Football fans are basically staring at their calendars right now. It's the midpoint of the 2025 season, and honestly, the NFL TV map week 9 schedule feels like a mini-postseason. If you've been following the divisional races, you know things are getting messy. Byes are hitting hard. The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all off this week. That leaves us with 14 games, but the real story is how CBS and FOX are splitting up the country.
Most weeks, you're flipping back and forth between regional blowouts. Not this time. CBS is pulling a power move by keeping their late window exclusive for a single, massive game. If you're looking for the usual variety at 4:25 p.m. ET, you won't find it.
The CBS National Takeover: Chiefs vs. Bills
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Usually, the NFL TV map week 9 features a patchwork of colors for the late afternoon. Not today. CBS has decided that the entire United States—from Maine to Southern California—needs to see Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs take on Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
It makes sense. This isn't just a regular-season game; it’s a tiebreaker battle. Both teams are sitting at 5-3 and 5-2 respectively, jockeying for that top AFC seed. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo are on the call. If you live in a market that usually gets stuck with a "bottom-feeder" matchup because of local blackout rules, you’re in luck. The map for this window is just one solid block of CBS red. No exceptions.
Early Window CBS Splits
While the late afternoon is a monoculture, the 1 p.m. ET slot is a jigsaw puzzle. Most of the country is getting the Indianapolis Colts at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt are handling that one. It's a huge game for the AFC North, especially with Pittsburgh trying to rebound from a rough two-game skid.
Here’s how the rest of the CBS early map breaks down:
- San Francisco 49ers at NY Giants: Mostly West Coast and New York markets. Kevin Harlan and Trent Green have the mics.
- Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals: This is taking over the Midwest. Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta are covering what’s actually turned into a sneaky-good quarterback battle between Caleb Williams and Joe Burrow.
- Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots: Concentrated in the Southeast and New England.
- LA Chargers at Tennessee Titans: A smaller regional slice for the Southern California and Nashville markets.
FOX Single Game Strategy: The NFC North Heat
FOX is doing something different for the NFL TV map week 9. They only have a "single game" window this week, meaning your local affiliate picks one game to show you, regardless of whether it’s early or late.
The crown jewel for FOX is the Minnesota Vikings at the Detroit Lions. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady are the A-team here. This game is massive because it marks the return of J.J. McCarthy after that high ankle sprain he suffered way back in Week 2. Detroit is currently 5-2, and the Vikings are desperate to stay relevant in an NFC North that the Packers are currently terrorizing.
Where else is FOX looking?
Since it's a single-game window, the map is a bit of a gamble. If you aren't in the "Game of the Week" zone for Vikings-Lions, you're likely seeing:
- Denver Broncos at Houston Texans: Kevin Kugler and Daryl Johnston. This is the primary game for the Mountain West and Texas.
- Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers: Adam Amin and Greg Olsen. Surprisingly, the Panthers have clawed back to .500, making this more than just a Lambeau blowout.
- New Orleans Saints at LA Rams (Late): Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma. This starts at 4:05 p.m. ET. If your local FOX station chose this, you'll have a quiet morning and a loud afternoon.
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders (Late): Chris Myers and Mark Schlereth. This is mostly a desert-and-Florida special.
Primetime and the Weird "Thursday Night" Twist
You've probably noticed that the primetime slots are getting more specific. Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video features the Baltimore Ravens heading to Miami. It's a massive test for the Dolphins' defense, which has been "kinda" shaky lately.
Sunday Night Football on NBC has the Seattle Seahawks visiting the Washington Commanders. This is the game everyone is watching for Jayden Daniels. He’s been nursing a hamstring issue, and if he can’t go, the map might feel a lot less "national" in terms of excitement.
Finally, Monday Night Football is a classic "Jerry World" production. The Arizona Cardinals at the Dallas Cowboys. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are on the call for ESPN/ABC, and yes, the Manningcast is back on ESPN2 if you prefer Peyton and Eli’s banter over standard commentary.
Quick Guide to Week 9 Markets
| Market | CBS Early Game | FOX Choice |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 49ers @ Giants | Vikings @ Lions |
| Los Angeles | Chargers @ Titans | Saints @ Rams (Late) |
| Chicago | Bears @ Bengals | Saints @ Rams (Late) |
| Dallas | Colts @ Steelers | Broncos @ Texans |
| Seattle | 49ers @ Giants | Vikings @ Lions |
Actionable Steps for Game Day
Don't wait until kickoff to realize your local station opted for the "wrong" game. The NFL TV map week 9 is subject to last-minute changes, especially in markets like Florida or the Ohio Valley where multiple teams overlap.
- Check 506 Sports: They update their maps every Wednesday and Thursday. It’s the gold standard for seeing exactly which color your county is shaded.
- Verify your "Single Game" Window: Remember, FOX only shows one game in your area this week. If they choose a 1 p.m. game, your 4 p.m. slot on FOX will be paid programming or "local news."
- Stream if you're Out-of-Market: If you're a Vikings fan living in Florida, you're probably getting Panthers-Packers. You'll need NFL Sunday Ticket via YouTube TV or a solid VPN setup to catch the McCarthy return.
- Anticipate the CBS National Blackout: Since Chiefs-Bills is a national broadcast at 4:25 p.m., no other CBS game will be aired during that time. If you wanted to see a different late-game comeback, you’re switching to FOX or a streaming service.
The playoff picture is starting to actually matter now. One bad broadcast map shouldn't keep you from seeing the tiebreakers that will determine home-field advantage in January.