How to Watch TNF Free Tonight: Amazon Channel & Schedule
How to Watch NFL Preseason Week 1: Your Simple Streaming Guide (August 13)
TL;DR: The NFL preseason kicks off tonight with six games, but they’re scattered across different streaming services. Here’s exactly where to find every game without the confusion.
What’s Happening Tonight?
Week 1 of the NFL preseason officially starts tonight, August 13, with six games total. Think of preseason like practice games before the real season starts — teams test new players and strategies.
But here’s the tricky part: no single channel has all the games. They’re split between three different places:
| Where to Watch | Games Available |
|---|---|
| ESPN Unlimited | Las Vegas Raiders vs. Arizona Cardinals |
| NFL Network | Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions • Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers |
| NFL+ (streaming only) | Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals • Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots • Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans |
Important: What’s NOT on Tonight
CALLOUT: Don’t get tricked!
- No Thursday Night Football on Amazon tonight — that starts August 27 (Browns vs. Patriots)
- No regular-season TNF on Amazon until September 17 (Bills vs. Lions)
- Raiders vs. Cardinals is NOT on regular ESPN — you need ESPN Unlimited (a separate paid upgrade)
How to Watch Each Service
1. NFL Network (Two Games Tonight)
Games: Bengals @ Lions (7:00 PM ET) • Titans @ 49ers
You can get NFL Network through:
- Cable/Satellite: Dish, Fios, Optimum, Xfinity, and more
- Live TV Streaming Services:
- Hulu + Live TV
- Sling TV
- DIRECTV Stream
- Fubo TV
- YouTube TV
- Also included with: NFL+ and ESPN Unlimited
Pro Tip: If you already have cable, use your login on the NFL app to watch free.
2. ESPN Unlimited (One Exclusive Game)
Game: Raiders @ Cardinals
What is ESPN Unlimited? It’s ESPN’s premium streaming tier — think of it as "ESPN Plus on steroids." It includes:
- NFL Network (added recently!)
- More live sports
- Exclusive content
| Ways to get it: | Option | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone | $29.99/month | ESPN Unlimited only | |
| Bundle: ESPN + Hulu + Disney+ | $35.99/month (12-mo deal) | All three services | |
| Bundle: ESPN + NFL+ Premium | $39.99/month | Both sports services | |
| Bundle: ESPN + NFL+ Premium + Disney+ + Hulu | $45.99/month | Everything above + NFL RedZone | |
| Bundle: ESPN + FOX One | $39.99/month | ESPN + FOX sports |
No direct free trial for ESPN Unlimited — but you can get it free via trials from:
- DIRECTV Stream
- Fubo TV
- YouTube TV
- Hulu + Live TV
(All include ESPN Unlimited in certain packages)
3. NFL+ (Three Games Tonight)
Games: Lions @ Bengals (7:00 PM) • Colts @ Patriots (7:30 PM) • Chargers @ Texans (8:00 PM)
What is NFL+? The NFL’s own streaming service — only for out-of-market games (games not on your local TV).
| Pricing: | Plan | Monthly | Yearly | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL+ | $6.99 | $39.99 | Watching preseason + replays | |
| NFL+ Premium | $14.99 | $79.99 | All above + live game audio, coaches film, RedZone |
Bundle Alert: ESPN Unlimited + NFL+ Premium = $39.99/month (or $45.99 with Disney+/Hulu)
Step-by-Step: Pick Your Plan in 3 Minutes
- Check what you already have — Do you pay for cable, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or Sling? You might already have NFL Network.
- Decide which games you NEED — Just Raiders/Cardinals? Get ESPN Unlimited. Want all three NFL+ games? Get NFL+. Want everything? Bundle.
- Grab a free trial if possible — New to streaming? Try Fubo, YouTube TV, or DIRECTV free for 5–7 days to watch tonight.
- Sign up on your device — All services work on phone, tablet, computer, and smart TV (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.)
- Log in and watch — Open the ESPN app, NFL app, or your streaming service app.
Quick Price Comparison Cheat Sheet
| If You Want… | Cheapest Option | Best Value Bundle |
|---|---|---|
| Just Raiders @ Cardinals | ESPN Unlimited standalone ($29.99/mo) | — |
| Just the 3 NFL+ games | NFL+ basic ($6.99/mo) | — |
| NFL Network + Raiders game | ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/mo) | ESPN + NFL+ Premium ($39.99/mo) |
| Everything + RedZone + Disney/Hulu | — | ESPN + NFL+ Premium + Disney+ + Hulu ($45.99/mo) |
| Cable-like experience | DIRECTV MySports ($49.99/mo first 2 mo) | — |
Summary
- Tonight (Aug 13): 6 preseason games split across 3 platforms
- Raiders @ Cardinals → ESPN Unlimited only (not regular ESPN)
- Bengals @ Lions + Titans @ 49ers → NFL Network (free with many live TV apps)
- Lions @ Bengals + Colts @ Patriots + Chargers @ Texans → NFL+ only
- No Amazon TNF tonight — first preseason game there is Aug 27
- Best deal for hardcore fans: ESPN Unlimited + NFL+ Premium bundle ($39.99/mo)
- Best free option: 5–7 day trial of Fubo/YouTube TV/DIRECTV/Hulu Live → watch NFL Network + ESPN Unlimited
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. Can I watch any preseason games for FREE?
Yes — if you sign up for a free trial of Fubo TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV Stream, or Hulu + Live TV. All include NFL Network, and most include ESPN Unlimited. Cancel before the trial ends (usually 5–7 days) to pay nothing.
2. What does "out-of-market" mean for NFL+?
It means games not being shown on your local TV channels. If the game is on your local CBS/Fox station, NFL+ won’t have it live (but you can watch the replay later). Tonight’s NFL+ games are all out-of-market for most viewers.
3. Do I need a cable subscription for ESPN Unlimited?
No! You can buy it standalone for $29.99/month. But if you have cable (Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon, etc.), you can activate ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost through your provider.
4. Is NFL RedZone included in any of these?
Only in the $45.99/month bundle (ESPN Unlimited + NFL+ Premium + Disney+ + Hulu). RedZone shows every touchdown from every Sunday afternoon game — worth it if you love fantasy football.
5. Can I watch on my phone or tablet?
Absolutely. Every service mentioned (ESPN app, NFL app, Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu, Sling, DIRECTV) has apps for iPhone, Android, iPad, Fire tablet, plus smart TVs and streaming sticks.
Final Thought: Preseason streaming is messy, but you’ve got options. If you only care about one game, grab a free trial. If you’re all-in for the season, the ESPN + NFL+ bundle at $39.99 covers almost everything. Now grab some snacks and enjoy football’s return!