For over 50 years, Monday Night Football has been an iconic primetime tradition for NFL fans. The weekly MNF matchup offers a fun way to extend football weekends with marquee games under the lights.
This Monday, September 12th promises to be an exciting AFC East showdown between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. Both teams are coming off big opening weekend wins and have playoff aspirations this season behind young star quarterbacks Josh Allen and Zach Wilson. This division rivalry game is sure to have major implications.
Unfortunately, streaming Monday Night Football remains challenging without a cable or satellite subscription. ESPN has exclusive rights to broadcast all MNF games. Cord-cutting NFL fans have long been frustrated about lack of access on streaming platforms.
But don‘t fret – the live TV streaming revolution has unlocked new ways to watch MNF from virtually any device, no cable required! This guide will explain multiple options to stream the Bills vs. Jets and all Monday Night Football games this 2022/2023 season.
Why Stream Monday Night Football?
First, let‘s look at why streaming has become the preferred option over pricy cable packages for accessing live sports:
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Cost Savings – Streaming services start at $20-30/month compared to $80+ for cable. Easy to cancel any time.
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Flexibility – Mix and match providers to get your favorite channels. Stream anywhere with a compatible device.
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No Contracts – Prepaid monthly billing, cancel anytime! No early termination fees.
According to S&P Global, over 6 million households cut the cord during the first half of 2022. NFL fans led the way, ditching cable for cheaper and more flexible streaming options.
When it comes to accessing Monday Night Football, here are your best bets:
Use ESPN+ to Stream Select Monday Night Games
ESPN‘s direct-to-consumer streaming service ESPN+ offers access to live MNF games throughout the season. For just $9.99/month, ESPN+ may be a cost effective option for cord-cutters depending only on a few MNF games to follow their team.
Here‘s what you need to know about ESPN+ for Monday Night Football:
- Typically streams 3-4 exclusive MNF games only available on ESPN+
- Live streams and on-demand replays on demand
- Compatible with most streaming devices – Firestick, Roku, iOS, etc.
- Smooth streaming quality with minimal buffering in our experience
The main drawback of ESPN+ is limited availability of MNF throughout the season. But for only $10 monthly, it remains a solid streaming option for football fans on a budget.
fuboTV Offers Complete Monday Night Football Streaming
For access to every Monday Night Football game this season, a full cable replacement service like fuboTV is required. fuboTV offers live streams of both ESPN and ABC – the two networks that share MNF broadcasting duties.
Here‘s what cord-cutters need to know about using fuboTV for Monday Night Football:
- Plans start at $69.99/month after 7-day free trial
- Includes ESPN, ABC, NFL Network and most local sports channels
- Available on Roku, Firestick, phones, PCs, smart TVs
- Can stream on unlimited devices in and out of home
- Cloud DVR includes 250 hours of storage
In our experience testing fuboTV, they deliver reliable ESPN feeds in full HD quality with minimal lag or buffering. An ethernet connection to your streaming device is recommended.
One downside of fuboTV – they are lacking Turner channels like TNT that some sports fans may want. But for completeness of NFL coverage, they are hard to beat.
| Feature | fuboTV |
|---|---|
| Price | $69.99/month |
| NFL Channels | ESPN, ABC, NFL Net |
| Concurrent Streams | Unlimited |
| Free Trial | 7 days |
Take advantage of fuboTV‘s free trial to stream MNF risk-free before deciding if the service is right for you.
Vidgo Saves Money for Streaming MNF
Money-conscious cord cutters should also consider live TV provider Vidgo. Plans start at just $59.99 monthly with ESPN, ABC and over 115 channels included.
Notable details we like about Vidgo for streaming live sports:
- Cheapest full cable replacement at just $59.99/month
- Includes 20 free hours of DVR for recording games
- Available on all major streaming platforms
- Special limited time promo discounts available
- Reliable HD quality streams in our testing
The main catch with Vidgo is lack of NFL Redzone and limited regional sports channel availability. Check to ensure it carries your local sports channels before signing up.
But for access to national NFL broadcasts on ESPN for the lowest price, Vidgo is worth a look.
| Feature | Vidgo |
|---|---|
| Price | $59.99/month |
| NFL Channels | ESPN, ABC, NFL Network |
| Concurrent Streams | 3 |
| Free Trial | 7 days |
Take Vidgo for a test drive with their 7-day trial. Cancel anytime.
How to Stream Bills vs. Jets on Firestick & More
Once you have your streaming provider sorted, it‘s easy to start watching MNF on any device. ESPN, fuboTV and others all have dedicated apps for major platforms like Fire TV and Roku.
Here are direct links to quickly download the apps you need:
Firestick/Fire TV:
Apple TV:
Roku:
Once the apps are installed, login with your ESPN+ or TV provider credentials to start streaming Monday Night Football. Refer back to our free trial sections above to try services risk-free.
Pro Tip: An ethernet connection from your Firestick or Roku to router provides faster, more reliable streaming compared to WiFi.
More Ways Cord-Cutters Can Stream MNF
While live TV streaming services provide the best Monday Night Football experience, we have a few more "hack" options for determined cord-cutters on a budget:
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Use an over-the-air antenna – Channels like ABC are broadcast free over-the-air. An antenna can pull in your local ABC station to watch select MNF games. Our experts recommend the Antop AT-215B antenna for most households.
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Try Locast – This free streaming service offers local ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox stations in over 35 US markets. Can be accessed on most devices after making a $5/month donation. Limited commercial interruptions.
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Take advantage of free streaming trials – Services like DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV offer 5 to 7 day trials for new users. Enough to squeeze in a game or two for free if you time it right!
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Visit /r/nflstreams on Reddit – NFL streams subreddit frequently share free links to Monday Night Football. Streams are questionable quality and legality but it‘s a last resort for thrifty diehards. Use a good VPN when streaming anonymously.
While live TV streaming remains the best way to access all of Monday Night Football reliably in HD, we hope these secondary options provide additional ways to get your football fix on a budget!
FAQ on Streaming Monday Night Football
Here we‘ll address some common questions cord-cutters have about streaming MNF:
What channel is Monday Night Football on?
Monday Night Football airs on ESPN for 17 weeks and on ABC for 3 weeks during the NFL regular season.
Can I live stream Monday Night Football online?
Yes! ESPN and ABC Monday night games can be streamed live with services like fuboTV and Vidgo. Some games are also on ESPN+.
Do I need cable to watch Monday Night Football?
No cable or satellite TV subscription is needed. You can stream MNF live using the options covered in this guide.
Can I watch Monday Night Football on Firestick or Roku?
Yes, just install the ESPN app or your preferred live TV streaming app on your Firestick, Roku or other streaming device. Our setup instructions above make it easy.
What‘s the best free option for streaming MNF?
If available in your area, try Locast or an OTA antenna to access ESPN/ABC for free. Reddit NFL Streams also provides free links. Quality and reliability vary.
Is a VPN needed to stream NFL games online?
A VPN isn‘t required but recommended when using free streaming sites to help keep your identity private and bypass blackout restrictions.
I hope this guide has provided you with multiple options to cut the cable cord while still enjoying all the hard-hitting action of Monday Night Football this season. The streaming services and apps covered above make it easier than ever to watch MNF from virtually any device, no cable subscription required.
Just decide if you want the full season access of a fuboTV or dip into the occasional ESPN+ exclusive game. For the Bills vs. Jets this Monday, either service will have you covered. Grab a beer in your favorite recliner and enjoy the game!
