watch All Dallas Cowboys Games Live: Your Ultimate Playbook
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the largest and most passionate fan bases in the NFL. This means that watching their games can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, depending on your location and preferences. But fear not, we've got you covered with all the best methods to ensure you're always tuned in!
Step 1: Determine Your "In-Market" or "Out-of-Market" Status
This is the absolute first and most crucial step, as it dictates many of your viewing options.
What does "In-Market" mean? If you live in or near the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, you are likely "in-market." This means local broadcast networks (CBS, FOX, NBC) in your area will typically air most Cowboys games.
What does "Out-of-Market" mean? If you live outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you are "out-of-market." This presents a different set of challenges, as local stations in your area will prioritize games featuring the teams they consider "local."
Once you know your status, you can proceed to the most relevant options below.
Step 2: Core Broadcasting Channels & Services (In-Market Fans)
For those lucky enough to be in the Cowboys' primary broadcast region, traditional television is often your simplest solution.
Sub-heading: Over-the-Air (Antenna)
This is the most cost-effective way to watch if you're in-market. A simple digital antenna can pick up local CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates, which carry the majority of Cowboys games.
Pros: Free after initial antenna purchase, reliable signal.
Cons: Limited to local broadcasts, signal can be affected by weather or obstructions.
Sub-heading: Cable & Satellite TV Providers
If you already have a cable or satellite subscription (like Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, DirecTV, Dish Network, etc.), you'll have access to CBS, FOX, and NBC.
Most also include ESPN for Monday Night Football and NFL Network for Thursday Night Football and other NFL programming.
Paramount+ is the streaming home for CBS games, so if a Cowboys game is on CBS, you can stream it live with a Paramount+ subscription.
Peacock streams Sunday Night Football games that air on NBC.
Amazon Prime Video has exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football, so if the Cowboys are playing on a Thursday (outside of Thanksgiving), you'll need Prime Video.
Pros: Comprehensive channel lineup, often includes other sports and entertainment.
Cons: Can be expensive, requires a contract.
Step 3: Live TV Streaming Services (The Cord-Cutter's Best Friend)
For those looking to cut the cord or simply prefer streaming, these services offer a fantastic way to access the necessary channels. Most of these services offer free trials, so you can test them out before committing!
Sub-heading: Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is a stellar option as it includes CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network in most markets. This covers a significant portion of the Cowboys' schedule.
Key Feature: Comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, offering even more content.
Sub-heading: YouTube TV
YouTube TV is another top-tier choice for NFL fans. It offers CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network, and crucially, it's the exclusive home for NFL Sunday Ticket as an add-on (more on this in Step 4!).
Key Feature: Unlimited DVR space, great user interface.
Sub-heading: FuboTV
FuboTV is sports-centric and includes CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network. They often have a wide array of other sports channels.
Key Feature: Strong focus on live sports, good picture quality.
Sub-heading: Sling TV
Sling TV offers two main packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue.
Sling Blue includes NFL Network and FOX and NBC in select regions.
Sling Orange includes ESPN.
For comprehensive Cowboys coverage, you'll likely need the Sling Orange + Blue package to get all the necessary channels.
Key Feature: More affordable entry point, customizable with add-ons.
Sub-heading: DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream offers various packages, and their higher-tier plans generally include CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
Key Feature: Similar to traditional cable in its channel lineup, good for those transitioning from satellite.
Step 4: The Ultimate Out-of-Market Solution: NFL Sunday Ticket
If you're an out-of-market Cowboys fan and want to watch every single Sunday afternoon game, NFL Sunday Ticket is your holy grail.
Sub-heading: NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube and YouTube TV
As of recent seasons, NFL Sunday Ticket is now exclusively available through YouTube and YouTube TV.
You can purchase it as an add-on to a YouTube TV Base Plan, or as a standalone "Primetime Channel" on YouTube if you don't want the full YouTube TV service.
What it covers: All out-of-market Sunday afternoon (Eastern Time) regular season NFL games broadcast on CBS and FOX.
What it doesn't cover: Preseason games, primetime games (Thursday, Sunday, Monday Night Football), and local market games. You'll still need other services for those.
Pros: The only way to consistently watch every out-of-market Cowboys game on Sunday afternoons.
Cons: Can be expensive, particularly as a standalone product.
Step 5: Specific Game Streamers & Apps
Beyond the main live TV services, certain individual games or types of games have dedicated streaming homes.
Sub-heading: Amazon Prime Video
As mentioned, Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for most Thursday Night Football games. If the Cowboys are featured, you'll need a Prime membership.
Sub-heading: Paramount+
If a Cowboys game is airing on CBS locally, you can stream it live on Paramount+ with a Premium subscription.
