The 2025 NFL season kicks off with high stakes and even higher expectations. With fresh rosters, evolved strategies, and a packed schedule, fans are leaning in—especially those following the Miami Dolphins. Coming off a strong 2024 campaign, Miami enters the new season as a potential powerhouse in the AFC, drawing national attention week after week.
If you’re planning to follow every snap, pass, and scoring drive, understanding how to watch the games through DirecTV becomes non-negotiable. Game access may vary based on your package selection, your geographic location, and league blackout regulations. Short answer—yes, you can watch every Dolphins game on DIRECTV. But how you do it? That’s where it gets specific.
The Miami Dolphins’ 2025 schedule combines divisional rivalries, primetime showcases, and cross-conference battles. The NFL typically announces the complete schedule in early May, laying out preseason games in August followed by a 17-game regular season that kicks off shortly after Labor Day and runs through early January.
For preseason, expect three games including at least one matchup at Hard Rock Stadium. These games serve as tune-ups and often highlight depth chart battles, especially at quarterback and wide receiver positions. While the preseason broadcasts are typically handled by local affiliates and team networks, major networks may carry games nationally depending on the opponent.
The Dolphins’ 2025 regular season features a full slate of AFC East matchups against the Patriots, Bills, and Jets—each played twice with one home and one away. Their inter-division games rotate according to the NFL’s established formula. For 2025, Miami faces teams from the NFC South and the AFC West. This means competitive games against the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints.
In addition to regional coverage, several high-profile games will air nationally. Expect one or two Sunday Night Football appearances on NBC, alongside potential Monday Night Football showdowns on ESPN or ABC. The league also increasingly utilizes Thursday Night Football, now exclusive to Amazon Prime Video, to showcase marquee matchups, so the Dolphins could appear midweek as well.
As the AFC's primary media partner, CBS holds exclusive rights to most Sunday afternoon Dolphins matchups. These games are regionally broadcast depending on market demand and scheduling conflicts.
The NFL releases the full official schedule each spring. For an up-to-date breakdown including game times, venues, and national broadcast details, consult the official Miami Dolphins 2025 schedule.
To follow every snap of the Miami Dolphins 2025 season, you'll need access to several networks airing NFL broadcasts throughout the fall and winter. DIRECTV delivers all the key channels, both local and national, that routinely carry Dolphins matchups. Here's where you'll find each type of broadcast during the season.
CBS owns the rights to AFC games on Sunday afternoons. Since the Dolphins are part of the AFC East, most of their Sunday games—especially those against conference rivals like the Jets, Patriots, and Bills—will air on CBS. These are typically slotted at 1:00 PM or 4:25 PM ET. The exact channel number for CBS on DIRECTV varies by location due to regional affiliates, but you can find it under your local channel lineup, usually between 2 and 69.
If the Dolphins play well, expect them to appear on Sunday Night Football, broadcast by NBC. These nationally televised games begin at 8:20 PM ET. On DIRECTV, NBC’s channel number is tied to your local market—it generally resides in the low-numbered local station set.
When the Dolphins are scheduled for Monday night action, tune into ESPN. The network holds exclusive rights to Monday Night Football, with kickoffs at 8:15 PM ET. ESPN is available nationwide on DIRECTV channel 206.
FOX carries NFC games and select interconference matchups, which means when the Dolphins play NFC opponents like the Cowboys, Packers, or 49ers, and the game is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, FOX may get the broadcast. Like CBS and NBC, FOX appears as a local affiliate in your DIRECTV channel guide.
Thursday Night Football and some international or Saturday games air exclusively or simultaneously on NFL Network. For those Dolphins games, DIRECTV customers can tune in to channel 212. NFL Network also provides comprehensive analysis and replays throughout the week, perfect for keeping up with team developments between games.
If you're more interested in high-speed coverage of every red-zone drive, including Dolphins scoring plays, NFL RedZone condenses all Sunday afternoon games into a single feed of highlights and live look-ins. You’ll find RedZone on DIRECTV channel 703 during the season, available with specific packages and add-ons.
To quickly locate which channel is airing the Dolphins game each week:
Coverage may differ based on zip code, especially for CBS and FOX games tied to regional rights. DIRECTV mirrors these local assignments to ensure fans get the correct broadcast.
