Are you ready to ditch that expensive cable bill and still catch every single heart-pounding Dallas Cowboys game? You've come to the right place! Watching America's Team without cable has never been easier, and with a little planning, you can be cheering them on from anywhere.
Here's your comprehensive, step-by-step guide to cutting the cord and staying connected to the Cowboys:
Step 1: Assess Your Cowboys Fandom - What Kind of Fan Are You?
Before we dive into the technicalities, let's figure out your viewing needs. This will help you choose the best and most cost-effective solution.
The Die-Hard Fan (Every Game, No Matter What): You live and breathe Cowboys football. You need to see every preseason, regular season, and potential playoff game, even if it's out-of-market. You might even want NFL RedZone to keep up with all the action across the league.
The Local Fan (In-Market Games): You primarily care about the games broadcast in your local market. These are typically on CBS, FOX, and NBC.
The Occasional Fan (Primetime & Key Games): You mostly tune in for primetime matchups (Thursday, Sunday, Monday nights) and big divisional games.
The Mobile-Only Fan: You primarily watch on your phone or tablet while on the go.
Once you have a clear idea of your fandom level, we can move on to the practical steps!
Step 2: The Free & Easy Option: Over-the-Air (OTA) Antenna
This is often the most overlooked yet incredibly effective way to watch many Cowboys games for free.
Sub-heading: How an OTA Antenna Works
An OTA antenna allows you to pick up local broadcast channels (like CBS, FOX, and NBC) that transmit NFL games. Many Dallas Cowboys games, especially on Sundays, are broadcast on these major networks. All you need is the antenna and a TV with a digital tuner (most modern TVs have this built-in).
Sub-heading: Benefits of an OTA Antenna
Absolutely Free: Once you buy the antenna, there are no monthly fees or subscriptions.
High-Quality Picture: You'll often get uncompressed, crystal-clear HD picture quality, sometimes even better than cable.
Reliable: Not dependent on internet speeds, so no buffering issues during crucial plays.
Sub-heading: What You Need to Do
Purchase an Antenna: You can find indoor or outdoor antennas at electronics stores or online. Prices range from $20 to $100+. A good quality indoor antenna will suffice for many, but an outdoor antenna might be necessary if you live further from broadcast towers.
Check Your Signal: Use online tools (like AntennaWeb.org or the FCC's DTV Reception Maps) to see which channels are available in your area and what type of antenna is recommended.
Install and Scan: Connect the antenna to your TV's antenna input and perform a channel scan. Your TV will then find all available local channels.
Pro-Tip: Point your antenna towards the broadcast towers for the best reception! You might need to experiment with placement.
Step 3: Live TV Streaming Services: Your Cable Replacements
For comprehensive coverage, especially if you want primetime games, NFL Network, and out-of-market options, live TV streaming services are your go-to. These services act like cable, but delivered over the internet, and usually without contracts.
Sub-heading: Key Players in the Live TV Streaming Game
Here are the top contenders that carry the necessary channels for Dallas Cowboys fans:
FuboTV:
Why it's great for NFL: FuboTV is renowned for its sports focus. It includes CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network in most markets. It also offers NFL RedZone as an add-on.
Pricing: Starts around $80/month.
Trial: Offers a free trial, so you can test it out during the preseason!
YouTube TV:
Why it's great for NFL: YouTube TV offers a strong channel lineup including CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Crucially, it's also the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, which is essential for watching all out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
Pricing: Around $73/month for the base plan. NFL Sunday Ticket is an additional, separate cost.
Trial: Offers a free trial.
Hulu + Live TV:
Why it's great for NFL: This service combines live TV with Hulu's extensive on-demand library. It includes CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN, making it a solid choice for most Cowboys games. It generally lacks NFL Network in its base package.
Pricing: Starts around $77/month.
Trial: Offers a free trial.
Sling TV:
Why it's great for NFL: Sling TV is a more budget-friendly option. Its "Sling Blue" package includes FOX and NBC in select markets, plus NFL Network. To get ESPN, you'd need the "Sling Orange" package or the "Orange & Blue" combo. CBS is generally not included.
Pricing: Starts around $40-$60/month depending on your package.
Trial: Often offers introductory discounts or free trials.
DIRECTV Stream:
Why it's great for NFL: DIRECTV Stream offers comprehensive channel lineups, including all the major broadcast networks (CBS, FOX, NBC) and ESPN. NFL Network is also available in higher-tier packages.
Pricing: Starts around $80/month, with higher tiers costing more.
Trial: Offers a free trial.
Sub-heading: Things to Consider When Choosing a Live TV Streaming Service
Local Channel Availability: Always double-check by entering your ZIP code on the service's website to ensure you get your local CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates.
NFL Sunday Ticket (for out-of-market games): If you don't live in the Dallas/Fort Worth market or your local market isn't showing the Cowboys game, NFL Sunday Ticket (available exclusively through YouTube TV) is your only official way to watch every Sunday afternoon out-of-market game.
NFL Network & NFL RedZone: If you want year-round NFL news, analysis, and the ability to jump between all the scoring plays on Sundays, look for a service that includes NFL Network and/or offers NFL RedZone as an add-on.
Device Compatibility: Ensure the streaming service is compatible with your preferred devices (smart TV, streaming stick, phone, tablet, computer).
Simultaneous Streams: How many devices can watch at the same time? This is important if multiple people in your household want to watch different things.
Cloud DVR: Most services offer cloud DVR so you can record games and watch them later. Check the storage limits.
Step 4: Niche Streaming Services for Specific Games
Beyond the major live TV streamers, some individual services carry specific NFL games.
