The regular season for the Washington Commanders has just wrapped up, and honestly, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. If you’re like most fans, your Sundays have been a frantic mix of checking Twitter (or X) and toggling through a half-dozen streaming apps just to figure out where the game is. With the NFL’s broadcasting landscape shifting faster than a Jayden Daniels scramble, staying on top of the schedule is basically a part-time job now.
As of Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the Commanders' season has officially concluded following their Week 18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. They finished the year 5-12, landing them in third place in the NFC East. While the playoffs are currently underway with the Divisional Round matchups looming, Washington is already looking toward the 2026 NFL Draft.
Where the Commanders Played This Season
For those looking back or trying to prep for next year's viewing habits, the 2025-2026 season was spread across more "channels" than ever before. If you were asking what channel is commanders game on during the stretch run, you probably found yourself bouncing between these platforms:
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- CBS: They carried the Week 18 finale against the Eagles.
- FOX: This remains the primary home for most NFC matchups, including those heated December games against the Giants and Vikings.
- Netflix: Yeah, the NFL on Netflix is a real thing now. The Commanders actually played the Dallas Cowboys on Netflix during Week 17 of this season. It's a weird transition, but it’s the way things are moving.
- Amazon Prime Video: The exclusive home for Thursday Night Football.
If you were in the D.C. local market, you generally saw games on your local affiliates—WUSA (CBS) or WTTG (FOX). But if you’ve moved away from the DMV, you likely relied on NFL Sunday Ticket, which is now hosted exclusively on YouTube TV.
Why the Broadcast Schedule is So Confusing
The NFL doesn't make it easy. We used to live in a world where AFC was CBS and NFC was FOX. Simple. Now? The league uses "cross-flexing," which means they can swap games between networks to ensure the best matchups reach the biggest audiences.
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For instance, the Commanders are an NFC team, but they still showed up on CBS multiple times this year. Then you have the streaming-exclusive games. This season marked a massive shift where services like FOX One (their new direct-to-consumer app) and Netflix took over key windows.
How to Watch Commanders Games Without Cable
Honestly, cable is becoming less of a requirement and more of a luxury. If you’re a cord-cutter, you probably used one of these:
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- Fubo or YouTube TV: These are the heavy hitters. They carry your local FOX and CBS stations, plus ESPN for Monday Night Football.
- NFL+: This is the cheapest way to watch, but there’s a catch. You can only watch live games on your phone or tablet. If you want it on the big screen, you have to wait for the replay.
- Paramount+: This gets you the CBS games.
- FOX One: The new app that launched recently, offering a way to stream FOX's NFL coverage without a traditional "cable" log-in.
What’s Next for the 2026 Season?
The 2025 season is in the books, but the 2026 opponents are already locked in. Since the Commanders finished third in the NFC East, their 2026 schedule will feature some intriguing matchups.
Expect to see them host the Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, and Cincinnati Bengals at Northwest Stadium. They’ll also be heading on the road to face the San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings.
While the exact dates and times won't be announced until the NFL Schedule Release in May, you can bet that the "what channel is commanders game on" question will lead you back to a mix of FOX, CBS, and likely another streaming-exclusive or two.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you want to be ready for the 2026 kickoff, start by auditing your streaming services. If you only have one service, you'll likely miss a game or two. Consider a "skinny bundle" like Fubo during the season to cover your bases for local broadcasts. Also, keep an eye on the NFL Draft in April; with a 5-12 record, Washington will have a high pick to help bolster the roster for next year's broadcast slate.