How to Watch Buccaneers vs. Cowboys Thursday Night Football on DIRECTV
Week 5 of the NFL season opens in Arlington. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium, and the national broadcast streams on Prime Video. Prime Video's TNF Tonight pregame show starts at 7 p.m. ET.
Because Thursday Night Football is a Prime Video exclusive, it isn't on a regular national DIRECTV channel. Here's how DIRECTV customers can still watch on the big screen.
Buccaneers vs. Cowboys game details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, October 8, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 8:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. CT |
| Stadium | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| National stream | Prime Video (also in Spanish) |
| Pregame | TNF Tonight, 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video |
| Local TV | An over-the-air station in the Tampa Bay and Dallas-Fort Worth markets |
| Mobile | NFL+ |
| Broadcast crew | Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung |
How to watch on DIRECTV
Prime Video on a DIRECTV Gemini device
DIRECTV Gemini devices come with the Prime Video app preloaded, so you can jump from live TV to the game without switching inputs. Open your apps, launch Prime Video and sign in with an Amazon account that includes Prime Video. Amazon Prime is $14.99 a month or $139 a year, and it's billed by Amazon, not DIRECTV. On an older DIRECTV receiver, use the Prime Video app on your smart TV or a streaming stick instead.
Local TV in Tampa Bay and Dallas-Fort Worth
Amazon says every Thursday Night Football game also airs on over-the-air TV stations in the two teams' home markets. As of October 1, neither team's official viewing guide named the station for this game, so check your DIRECTV guide in the days before kickoff. DIRECTV includes local channels with its core packages where available; our guide to adding local channels on DIRECTV explains how to confirm yours.
Need a Gemini device or help with local channels? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Other ways to stream
- NFL+: streams the game on phones and tablets.
- Twitch: Amazon also streams each TNF game live on Twitch.
Radio
- Buccaneers: WXTB 97.9 FM in Tampa Bay and the Buccaneers Radio Network. SiriusXM channel 380 carries the Bucs call nationally.
- Spanish: WTPM La Invasora and its affiliated stations carry the Buccaneers' Spanish broadcast.
Storylines to watch
- Tampa Bay's quarterback situation: Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb in Week 3 and is expected to miss at least three weeks. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels was named the starter for the Week 4 game against Green Bay, the first Bucs start by someone other than Mayfield since Tom Brady in 2022.
- A slow start for the Bucs: Tampa Bay was still looking for its first win after three weeks.
- Dallas after Rio: the Cowboys lost a 34-31 thriller to Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro in Week 3 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired.
- Close series lately: Dallas won the first eight meetings from 1976 to 1990, but six of the last eight games have been decided by one score. The Cowboys also knocked the Bucs out of the playoffs after the 2022 season.
Beyond Thursday night
The rest of Week 5 is spread across CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network (DIRECTV channel 212). If you missed last week's Thursday game, our Steelers vs. Browns TNF guide covers the same Prime Video setup. Want every touchdown on Sunday? NFL RedZone is channel 211 on DIRECTV as an add-on. College football also fills Thursday night, with four games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and CBS Sports Network.
Compare DIRECTV packages at your address or call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Buccaneers vs. Cowboys on Thursday?
Kickoff is 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
What channel is Thursday Night Football on DIRECTV?
TNF streams on Prime Video instead of a national DIRECTV channel. Use the preloaded Prime Video app on a Gemini device. In the Tampa Bay and Dallas-Fort Worth markets, a local over-the-air station also carries the game.
Do I need Amazon Prime to watch?
Outside the two home markets, yes. You need Prime Video through an Amazon account, or NFL+ on a phone or tablet.
Is Baker Mayfield playing?
Mayfield was ruled out for at least three weeks after his Week 3 thumb injury, which makes him unlikely for this game. Check the final injury report before kickoff.
Questions? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 1, 2026. Local broadcast stations, injuries and streaming requirements are set by the NFL, the teams and Amazon and may change. Prices and channel availability vary and are subject to change. NFL, Prime Video, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.