If you’re a football fan, you know the routine. You grab your wings, sit on the couch, flip to CBS or FOX, and... wait. Why is there a blowout between two teams you don't care about instead of the massive divisional clash everyone is talking about? Honestly, it’s frustrating. But it's all about the nfl week 9 tv map.
Broadcast rights in the NFL are a complicated web of "primary markets," "secondary markets," and those weird protection rules that keep certain games off your screen. For Week 9 of the 2025 season (which we just wrapped up this past November), the map was a total jigsaw puzzle.
The Mahomes-Allen Factor and the National Lock
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Kansas City vs. Buffalo. This is basically the "modern classic" of the AFC. Usually, the networks fight over these games like kids over a toy, but for Week 9, CBS made a power move. They secured a standalone national window at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Basically, this meant that unless you were in a very specific pocket of the country where a local team was forced onto your screen by contract (looking at you, Vegas and Los Angeles), you were seeing Jim Nantz and Tony Romo. It’s one of the few times during the regular season where the nfl week 9 tv map turns almost entirely one color.
But the early window? That’s where things got messy.
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The Early Window Chaos: CBS vs. FOX
Sunday at 1 p.m. ET is always the peak of "TV map" stress.
On CBS, the "red" game—which went to a massive chunk of the country—was Indianapolis at Pittsburgh. Why? Because the Colts were sitting at a shocking 7-1, and the Steelers are, well, the Steelers. They draw ratings. If you lived in the Midwest or the Northeast (outside of New England), this was likely your game.
But if you lived in San Francisco or New York, you were stuck with the 49ers and the Giants. That's the "local market" rule in action. Even if the Giants are struggling (and at 2-6, they definitely were), the local affiliate is legally obligated to show them. It doesn’t matter if the Colts-Steelers game is a double-overtime thriller; you’re watching Daniel Jones. Sorry.
FOX’s "America's Game of the Week" (That Wasn't Late)
Usually, FOX puts their biggest game at 4:25 p.m. ET. Not in Week 9. Because CBS had the national "exclusive" for Chiefs-Bills at 4:25, FOX had to stack their chips in the 1 p.m. ET slot.
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Their heavy hitter? Minnesota at Detroit.
This was a massive NFC North game. The Lions were 5-2, and the Vikings were 3-4 but getting J.J. McCarthy back from that high ankle sprain. Most of the country—specifically the "red" zone on the map—got this game.
But here is where it gets weird. If you lived in Denver or Houston, you didn't get the Vikings. You got Broncos at Texans. Why? Because of the "regional interest" tag. Kevin Kugler and Daryl Johnston were on the call for that one. It's funny how a few hundred miles can change your entire Sunday afternoon experience.
The Prime Time Exclusive Windows
One thing people often forget when looking at an nfl week 9 tv map is that it doesn't include the "island" games. These are the ones that have zero competition.
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- Thursday Night (Amazon Prime): Baltimore at Miami. This was the "Lamar returns" game. If you didn't have Prime, you were out of luck unless you lived in Baltimore or Miami, where local stations (WMAR and WFOR) are required to simulcast it.
- Sunday Night (NBC): Seattle at Washington. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth. This was a 100% national broadcast. No maps needed.
- Monday Night (ESPN/ABC): Arizona at Dallas. Again, a total national lockout. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
How the Maps Actually Get Made
Most people think a guy in a suit just picks games he likes. It’s actually way more data-driven. 506 Sports—which is basically the "bible" for these maps—tracks these changes religiously.
The networks look at "DMA" (Designated Market Areas). For example, if you live in a "secondary market" like Hartford, CT, the station managers have to decide: do we show the Patriots (regional tie) or the Giants (geographic tie)? For Week 9, Hartford went with the Patriots vs. Falcons on CBS.
Sometimes, they even change the game mid-week. In the 2025 Week 9 slate, we saw updates where parts of Florida switched from the Patriots game to the Colts-Steelers game because the "playoff implications" shifted.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the Map
If you’re tired of being at the mercy of your local affiliate, you’ve basically got three moves:
- The YouTube TV Route: NFL Sunday Ticket is still the only way to officially bypass the nfl week 9 tv map. It’s pricey, but it kills the "local lockout" problem.
- The "Local" Hack: If you’re traveling, use the NFL+ app. It uses your phone’s GPS to give you the local games of whatever city you are currently in.
- The Antenna Strategy: Sometimes, if you live between two markets (like being between Philly and New York), a high-powered digital antenna can pick up the "other" affiliate. If the Philly station is showing a blowout, the NYC station might have the game you actually want.
The reality is that as long as the NFL has billion-dollar contracts with CBS and FOX, we’re going to be looking at these colorful maps every Wednesday morning. It’s part of the ritual. Just make sure you check the map before you buy the beer.
Check your local listings by Thursday afternoon. By then, the "final" version of the map is usually locked in, barring any massive weather shifts or late-week player injuries that make a game unwatchable. Knowing your "color" on the map is the difference between a great Sunday and a frustrating one.