It is a specific kind of magic. You know the one: that familiar, pulsing "NFL on CBS" theme music kicks in, the camera pans over a packed stadium in Orchard Park or Kansas City, and suddenly, your Sunday afternoon has a purpose. Honestly, following the CBS NFL football schedule isn't just about knowing when your team plays. It’s about the ritual of the doubleheader, the inevitable Romo-prognostication, and the way the AFC North rivalries seem to hit harder when Jim Nantz is the one setting the scene.
But let's be real—trying to figure out exactly which game is on your local affiliate can feel like a part-time job. Between "cross-flexing" (where NFC games land on CBS) and the rise of Paramount+, the old days of just "turning on Channel 2" have gotten a bit more complicated.
The 2025-2026 CBS NFL Football Schedule Breakdown
The 2025 regular season just wrapped up, and we are currently deep in the postseason drama. If you've been tracking the schedule this year, you’ve seen CBS lean heavily into its AFC powerhouse roots while grabbing some massive NFC matchups along the way.
We’re currently looking at the Divisional Round, and the schedule has been electric. For instance, just this past Saturday, January 17, 2026, CBS and Paramount+ carried the absolute nail-biter between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos. Seeing Josh Allen go into that thin Denver air at 4:30 PM ET was peak winter football.
Key Windows and the Doubleheader Tradition
CBS usually hangs its hat on the 1:00 PM ET and 4:25 PM ET windows. In 2025, the network featured 10 national doubleheaders. This is where the "Game of the Week" lives. If you saw the Chiefs vs. Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2025), you saw CBS at its biggest. That 4:30 PM ET slot is arguably the most valuable real estate in all of television, and they didn't waste it.
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Other monster games that defined the CBS slate this year included:
- Week 4: Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs (The Mahomes-Jackson era is just relentless).
- Week 9: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills (The rematch everyone circles in red ink).
- Week 13: Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (A cold-weather classic that CBS protected from the flex).
Who's Calling the Action?
You can’t talk about the schedule without talking about the voices. The lead crew remains the gold standard: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson. They handle the "A" game every single week. Whether it’s the AFC Championship or a Week 17 clash with playoff implications, Nantz’s steady hand and Romo’s "he’s gonna throw the slant here!" energy are the heartbeat of the network.
But the depth this season has been wild. J.J. Watt has really come into his own, joining Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn on the number two crew. Eagle is probably the most versatile play-by-play guy in the business right now—his excitement is actually contagious.
We also saw Charles Davis wrapping up his final NFL season before he moves over to lead college football coverage for CBS in 2026. He's been paired with Andrew Catalon and Jason McCourty, forming a three-man booth that offers way more tactical nuance than your average Sunday broadcast.
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How to Actually Watch (Paramount+ and Beyond)
Basically, if a game is on your local CBS station, it is on Paramount+. That’s the rule of thumb.
It’s a lifesaver for cord-cutters. You don't need a $100 cable package to see the AFC playoffs. However, there’s a catch: it’s based on your local market. If you live in New York, you’re getting the Jets or Giants game. You aren't getting a random Raiders-Chargers game unless it’s the national 4:25 PM ET window.
For the out-of-market junkies, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is still the only way to bypass those regional blackouts. But for the casual fan or the die-hard following their local squad, the CBS/Paramount+ combo covers about 95% of what you need.
The Playoff Path on CBS
As we move into the final stretch of the 2025-26 season, CBS is the exclusive home of the AFC side of the bracket.
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- Wild Card Weekend: CBS kicked things off with the Bills vs. Jaguars.
- Divisional Round: Just saw that Broncos win over Buffalo.
- AFC Championship: Mark your calendars for Sunday, January 25, 2026. This is the one. The winner goes to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.
The "Flex" Factor: Why the Schedule Changes
The NFL is obsessed with ratings (obviously), so they use "Flexible Scheduling." This is why you’ll sometimes see a game move from 1:00 PM to 4:25 PM or even get "cross-flexed" from FOX over to CBS.
Between Weeks 5 and 17, the league can move games to Sunday Night Football, but they can also swap games between the afternoon networks to ensure the best matchups reach the widest audience. If a team like the Bengals or Texans is on a hot streak, CBS will fight to keep them in that late afternoon window. Honestly, it's a bit of a headache for planning your Sunday BBQ, but it ensures we aren't stuck watching a 2-10 team in a national slot.
Actionable Tips for Sunday Success
If you want to master the CBS NFL football schedule, stop just looking at the generic league-wide list. Here is how you actually stay ahead:
- Check the Maps: Every Wednesday, visit 506 Sports. They produce color-coded maps that show exactly which game is airing in which part of the country. It is the single most important tool for an NFL fan.
- Update the App: If you’re using Paramount+, make sure the app is updated on your smart TV or Roku. Nothing is worse than a "forced update" message at 12:59 PM on a Sunday.
- Follow the Lead Insider: Keep tabs on Jonathan Jones, CBS’s lead NFL insider. He usually breaks news on The NFL Today pregame show (which starts at 12:00 PM ET) regarding late-breaking injuries that can completely change the betting line or your fantasy lineup.
The 2026 AFC Championship is only a week away. Whether it's the Broncos, Patriots, or another surging contender, the road to the Super Bowl on CBS is always the most grueling—and the most entertaining—path in sports.
To stay on top of the final postseason broadcasts, verify your local CBS affiliate's broadcast window for next Sunday's AFC Championship game, which is slated to kick off at 3:00 PM ET.