How to Watch Bills vs. Patriots on DIRECTV: Channel, Kickoff Time and Streaming
The New England Patriots visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, October 4, at 1 p.m. ET at the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The AFC East game airs on CBS, so DIRECTV customers watch it on their local CBS station. Buffalo is 3-0 and New England is 1-2.
Here's how to find the game on DIRECTV, whether it will air where you live and how to stream it.
Quick answer
- Date and time: Sunday, October 4, 2026, 1 p.m. ET, which is also local time in Orchard Park.
- Network: CBS, with Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker and Evan Washburn.
- DIRECTV channel: your local CBS station. The number depends on your market. It's WIVB in Buffalo and WBZ-TV in Boston.
- Coverage: regional, but a large share of the country is slated to get it in the early window.
- Streaming: Paramount+ (Premium) and NFL+ in markets that get the game. NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube everywhere else.
Bills vs. Patriots: date, time and channel
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, October 4, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 1 p.m. ET (local) |
| Stadium | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y. |
| TV | CBS (regional) |
| Buffalo TV | WIVB |
| Boston TV | WBZ-TV (Channel 4) |
| Broadcast crew | Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst), Evan Washburn (sideline) |
| Streaming | Paramount+ Premium, NFL+ (local markets); NFL Sunday Ticket (out of market) |
| Radio | 97 Rock (WGRF-FM), 98.5 The Sports Hub, ESPN Radio |
What channel is Bills vs. Patriots on DIRECTV?
There's no single national CBS channel number on DIRECTV. CBS comes to you through your local CBS affiliate, and DIRECTV assigns local stations by market, so the number changes from city to city. DIRECTV includes local channels with its core packages wherever locals are available.
The quickest way to find it: press Guide and look for your local CBS station's call letters, or check DIRECTV's channel lineup for your ZIP code. In the two home markets:
- Buffalo: the Bills list WIVB as the local station.
- Boston: the Patriots list WBZ-TV Channel 4.
If you removed local channels from a satellite package to save money, you can add them back from your DIRECTV account. Guide updates can take up to 24 hours, so don't wait until Sunday. Our guide to adding local channels on DIRECTV walks through it.
Will Bills vs. Patriots be on TV in my area?
CBS Sunday-afternoon games are regional, so which game you get depends on your market. CBS has four 1 p.m. games this week: Patriots at Bills, Cardinals at Giants, Titans at Ravens and Jaguars at Bengals. CBS has the doubleheader in Week 4, so CBS markets also get a 4:25 p.m. game.
On the unofficial early-window coverage maps released September 30, Patriots-Bills is assigned to a large portion of the country, plus both home markets. Maps can change before Sunday, so confirm with your local CBS listings. If it isn't on in your area, the only way to watch live at home is NFL Sunday Ticket.
Watching Bills vs. Patriots with DIRECTV streaming
You don't need a satellite dish to get this game. DIRECTV's streaming service (DIRECTV STREAM) includes your local CBS station where local channels are available, and streaming plans have no annual contract.
| Option | Local CBS? | Advertised price (new customers) |
|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT | Yes, where available | $89.99/mo |
| CHOICE | Yes, where available | $94.99/mo |
| ULTIMATE | Yes, where available | $124.99/mo |
| PREMIER | Yes, where available | $169.99/mo |
| MySports Genre Pack | Yes, where available | $64.99/mo ($44.99/mo for 6 months for qualifying new customers through Oct. 3) |
Prices are before taxes and fees, and a regional sports fee may apply to CHOICE and higher depending on your ZIP code. The MySports Genre Pack is DIRECTV's sports-focused streaming plan. It pairs your local channels, where available, with national sports networks such as ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network. Local channel availability depends on your address, so check before you sign up or call 1-855-690-9884.
Other ways to stream Bills vs. Patriots
- Paramount+: CBS games stream live with the Paramount+ Premium plan, which carries your local CBS station, so you'll get this game only if it airs on CBS in your market. DIRECTV customers can add Paramount+ with SHOWTIME as a premium channel (channel 545, listed at $13.99 a month). Can't find it? See our guide to Paramount+ missing on DIRECTV.
- NFL+: streams live local and prime-time games on phones and tablets.
- NFL Sunday Ticket: on YouTube and YouTube TV for out-of-market Sunday-afternoon games. It isn't available from DIRECTV for homes.
Is Bills vs. Patriots on NFL Sunday Ticket with DIRECTV?
No. Residential DIRECTV customers can't get NFL Sunday Ticket anymore. The out-of-market package moved to YouTube and YouTube TV in 2023, and that's where fans outside the local broadcast area can watch this game.
Bars, restaurants and other businesses are different. For the 2026 season, DIRECTV for Business can again offer NFL Sunday Ticket to commercial venues under an agreement with EverPass, the league's commercial distributor. So if this game isn't on TV where you live, a sports bar with DIRECTV may have it.
What DIRECTV homes do have is NFL RedZone on channel 211, which jumps between every Sunday-afternoon game. It's an add-on for most packages and included with PREMIER.
Bills vs. Patriots on the radio
- Bills Radio Network: 97 Rock (WGRF-FM), the Bills' new Buffalo flagship as of the 2026 season.
- Patriots Radio Network: 98.5 The Sports Hub, with Bob Socci and Scott Zolak.
- National: ESPN Radio, with Steve Levy, Max Starks and Dan Graziano.
Bills vs. Patriots storylines
- Buffalo is 3-0 and leads the NFL at 33.7 points per game.
- New England is 1-2 and averaging 12 points per game, though its defense ranks fifth in total yards allowed.
- It's the Patriots' first visit to Buffalo's new Highmark Stadium, which opened this year. The Bills won their first two regular-season games there.
- New England represented the AFC in Super Bowl LX last season.
- The Patriots lead the all-time series 80-52-1. The teams have split the season series in each of the last three years, and New England won 23-20 in Buffalo in October 2025.
Not sure your package includes local channels? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 before kickoff.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is Bills vs. Patriots on DIRECTV?
It's on CBS, so tune to your local CBS station. The channel number varies by market. In Buffalo, it's WIVB. In Boston, it's WBZ-TV.
What time does Bills vs. Patriots start?
Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Highmark Stadium.
Is Bills vs. Patriots on national TV?
No. It's a regional CBS game, though unofficial maps show a large share of the country getting it. Check your local CBS listings.
Can I stream Bills vs. Patriots?
Yes. Paramount+ Premium and NFL+ (phones and tablets) stream it where it airs on CBS, and DIRECTV's streaming plans include your local CBS station where available. Out of market, you need NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube or YouTube TV.
Can I get NFL Sunday Ticket on DIRECTV?
Not for your home. Sunday Ticket is on YouTube and YouTube TV. DIRECTV for Business carries it for bars and restaurants in 2026.
Who is calling Bills vs. Patriots?
Ian Eagle on play-by-play, Ross Tucker as analyst and Evan Washburn on the sideline.
For the full Sunday slate, see our NFL Week 4 TV schedule. Questions about your DIRECTV package? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 1, 2026. Kickoff times, networks and regional coverage are set by the NFL, CBS and local stations and may change. Coverage maps are unofficial until game day. Channel lineups, carriage, offers and package prices vary by address and may change. NFL, DIRECTV, CBS, Paramount+ and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.