Sub-heading: Peacock
Similarly, for Sunday Night Football games on NBC, a Peacock Premium subscription will allow you to stream them live.
Sub-heading: NFL Mobile App / Dallas Cowboys App
The NFL Mobile App (for smartphones and tablets) allows you to watch live local and primetime games.
The official Dallas Cowboys App may also offer live streams for in-market fans on mobile.
Important Note: These are often restricted to mobile devices and may have blackout restrictions.
Step 6: International Options (For Fans Outside the US)
If you're a Cowboys fan living outside the United States, your options are often simpler, thanks to NFL's global streaming service.
Sub-heading: NFL Game Pass International (via DAZN)
In most countries outside the US and China, NFL Game Pass International is now available exclusively through DAZN.
This service is a goldmine for international fans, offering:
Live streaming of all regular season and playoff games.
Full game replays available immediately after the broadcast.
Access to NFL RedZone, NFL Network, and a vast archive of past games and NFL Films content.
Pros: Comprehensive coverage, high-quality streams, no blackouts.
Cons: Subscription cost.
Step 7: The VPN Advantage (For Geo-Restriction Workarounds)
For some out-of-market US fans, or if you're traveling, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can be a useful tool to bypass geo-restrictions.
Sub-heading: How a VPN Works
A VPN allows you to connect to servers in different locations, making it appear as if you are Browse from that location.
For example, an out-of-market fan in New York could connect to a VPN server in Dallas to access local Cowboys broadcasts via a streaming service if they have the appropriate subscriptions.
Sub-heading: Using a VPN with NFL Streaming Services
Step-by-step:
Choose a reputable VPN service: Popular and reliable choices include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. Look for VPNs with a good track record of unblocking streaming services and a wide range of servers in the US.
Subscribe and Install: Sign up for the VPN service and install their app on your device (computer, phone, streaming stick).
Connect to a Server: Open the VPN app and connect to a server in a US city where the Cowboys game is being broadcast locally (e.g., Dallas).
Access Your Streaming Service: Once connected, open your chosen streaming service (e.g., YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Paramount+, etc.) and you should now be able to access the local broadcast of the Cowboys game.
Sub-heading: Important Considerations for VPNs
Reliability: Streaming services are actively trying to block VPNs, so it's not always guaranteed to work. Choose a VPN known for its streaming capabilities.
Legality: While generally legal, using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions can sometimes violate the terms of service of streaming providers.
Speed: A fast and stable internet connection is crucial when using a VPN for streaming to avoid buffering.
10 Related FAQ Questions with Quick Answers
Here are some common questions you might have about watching Dallas Cowboys games live:
How to watch Dallas Cowboys preseason games?
Preseason games are often broadcast on local networks (CBS, FOX, NBC), NFL Network, and sometimes ESPN. NFL+ also offers live out-of-market preseason games.
How to watch Dallas Cowboys games if I don't have cable?
You can use live TV streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, or Sling TV, all of which offer the necessary broadcast channels.
How to watch out-of-market Dallas Cowboys games on Sundays?
The primary way to watch all out-of-market Sunday afternoon games is through NFL Sunday Ticket, available via YouTube and YouTube TV.
How to stream Dallas Cowboys games on my phone or tablet?
You can use the apps for live TV streaming services (Hulu, YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling), Paramount+ for CBS games, Peacock for NBC games, Amazon Prime Video for TNF, or the NFL Mobile App (with restrictions).
How to watch Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day games?
Thanksgiving Day games are typically broadcast on CBS, FOX, or NBC, making them widely available on traditional TV, live TV streaming services, and their respective streaming apps (Paramount+, Peacock).
How to watch Dallas Cowboys Monday Night Football games?
Monday Night Football games are broadcast on ESPN. You can watch them via a cable/satellite subscription or a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN (e.g., Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, Sling Orange).
How to watch Dallas Cowboys Thursday Night Football games?
Most Thursday Night Football games are exclusively streamed on Amazon Prime Video. You'll need a Prime membership to watch.
How to get NFL RedZone to watch Cowboys highlights?
NFL RedZone is available as an add-on to many live TV streaming services (YouTube TV, FuboTV, Sling TV) and also as part of NFL Game Pass International (DAZN).
How to listen to Dallas Cowboys games if I can't watch?
You can listen to live local radio broadcasts through the official Dallas Cowboys website or app, TuneIn, or SiriusXM NFL Radio.
How to watch Dallas Cowboys games if I'm outside the US?
If you're outside the US (and China), your best bet is NFL Game Pass International, which is now primarily offered through DAZN.
