The NFL coverage map determines which football game airs in your area each week. Whether you’re cheering for your local team or trying to catch a big national matchup, these maps help you know exactly what will be shown on your local TV broadcast before Sunday arrives.
What Is the NFL Coverage Map?
An NFL coverage map is a visual display showing which games will air in different regions of the United States. Every week, national networks like FOX and CBS release maps that divide the country by broadcast area, or DMA (Designated Market Area). Each color on the map represents a different game being aired at the same time.
For instance, if you live in Dallas, your local FOX affiliate might air a Cowboys game, while someone in Chicago gets the Bears. These coverage maps are essential for fans who want to plan their Sunday viewing and avoid surprises when kickoff begins.
You can often view updated weekly maps at 506sports.com — one of the most reliable sources for TV distribution details and announcer assignments. Make sure to click on the week to get the updated maps of that week.
How the NFL Decides What Game You See
Several factors determine which game airs in your market:
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Local Team Priority
The local team always takes precedence. If the Dallas Cowboys are playing at 1 p.m. on FOX, every TV in the Dallas market will show that game, no matter what. -
Network Rights
CBS and FOX share Sunday afternoon games. Each network has rights to broadcast certain matchups, with FOX traditionally airing NFC games and CBS handling AFC games. However, new contracts now allow limited cross-flexing, meaning FOX can sometimes show AFC games and vice versa. -
Time Slot Distribution
Most Sundays are divided into two main windows — the early window (1 p.m. ET) and the late window (4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET). Networks decide which games get national exposure and which remain regional. -
Audience Size & Ratings
Big-market teams like the Packers, Chiefs, Cowboys, or 49ers often get wider national distribution to attract larger audiences. -
Scheduling Conflicts & Blackouts
In rare cases, a local blackout may prevent a game from being aired if ticket sales don’t meet certain thresholds, though this rule is rarely enforced today.
Reading the Map
Coverage maps are color-coded and easy to interpret once you know what to look for:
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Color Legend: Each color corresponds to a specific game.
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Labels: Maps show game matchups, networks, and announcer pairings.
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Boundaries: Regions are divided based on TV affiliates serving that market.
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Separate Maps: There’s a different map for the early and late Sunday windows.
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National Broadcasts: Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and Thursday Night Football are excluded because they air nationwide.
For example, the Week 5 coverage map might show New England shaded in blue for a Patriots-Bills matchup on CBS, while the Midwest is red for a Chiefs-Bears game on FOX.
Why Coverage Maps Matter
For most NFL fans, coverage maps are a planning tool. They answer questions like:
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“Will my team’s game be on local TV?”
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“Which network is showing my game?”
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“Do I need to stream or subscribe to Sunday Ticket?”
Without a coverage map, you wouldn’t know until game day whether you’ll see your team play. That’s especially frustrating for fans living outside their team’s market — for example, a Steelers fan living in Arizona.
Where to Find Weekly Maps
Each week during the NFL season, 506sports.com publishes maps for both CBS and FOX games, showing early and late windows. Fans can also find select maps and viewing guides on the official NFL.com TV schedule page.
These sources typically update midweek — usually by Wednesday — once each network finalizes its regional broadcast assignments. Late-week schedule changes or flexed games can still alter coverage, so checking again Saturday night or Sunday morning is a good habit.
Examples of Weekly Coverage Maps
Example: Week 4
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FOX Early Window: Most of the West Coast aired Seahawks vs 49ers, while the Southeast saw Falcons vs Saints.
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CBS Single Window: The Midwest was mostly red for Chiefs vs Jets, with blue areas in the Northeast for Patriots vs Dolphins.
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Late Changes: A small area in Michigan flipped to a different game on Saturday after weather forecasts shifted the national window.
Example: Week 5
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FOX Doubleheader: Early coverage featured Cowboys vs Eagles across much of the South, and 49ers vs Cardinals dominated the late slot in California.
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CBS Regional Coverage: Broncos vs Raiders aired widely in the Mountain West, while Texans vs Titans filled the Southern markets.
These examples show how dynamic coverage can be — one region’s “game of the week” might be invisible in another.
What If You Can’t Watch Your Team?
If your local broadcast doesn’t carry your team, you have a few options:
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NFL Sunday Ticket
Available through YouTube TV, this package lets you stream any out-of-market game live. -
NFL+
The league’s own streaming service includes local and primetime games on mobile devices, along with replays for all matchups. -
Paramount+ and FOX Sports Apps
These apps stream regional games airing on their respective networks, but only if your local affiliate carries that game. -
VPN or Alternate Markets
Some fans use location-based workarounds to simulate being in another market, though this can violate service terms and is not officially endorsed.
Announcers and Network Assignments
Coverage maps often list which announcing team will call each game. Viewers sometimes choose which matchup to stream based on their favorite broadcast crew. For instance:
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FOX A-team: Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen (or Tom Brady starting 2025)
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CBS A-team: Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
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NBC Sunday Night: Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth
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ESPN Monday Night: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
These pairings further illustrate why coverage maps are more than just visuals — they also indicate production value, commentary style, and regional focus.
Flex Scheduling and Late-Season Changes
Later in the season, the NFL’s flex scheduling policy allows high-profile games to move into prime slots. A previously regional 1 p.m. matchup could shift to 4:25 p.m. ET or Sunday Night Football if playoff implications are high.
When this happens, the coverage map gets completely redrawn to reflect the new distribution. Fans tracking playoff races rely on these updates to ensure they know when their must-watch games move into national windows.
How Coverage Maps Reflect NFL Popularity
The weekly coverage maps also provide an interesting look at team popularity and market influence. Large areas of color across multiple states often correspond to historically popular teams such as:
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Dallas Cowboys
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Green Bay Packers
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Kansas City Chiefs
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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San Francisco 49ers
Smaller markets may have more localized coverage, while marquee matchups involving national brands often dominate the majority of the map. This pattern reflects how broadcast networks tailor their programming to attract the biggest audiences possible.
The Future of NFL Coverage Maps
As streaming grows, coverage maps may become more personalized:
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Dynamic ZIP-Code Mapping: Viewers could enter their ZIP code to see their exact TV game list.
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Integrated Streaming Maps: Future platforms may merge live data with regional rights to show users all legal viewing options in real time.
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International Versions: Global partnerships in Europe, Mexico, and Asia are producing international coverage maps tailored to regional audiences.
Technology may eventually make static maps obsolete — but for now, they remain the clearest, most fan-friendly snapshot of who’s watching what on Sunday.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the NFL coverage map is essential for any fan trying to plan their weekend viewing. It shows which games will air on local TV, which regions get national exposure, and how broadcast networks manage the league’s massive audience.
Checking the map midweek ensures you never miss a big matchup and helps you plan whether to watch locally, stream online, or subscribe to out-of-market services.
So before you grab your snacks and settle in for kickoff, take a quick look at this week’s map — because knowing what game you’ll get is the first step toward the perfect NFL Sunday.
