So you're looking for the game. You've got the snacks ready, the jersey is on, and the remote is in your hand, but there is a problem. You’re scrolling through the guide and the New England Patriots aren't where they usually are.
It happens every year. The NFL schedule is a maze of broadcast rights, "flexible" scheduling, and streaming-exclusive windows that make finding one team feel like a part-time job. Honestly, the answer to what channel is the patriots on depends entirely on whether it’s a Sunday afternoon, a primetime slot, or a high-stakes postseason matchup.
If you are looking for the game right now—specifically the AFC Divisional Round clash—you need to flip over to ABC or ESPN. This Sunday, January 18, 2026, the Patriots are taking on the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium, and the kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET.
The Postseason Pivot: ABC and ESPN
Normally, if the Patriots are playing at home on a Sunday, you’d instinctively head to CBS. That's been the "home" of the AFC for decades. But the playoffs play by different rules. For the Divisional Round against Houston, the game is a "simulcast" event. That basically means it’s airing on both ABC and ESPN simultaneously.
If you're a cord-cutter, this is actually good news. Because it's on ABC, you can catch it for free with a high-quality over-the-air antenna. If you prefer the "ManningCast" style or the traditional ESPN production, that’s your secondary home.
Understanding the 2025-2026 Broadcast Cycle
The regular season that just wrapped up was a bit of a whirlwind. If you felt like you were jumping between apps more than usual, you weren't imagining it. The NFL’s current media deal is spread across more platforms than ever before.
Most weeks, the Patriots were on CBS because they are an AFC team. This is handled by local affiliates like WBZ-TV in Boston. However, when the Patriots play an NFC team (like that Week 18 win over the Dolphins), the game often migrates over to FOX.
Then you have the primetime "islands."
- Thursday Night Football: These games lived exclusively on Amazon Prime Video this year. No cable channel. No local broadcast unless you were physically in the Boston or Providence markets.
- Sunday Night Football: This belongs to NBC and Peacock. We saw this in the Wild Card round when the Patriots took down the Chargers.
- Monday Night Football: ESPN and occasionally ABC.
Where to Stream if You Don’t Have Cable
Maybe you don’t have a box under your TV. That’s the reality for a huge chunk of the fanbase now. If the game is on CBS, you’re looking at Paramount+. If it’s on NBC, you need Peacock.
For today’s game on ABC/ESPN, you have a few options:
- ESPN+: They usually carry the digital stream of any game appearing on the main ESPN network.
- Fubo or YouTube TV: These "Skinny Bundles" carry almost all the local channels and sports networks. They are pricey, but they are the closest thing to a traditional cable experience.
- NFL+: This is the league’s own service. It’s great for watching on a phone or tablet, but be careful—you can’t always "cast" the live game to your big-screen TV due to some weird licensing restrictions.
Radio: The Old Reliable
Sometimes the TV just isn't an option. Maybe you're stuck in traffic on I-95 or you’re working a shift. In the New England area, 98.5 The Sports Hub is the flagship. Bob Socci and Scott Zolak have a vibe that a national TV broadcast just can't replicate. It’s gritty, it’s biased, and it’s exactly what you want when you can’t see the field.
If you are outside of the New England region, you can still find the audio through the Patriots official app or SiriusXM.
Why the Channel Changes Last Minute
You might have noticed the "Flex" schedule. The NFL reserves the right to move games from the afternoon to Sunday night to ensure the best matchups get the most eyeballs. This usually starts happening in Week 12. If the Patriots are winning (which they have been lately, sitting at 14-3), they are prime candidates to get moved to NBC at the last second.
Always check the official NFL schedule about six days before kickoff. A game originally listed for 1:00 p.m. on CBS can easily become an 8:20 p.m. game on NBC.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
To make sure you never miss a snap, follow these specific steps:
- Download the Patriots Mobile App: It sends push notifications roughly two hours before kickoff with the exact TV and radio details for your specific location.
- Check the "Coverage Map": Sites like 506 Sports publish maps every Wednesday showing which parts of the country will see which games. If you live in New York or Connecticut, you might be in a "overlap" zone where the Giants or Jets take precedence.
- Test Your Streaming Login: Don't wait until 2:55 p.m. to find out your Paramount+ or ESPN+ password expired. Update it the night before.
- Invest in an Antenna: If you live within 50 miles of Boston or Providence, a $30 digital antenna will get you the Patriots on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC for free, forever. It's the ultimate backup for when the Wi-Fi acts up.