Finding out what channel are the commanders on shouldn't feel like a high-stakes scouting mission. Honestly, with how much the NFL moves games around these days—shifting things to Netflix, Amazon, and various streaming apps—it’s easy to get lost. If you're looking for the Washington Commanders today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, here is the quick reality check: The Washington Commanders are not playing today. Their 2025-2026 season officially wrapped up on January 4, 2026, with a solid 24-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. They finished the year with a 5-12 record. While they aren't on the field for this Divisional Round of the playoffs, knowing where to find them for future games—or where to watch the teams that are playing—is still the priority for most fans.
Where to Find the Commanders When They Play
Washington is traditionally an NFC team, which means FOX is their home base. If it’s a standard Sunday afternoon kickoff at 1:00 PM ET, you can almost bet your house that you’ll find them on your local FOX affiliate.
👉 See also: WR Yards Leaders 2024: Why Stats Don't Tell the Whole Story
But the NFL isn't that simple anymore.
When the Commanders play an AFC opponent at home, the game often jumps over to CBS. Then you’ve got the primetime headache. If they get a Sunday Night Football slot, you’re looking at NBC and Peacock. Monday nights? That’s ESPN or ABC. And don't forget Amazon Prime Video, which has the exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football.
Basically, you have to check the schedule every single week because "the usual channel" doesn't exist anymore.
Why the Channel Changes So Much
The league uses "flexible scheduling." This is a fancy way of saying they can move a game from a Sunday afternoon to Sunday night if the matchup looks better for TV ratings. For the Commanders, this usually happens in the later half of the season.
If Washington is surprisingly good (like that 2024 spark with Jayden Daniels), the NFL will flex them into a bigger window. If they're struggling, they might actually get moved out of a primetime spot and back to a 1:00 PM regional broadcast on FOX.
How to Watch Commanders Games Without Cable
You don't need a $150 cable bill to see what channel are the commanders on. Most people have ditched the cord and moved to streaming services.
- YouTube TV & Hulu + Live TV: These are the heavy hitters. They carry FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN. If the game is on, one of these apps will have it.
- Fubo: This is arguably the best for sports fans because it includes the NFL Network and often has local channels that other streamers might miss.
- Paramount+: This only works for games airing on CBS. If the Commanders are playing an AFC team or a cross-conference game assigned to CBS, you can stream it here.
- Peacock: This is specifically for Sunday Night Football. If Washington isn't the main event, you won't find much here.
- NFL+: This is a mobile-only savior. For a few bucks a month, you can watch live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet. You can't cast it to your TV, which is annoying, but it's great if you're stuck at a wedding or at work.
The 2025-2026 Season Broadcast Recap
Looking back at the season that just ended, the Commanders had some unique slots. They played the Green Bay Packers on Amazon Prime in Week 2. They even had a Christmas Day game against the Cowboys that aired exclusively on Netflix. That was a huge shift for fans who weren't used to checking a movie app for a football game.
The Playoff Games On Today (January 18, 2026)
Since the Commanders' season is over, you might be looking for the Divisional Round games happening right now.
Today's schedule features:
- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: 3:00 PM ET on ESPN and ABC.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: 6:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
If you're wondering why Washington isn't there, it’s because they didn't make the cut this year. However, watching these games gives you a good look at the competition they'll face in the NFC East next season.
Digital Tools to Track the Game
If you’re ever in doubt, the Washington Commanders official app is the most reliable source. They list the TV provider and the radio frequency (usually BIG 100.3 FM in the D.C. area) for every matchup.
Another pro tip: Use the NFL's official TV maps (often found on sites like 506 Sports). These maps show exactly which parts of the country are getting which games on FOX and CBS. If you live outside of the D.C. or Maryland area, you might be "out of market," meaning the game won't be on your local channel even if it's on FOX. In that case, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube is the only way to see every snap.
Key Takeaways for Next Season
- Always check FOX first for Sunday afternoon games.
- Check Netflix and Amazon for holiday or Thursday games.
- Use an antenna if you live in D.C. to get FOX, CBS, and NBC for free in HD.
- Download the Commanders app for real-time broadcast updates and radio links.
Keep an eye on the 2026-2027 schedule release this coming May. That’s when we’ll know exactly which games are locked into primetime and which ones will require a specific streaming subscription. For now, the Commanders are in "rebuild and draft" mode, so the only channel you'll see them on for a while is the NFL Network during the Scouting Combine and the Draft.
Actionable Next Steps:
To stay ahead of the next season, download the Commanders Mobile App and enable notifications for "Schedule Updates." This ensures that when flexible scheduling kicks in next November, you won't be left searching for the game five minutes after kickoff. If you're looking to watch today's playoff action, tune your TV to ABC right now for the Texans-Patriots kickoff at 3:00 PM ET.