Prime Video is bringing new features to ‘Thursday Night Football’
Prime Video is bringing new features to ‘Thursday Night Football’
The fifth season of Amazon’s exclusive deal to broadcast “Thursday Night Football” kicks off tonight as the Lions visit the Bills.
Thanks to the idiosyncrasies of NFL media rights deals, the first “Thursday Night Football” of the season will kick off Week 2. Prime Video will kick off its fifth season as the exclusive broadcaster for “TNF” on Thursday, Sept. 17, and Amazon is once again taking advantage of all of the extra eyes that football brings in order to showcase how streaming can enhance live sports viewing, especially compared to the traditional broadcast experience.
The 2026 “TNF” schedule begins when the Detroit Lions visit the Buffalo Bills for the first regular-season game at Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium — obstructed views and all. Like every Thursday night game, kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET, with Prime Video’s “TNF Tonight” pregame coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. However, Thursdays won’t be the only day of the week that Prime Video streams a game this season.
While the games will obviously be the main attraction for the streamer, Prime Video is leaning even further into real-time statistics, artificial intelligence, sports gambling integrations, and alternate broadcasts this season as it tries to give football fans more control over how they watch.
Everything you need to know about 2026 ‘Thursday Night Football’
What is new for “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video this season?
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Prime Video will continue to offer its traditional “Thursday Night Football” broadcast, but viewers will also have access to the “Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats” alternate stream. The broadcast is designed for football fans who want considerably more in-depth information than they would get during a traditional NFL telecast, layering real-time statistics, player tracking, and predictive data over the game.
Prime Vision uses a high-angle camera positioned behind the offense, making it easier to see formations develop and track receivers downfield. This view will also incorporate Prime Insights, which utilizes Amazon’s assortment of AI-powered tools to explain what is happening before and during each play. Some of those features will also appear during the main “TNF” broadcast, meaning viewers won’t necessarily have to switch over to Prime Vision to see what Amazon has to offer.
Among the tools returning this season are Defensive Alerts, which use AI to identify defenders who appear likely to rush the quarterback before the snap; Coverage ID, which attempts to recognize whether a defense is playing man or zone coverage; and Pressure Alert, which highlights defenders who are putting the quarterback under pressure during a play.
From there, Prime Vision adds even more information, including Prime Targets, which can identify open receivers while routes develop, along with features such as Pocket Health and Four-Down Territory. For die-hard football fans who already spend way too much time studying advanced statistics and pouring over the All-22 film, this additional information is designed to make Prime Vision the most informative way to watch an NFL game. More casual viewers, however, can stick with the regular broadcast without having the screen filled with quite as many bells and whistles.
Prime Video is also adding a new opt-in FanDuel integration for viewers who want to keep an eye on their wagers while watching. After linking a Prime Video profile to a FanDuel account, users will be able to see their active NFL bets displayed on-screen, with progress updates and win/loss status changing in real time as the game unfolds.
The feature will also surface a rotating feed of live odds, lines, and probabilities for popular wagers, including moneylines, point spreads, totals, and parlays. Importantly, viewers will not be able to place bets directly through Prime Video; the integration is designed strictly as a tracking and information tool.
Who will call “Thursday Night Football” games?
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will return as Prime Video’s primary broadcast team for the 2026 season, with Kaylee Hartung reporting from the sidelines. Charissa Thompson will once again host “TNF Tonight” and Prime Video’s halftime and postgame coverage alongside Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth, and Richard Sherman.
Prime Video will also continue to offer a dedicated Spanish-language “TNF en Español” broadcast.
What NFL games will be on Prime Video this season?
As I mentioned earlier, Prime Video’s NFL schedule extends beyond traditional Thursday nights. The streamer will carry 15 regular-season “Thursday Night Football” games, along with a special Black Friday matchup and another exclusive Wild Card playoff game in January.
Following Thursday’s Lions-Bills opener, the schedule includes a number of high-profile matchups, including the Kansas City Chiefs visiting the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 3, the San Francisco 49ers facing the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 17, and the Baltimore Ravens visiting the Cincinnati Bengals on New Year’s Eve.
Prime Video will also get into the holiday spirit when it takes over the NFL’s Black Friday window on Friday, Nov. 27, with the Denver Broncos visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then the Amazon-owned platform will stream a Christmas Eve game between the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles.
Prime Video’s season will conclude with an exclusive Wild Card playoff game on either Saturday, Jan. 16, or Sunday, Jan. 17. The matchup will not be determined until the end of the regular season.
2026 “Thursday Night Football” Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Sept. 17 | 8:15 p.m. | Lions at Bills | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Sept. 24 | 8:15 p.m. | Falcons at Packers | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Oct. 1 | 8:15 p.m. | Steelers at Browns | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 8:15 p.m. | Buccaneers at Cowboys | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Oct. 15 | 8:15 p.m. | Seahawks at Broncos | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Oct. 22 | 8:15 p.m. | Patriots at Bears | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | 8:15 p.m. | Panthers at Packers | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Nov. 5 | 8:15 p.m. | Jaguars at Ravens | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Nov. 12 | 8:15 p.m. | Commanders at Giants | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Nov. 19 | 8:15 p.m. | Colts at Texans | Prime Video |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | 3 p.m. | Broncos at Steelers | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Dec. 3 | 8:15 p.m. | Chiefs at Rams | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Dec. 10 | 8:15 p.m. | Vikings at Patriots | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Dec. 17 | 8:15 p.m. | 49ers at Chargers | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Dec. 24 | 8:15 p.m. | Texans at Eagles | Prime Video |
| Thursday, Dec. 31 | 8:15 p.m. | Ravens at Bengals | Prime Video |
| Jan. 16 or 17 | TBD | NFL Wild Card Game | Prime Video |
How can you watch “Thursday Night Football” without Prime Video?
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Although Prime Video holds the exclusive national streaming rights to “Thursday Night Football,” there are still a couple of ways to watch without a Prime membership. Each game will be available for free over the air in the local markets of the two participating teams, meaning viewers who live in those areas can watch with an antenna through the local station carrying the game or via a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming service.
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Prime Video’s “TNF” games are also streamed on Twitch, while NFL+ provides access on supported mobile devices. Everyone else will need Prime Video to watch on a television or other supported streaming device.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
How much does Prime Video cost?
“Thursday Night Football” is included with an Amazon Prime membership and does not require a separate sports package. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and includes Prime Video along with Amazon’s traditional Prime shopping benefits like free shipping. Football fans who don’t need those additional perks can also subscribe directly to Prime Video. That plan comes with a 30-day free trial and begins at $9 per month after that.
Prime Video
Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.