Sub-heading: Amazon Prime Video (Thursday Night Football)
The Deal: Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive national broadcaster for most Thursday Night Football (TNF) games. If the Cowboys play on a Thursday (outside of Thanksgiving), you'll need a Prime membership to watch.
Pricing: Included with an Amazon Prime membership ($14.99/month or $139/year) or available as a standalone Prime Video subscription ($8.99/month).
Trial: Offers a free trial.
Sub-heading: Peacock (Sunday Night Football & More)
The Deal: Peacock Premium streams all Sunday Night Football (SNF) games that air on NBC. Additionally, Peacock might occasionally have exclusive NFL games.
Pricing: Peacock Premium starts around $5.99/month.
Trial: No standard free trial, but sometimes offers promotional periods.
Sub-heading: Paramount+ (CBS Games)
The Deal: Paramount+ streams all NFL games that air on CBS in your local market. This is a great, affordable option if most of the Cowboys games you want to watch are on CBS.
Pricing: Starts around $5.99/month for the Essential plan (with ads) or $11.99/month for the Paramount+ with Showtime plan (ad-free, includes local live CBS feed).
Trial: Offers a free trial.
Sub-heading: NFL+ (Mobile & Replays)
The Deal: NFL+ is the NFL's own subscription service. It allows you to watch live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet. It also offers live out-of-market preseason games, and full game replays after the live broadcast.
Pricing: NFL+ costs $6.99/month, while NFL+ Premium (which includes ad-free game replays) is $14.99/month.
Limitations: Crucially, NFL+ only allows live in-market and primetime games on mobile devices (phones and tablets). You cannot cast these games to your TV. For watching live on a TV, you'll need one of the live TV streaming services or an antenna.
Step 5: Consider a VPN (Virtual Private Network) - Use with Caution!
While not officially sanctioned by the NFL or streaming providers, some users employ VPNs to bypass geo-restrictions and access out-of-market games.
Sub-heading: How a VPN Works
A VPN masks your IP address and makes it appear as if you're Browse from a different location. This could potentially allow you to access a live stream from a market where the Cowboys game you want to watch is available.
Sub-heading: Why Exercise Caution
Terms of Service: Using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions may violate the terms of service of streaming providers, and your account could be suspended.
Reliability: VPN performance can vary, and buffering or connection issues might occur.
Legality: While generally legal to use a VPN, bypassing copyright or licensing agreements can be a gray area.
It's important to understand the risks involved if you choose to go this route.
Step 6: Set Up Your Devices and Get Ready for Kickoff!
Once you've chosen your preferred method(s), the final steps are straightforward:
Sign Up: Create accounts and subscribe to your chosen streaming services.
Download Apps: Download the relevant apps on your smart TV, streaming device (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV), smartphone, or tablet.
Log In: Enter your login credentials.
Test Your Setup: Before game day, try streaming some content to ensure everything is working smoothly.
Check the Schedule: Always double-check the official NFL schedule or a reliable sports news site to confirm which channel or service is broadcasting the specific Cowboys game you want to watch. Broadcast schedules can change.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to enjoying a season full of Dallas Cowboys football without the burden of a traditional cable subscription. Go Cowboys!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to watch preseason Dallas Cowboys games without cable?
You can often watch preseason Cowboys games on local CBS, FOX, or NBC affiliates with an OTA antenna. Live TV streaming services like FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DIRECTV Stream will also carry these games if they are broadcast on those channels. NFL+ Premium also offers live out-of-market preseason games.
How to watch Dallas Cowboys playoff games without cable?
Playoff games are typically broadcast on major networks like CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN. You can watch them with an OTA antenna (for local broadcasts) or through any live TV streaming service that includes these channels (FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV Stream).
How to watch out-of-market Dallas Cowboys games without cable?
The most reliable way to watch out-of-market Dallas Cowboys games on Sundays is through NFL Sunday Ticket, which is exclusively available as an add-on to a YouTube TV subscription.
How to watch Monday Night Football (MNF) Cowboys games without cable?
Monday Night Football games are broadcast on ESPN. You'll need a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN, such as FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV (Orange or Orange & Blue package).
How to watch Sunday Night Football (SNF) Cowboys games without cable?
Sunday Night Football games are broadcast on NBC and simulcast on Peacock Premium. You can watch with an OTA antenna, a live TV streaming service like FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or DIRECTV Stream, or directly through a Peacock Premium subscription.
How to watch Thursday Night Football (TNF) Cowboys games without cable?
Most Thursday Night Football games are exclusively streamed on Amazon Prime Video. You will need an Amazon Prime membership or a standalone Prime Video subscription to watch these games.
How to watch Dallas Cowboys games on my phone without cable?
The NFL+ subscription service allows you to watch live local and primetime Cowboys games on your phone or tablet. Live TV streaming apps (like YouTube TV, FuboTV, etc.) also have mobile apps where you can watch games if you have a subscription.
How to get NFL RedZone without cable for Dallas Cowboys updates?
NFL RedZone is typically available as an add-on package with most live TV streaming services that carry NFL Network, such as FuboTV, YouTube TV, and DIRECTV Stream. Sling TV also offers it in its Sports Extra add-on.
How to watch Dallas Cowboys games for free without cable?
The primary free method is using an Over-the-Air (OTA) antenna to pick up local CBS, FOX, and NBC broadcasts. You can also watch live local and primetime games on your mobile device (phone or tablet) using the free version of the NFL app (though this often has limitations).
How to record Dallas Cowboys games without cable?
Most live TV streaming services come with a cloud DVR feature, allowing you to record games and watch them later. Services like YouTube TV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV offer varying amounts of cloud DVR storage.