DirecTV retains a significant presence in NFL coverage for the 2025 season, especially for satellite subscribers. Despite streaming services like YouTube TV acquiring rights to NFL Sunday Ticket in 2023, DirecTV still serves a vital audience segment through exclusive agreements and expanded satellite offerings. Nationwide, its satellite service covers areas where high-speed broadband remains limited, offering reliable NFL access in those markets.
For commercial venues — sports bars, restaurants, and similar public viewing spaces — DirecTV is the exclusive provider for NFL Sunday Ticket. This partnership ensures businesses can broadcast out-of-market Sunday afternoon games legally and at scale, including all Miami Dolphins matchups not airing locally.
Through a multi-year deal with EverPass Media — a company backed by the NFL and RedBird Capital Partners — DirecTV provides NFL Sunday Ticket for commercial use. This 2025 agreement places DirecTV as the go-to source for business establishments that need access to all non-local NFL games.
These out-of-market broadcasts include every Miami Dolphins game not covered by local CBS, FOX, or NBC affiliates. That means Dolphins fans visiting a local bar can count on a comprehensive game-day lineup.
For residential streaming, starting from the 2023 season, the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket transitioned to YouTube and YouTube TV. As of 2025, that deal remains in place. DirecTV no longer offers streaming access to Sunday Ticket via standard consumer subscriptions. Its emphasis now sits squarely on satellite delivery and commercial distribution.
However, DirecTV residential customers still receive all nationally televised NFL games, including prime-time Dolphins matchups on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, ESPN’s Monday Night Football, and Amazon’s Thursday Night Football, when simulcast on local affiliates.
In short, DirecTV retains strong NFL coverage through a hybrid model: residential satellite, commercial partnerships, and existing arrangements with national broadcasters. While it no longer offers direct-to-consumer streaming of NFL Sunday Ticket, it remains an essential conduit for watching the full Miami Dolphins slate in many situations.
NFL Sunday Ticket delivers live, out-of-market NFL games every Sunday, bypassing regional broadcast limitations. For fans outside Miami who want uninterrupted access to the Dolphins' 2025 season, this package offers comprehensive coverage of all afternoon Sunday games that aren't available on local affiliates like CBS and FOX.
DIRECTV continues to offer NFL Sunday Ticket to residential and eligible commercial satellite subscribers. Home viewers with the correct programming tier can get full access, while sports bars, restaurants, and similar commercial venues require a business subscription through DIRECTV for Business.
Living outside Florida? NFL Sunday Ticket is the only DIRECTV option that gives you live access to every out-of-market Dolphins game on Sunday afternoons. Without it, broadcasts are limited to what’s carried regionally — meaning fans in cities like Chicago, Denver, or Seattle would miss most Miami matchups.
Each game is assigned a dedicated channel within this NFL Sunday Ticket range and includes features like the Red Zone Channel and Fantasy Zone, depending on the tier level.
Starting with the 2023 NFL season, the streaming rights for NFL Sunday Ticket moved from DIRECTV to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels. However, DIRECTV retained exclusive satellite distribution rights for commercial subscribers and existing satellite customers in eligible areas. In 2025, fans using DIRECTV satellite service can still access NFL Sunday Ticket, though the experience has diverged based on customer type and platform.
For anyone subscribing through streaming-only channels or looking for a standalone mobile experience, the shift to YouTube may alter their viewing path — but Dolphins fans using DIRECTV satellite still have a dependable, full-featured option for gameday coverage.
DirecTV offers four core package options: ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, ULTIMATE, and PREMIER. Each comes with a progressively larger channel lineup, more sports access, and additional features:
At minimum, the ENTERTAINMENT package provides access to major national networks like CBS, NBC, FOX, and ESPN—essential for watching most Miami Dolphins games. CBS broadcasts AFC games, which includes the majority of Dolphins matchups. Check your ZIP code during signup to confirm CBS availability in your area, as local access can vary.
Watching every Miami Dolphins game—including out-of-market contests—requires more than just the base package. Consider the following premium add-ons:
DirecTV frequently launches limited-time offers during the NFL preseason to entice new customers. For instance, in 2024, new satellite subscribers who signed up for the CHOICE package or higher received the full season of NFL Sunday Ticket at no extra cost. Expect comparable promotions for the 2025 season beginning in late summer.
