Ever sat down with a cold drink and a plate of wings, ready to watch your team, only to find some random blowout game on your local CBS or FOX station? It's the worst. Honestly, the way the NFL carves up the country every Sunday feels like a massive puzzle designed by a madman. One street gets the Ravens, and three miles over, they're stuck with the Giants.
Basically, the nfl week 10 tv map is the only thing standing between you and a peaceful Sunday afternoon.
Week 10 of the 2025 season is particularly messy. We've got a game in Berlin, four teams on a bye, and some serious "A-Team" announcer movement. If you're wondering why you're seeing Jim Nantz and Tony Romo in Florida instead of the usual regional crew, there’s a reason for that. Let's break down the madness of who is playing where and why your TV is showing what it’s showing.
The Morning Coffee Game in Berlin
Before we even get to the maps, we have to talk about the early wake-up call. The Indianapolis Colts took on the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin, Germany. This wasn't on your local FOX or CBS. It was an NFL Network exclusive.
If you live in Indy or Atlanta, you're lucky. Local stations in those markets usually simulcast the game. For everyone else? You needed a subscription or a very early trip to a sports bar. Adam Amin and Kurt Warner had the call for that one, and honestly, the atmosphere in Germany always makes these games feel a bit more electric than a standard 1 PM ET kickoff.
CBS Week 10: The Romo Factor
CBS had the "single" game window this week. This means they only show one game in your area—either at 1 PM ET or 4:05 PM ET. They don't get to do a double-header like FOX.
The big "Red" game on the map was New England at Tampa Bay. This is fascinating because, for the first time in forever, the Patriots actually got the top-tier broadcast crew. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo were in Tampa. Most of the Northeast and a huge chunk of the West Coast saw this one.
The rest of the country was split up like this:
- The Blue Zone: Jacksonville vs. Houston. This stayed mostly in the Southeast and parts of Texas. Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt (yeah, J.J. is in the booth now!) called this one.
- The Yellow Zone: Buffalo at Miami. A massive AFC East showdown that mostly stayed in Florida and Western New York. Andrew Catalon and Charles Davis handled this.
- The Orange Zone: Cleveland at the Jets. Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta were on the call. This was basically just for the local New York and Ohio markets.
- The Late Window (Green): Arizona at Seattle. This was the only 4:05 PM ET game for CBS. If you lived in the Pacific Northwest or the Southwest, your CBS station probably sat dark at 1 PM and waited for this kickoff. Kevin Harlan—the man who can make a guy running onto the field sound like a Super Bowl winning play—called this one with Trent Green.
FOX Early Window: A Tale of Two Cities
FOX had the double-header this week, meaning they showed a game at 1 PM and another at 4:25 PM.
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The early slate was dominated by the NY Giants at Chicago Bears. This was the "Red" game. Joe Davis and Greg Olsen took the lead here. If you weren't in the Midwest or the Tri-state area, there's a good chance you saw the "Blue" game: Baltimore at Minnesota.
That Ravens-Vikings game was actually the better watch. Kevin Kugler and Daryl Johnston were on the mic. It’s funny how the NFL decides which game is "national." Sometimes they bet on the big market (NY/Chicago) even if the matchup (Ravens/Vikings) is technically superior football.
Down in the "Green" zone, you had the Saints at the Panthers. This was a very small sliver of the map. Basically, if you don't live in the Carolinas or Louisiana, you didn't see this unless you have Sunday Ticket.
The Heavy Hitters: FOX Late Window
This is where the nfl week 10 tv map got really interesting. FOX put their "A-Team"—Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady—on the Rams at 49ers game.
Look, whenever Brady is in the booth, that game is going to be the "Red" game on the map. It covered almost 80% of the country. Unless you lived in Michigan or the D.C. area, you were watching the Niners.
The "Blue" game for the late window was Detroit at Washington. Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma called it. This was a battle of two teams trying to prove they belong in the elite tier of the NFC, but because it ran up against a California rivalry, most of the country missed it live.
Why Do These Maps Even Exist?
You’ve probably asked yourself: "Why can't I just watch whatever game I want?"
It’s all about the money, obviously. CBS and FOX pay billions for the rights to these games, and they want to protect the local advertisers. If you live in Dallas, the local Ford dealership wants you watching the game they paid to be on, not some random game from another coast.
Plus, there are "blackout" rules that are still surprisingly strict. If your local team is playing at home on one network, the other network often isn't allowed to air a game at the exact same time. It’s supposed to encourage people to go to the stadium, though in 2026, it mostly just encourages people to complain on the internet.
The "I Don't Have Cable" Problem
If you’re a cord-cutter, you probably know that the nfl week 10 tv map is only half the battle. This year, things got even more fragmented.
- FOX One: This is the new streaming service from FOX that launched recently. It’s about $20 a month and lets you stream your local FOX game.
- Paramount+: This is still the go-to for your local CBS game.
- NFL+: You can watch local games on your phone or tablet, but you still can't cast them to your TV easily without the premium tier.
- YouTube TV & Sunday Ticket: This is the only way to truly "beat" the map. If you live in Florida but want to watch the Lions, you’re coughing up the cash for Sunday Ticket.
Actionable Steps for Next Week
Don't let the map surprise you again. Here is exactly what you should do every Wednesday or Thursday before the games:
- Check 506 Sports: This is the gold standard. They release the color-coded maps every Wednesday. It’s a literal lifesaver for fantasy football players.
- Verify Your "Single" vs "Double" Header: Always check which network has the double-header. If your favorite team is on CBS and CBS only has the "single" window, make sure they aren't playing in the late slot while your local station is showing an early game.
- Get an Antenna: Seriously. A $30 digital antenna from Amazon will get you CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC in HD for free. No lags, no streaming buffers, and no monthly fees.
The nfl week 10 tv map might be a headache, but once you understand the logic—or the lack thereof—behind the broadcast zones, you can plan your Sunday much better. Just remember: if the game you want isn't on, there's always RedZone. RedZone doesn't care about maps; it only cares about touchdowns.
Next Steps for You: Start by checking your local listings for Week 11 now. Since "flex scheduling" is in full effect this late in the season, the NFL can move Sunday afternoon games to Sunday Night Football with only 12 days' notice. What was a 1 PM game on your map yesterday might be an 8:20 PM national broadcast by tomorrow.