Finding out what channel is jets vs vikings on shouldn't feel like a two-minute drill with no timeouts. But honestly, with the way NFL broadcast rights are sliced up these days, it kinda is. If you’re looking for the 2026 showdown between the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings, you’ve basically got two different scenarios depending on when you’re reading this.
The 2025-2026 regular season just wrapped its final act in early January. If you missed the January 2026 window, you're likely looking ahead to the next time these two cross paths in the 2026-2027 season. Because the Jets play in the AFC East and the Vikings reside in the NFC North, they don't see each other every week. Far from it.
Where to Watch the 2026 Jets vs Vikings Game
For the 2026 NFL season, the schedule rotation is set. The Jets are slated to host the Vikings at MetLife Stadium. Since this is a cross-conference game where the NFC team (Minnesota) is visiting an AFC stadium, the primary broadcast rights usually land with CBS.
Things change fast.
The NFL loves flex scheduling. A game that looks like a snooze-fest in May might become a playoff-deciding battle by November. If Aaron Rodgers is still slinging it for New York and J.J. McCarthy has the Vikings humming, the league could easily slide this into Sunday Night Football on NBC or even a standalone Amazon Prime Video slot.
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Most likely? You’ll find it on your local CBS affiliate.
For the cord-cutters out there, Paramount+ is your best bet for the CBS feed. If the game gets moved to a national window, you’re looking at the usual suspects: ESPN for Monday nights or Peacock for those exclusive streaming-only games that everyone loves to complain about.
Breaking Down the Broadcast Map
Ever wonder why your buddy three states over is watching the game while you're stuck with a regional blowout? It's the map. The "506 Sports" maps are the holy grail for fans. They show exactly which parts of the country get the Jets/Vikings feed.
If you live in the New York tri-state area or the Twin Cities, you’re safe. You'll get the game on local TV.
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If you're a Vikings fan living in Florida or a Jets fan in Seattle, you're "out-of-market." In that case, the local channel doesn't matter because they won't show it. You basically have to have NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. It’s expensive, yeah, but it’s the only legal way to guarantee you see every snap without heading to a sports bar.
The Streaming Reality for 2026
Watching football isn't just about turning a dial anymore. You've got options, but they require a decent internet connection.
- FuboTV: Great because it carries almost all local channels (CBS, FOX, NBC) and ESPN.
- Hulu + Live TV: Similar to Fubo, usually includes the local broadcast you need for Jets/Vikings.
- NFL+: This is the league's own app. You can watch "in-market" games, but only on mobile devices. You can't cast it to your 75-inch OLED, which is a massive bummer for some.
- YouTube TV: Currently the king of the mountain because of the Sunday Ticket integration.
The 2026 matchup is a big one for the Jets' home slate. Following the 2024 meeting in London—where the Vikings took a 23-17 win—the Jets are looking for a bit of revenge on their own turf.
What to Watch For on the Field
Broadcasts are only as good as the product on the field. By the time 2026 rolls around, the narratives will be thick. We’re talking about a Vikings team that has been cycling through quarterbacks, finally hoping J.J. McCarthy is "The Guy."
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On the flip side, the Jets are in a perennial "win-now" window. Their defense, led by stalwarts like Sauce Gardner, remains one of the nastiest units in the league. Watching that secondary try to erase Justin Jefferson is worth the price of the cable bill alone.
Is it a 1:00 PM ET kickoff? Probably.
The NFL usually keeps these cross-conference matchups in the early window unless there's a major storyline. If both teams are over .500, keep an eye on that 4:25 PM ET "Game of the Week" slot on CBS. That’s where Jim Nantz and Tony Romo usually hang out.
Actionable Steps for Game Day
Don't wait until kickoff to realize your streaming login expired.
- Check the Official Schedule: The NFL officially releases exact dates and times in mid-May. Mark your calendar then.
- Verify Local Listings: Use an app like the NFL app or Score to see the exact local channel 48 hours before the game.
- Test Your Stream: if you're using Paramount+ or YouTube TV, log in the night before. Updates always seem to happen right at 1:00 PM on Sunday.
- Antenna Backup: If you live near a city, a $20 digital antenna can save your life if the internet goes down. It picks up CBS and FOX in HD for free.
The "what channel is jets vs vikings on" question is usually a CBS answer, but always verify the "flex" status two weeks out. If the Jets are charging toward a division title, that Sunday afternoon game might just become a primetime spectacle.