Current subscribers may also qualify for discounted rates on Sunday Ticket renewals, though eligibility varies based on package tier and account history. Log into your DirecTV account dashboard or contact customer service to check upgrade offers, loyalty discounts, or bundle deals.
The DIRECTV app extends the NFL viewing experience beyond the living room, giving subscribers full access to live Miami Dolphins games no matter where they are. Available on major platforms—iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV—the app mirrors your satellite subscription and lets you stream broadcasted NFL content with just a few taps.
After installing the app, users must sign in using their DIRECTV user ID and password. This verification links the app to the subscriber's existing package and activates access to live local and nationally televised Dolphins games, along with added features like game start alerts.
Whether watching Tua Tagovailoa launch a deep ball from the back seat of a cab or the comfort of a smart TV, the app adapts to your lifestyle. No separate subscription needed, just an internet connection and a compatible device:
Miss kickoff? The app integrates with DIRECTV's cloud-based DVR, enabling subscribers to start games late, rewind key plays, or rewatch entire Dolphins victories at any time. Recordings sync automatically across devices. Schedule recordings remotely, then access them on the app later from anywhere with a data connection.
Consider this: How does your Sunday look when you can time-shift a Dolphins game to fit your day instead of the other way around?
DIRECTV makes sure that you won't miss a Miami Dolphins snap, no matter where you are or what screen you're using. The DIRECTV App and NFL Sunday Ticket are compatible with a wide array of devices, offering flexibility whether you're at home or on the go. Below is a breakdown of supported platforms and how you can optimize each for a smoother game day experience.
With multi-platform access and optimized game-day setups, DIRECTV allows you to follow the 2025 Dolphins season from the screen that suits your moment—on the couch, at the airport, or during halftime BBQ prep.
With the Genie HD DVR from DIRECTV, you can capture every moment of the Miami Dolphins’ 2025 season — from kick-off to the final whistle. The Genie allows for simultaneous recording of up to five shows while watching a sixth, eliminating the need to choose between a 1:00 p.m. Dolphins game and a competing Sunday marquee matchup. Set it once and every Dolphins game will be queued automatically. Missed the first quarter? Just press rewind.
Not at home? No problem. The DIRECTV app lets you schedule recordings remotely from your smartphone or tablet. Whether you're stuck in traffic or out running errands, you can pull up the game schedule, search for Miami Dolphins, and select the option to record. The command syncs with your DVR in real time.
Each NFL game averages around three hours. In HD, that’s 6–8GB per recording. To comfortably store a full season of Dolphins games — plus halftime shows and post-game coverage — allocate at least 300GB of space. The Genie HD DVR comes with 1TB standard, which means there's room for roughly 125 HD games. You won’t need to delete last week’s win just to make room for next Sunday.
With a properly configured DVR setup, the 2025 Dolphins season becomes a fully navigable, on-demand library. Watching isn't just passive anymore — it's interactive, customizable, and under your complete control.
Coverage for Miami Dolphins games depends on the broadcast rights set by the NFL and its network partners. Each game falls into one of two categories: local (in-market) or national (out-of-market). DirecTV subscribers will access these differently depending on their location and package.
If you live in the South Florida region, including Miami and surrounding markets, you're considered "in-market" for Dolphins games. Local broadcasts in this area typically air on CBS, since CBS holds the rights to AFC Sunday afternoon games. Games not nationally televised will be available only on your local CBS affiliate—WFOR-TV (CBS4) in Miami.
DirecTV subscribers in the Miami market will receive this feed through their standard satellite service, provided the local broadcast station is included in their regional lineup. Streams via the DirecTV app will also reflect your local channel availability, mirroring your satellite feed.
Games scheduled in nationally designated time slots—Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football—are broadcast on networks with national reach. These games will appear on one of the following:
DirecTV includes NBC and ABC affiliates in most local markets. So, if you're in Miami, you’ll see Sunday and Monday night games on WTVJ (NBC 6) and WPLG (ABC 10) through your DirecTV feed. ESPN games are accessible with a package that includes the ESPN network. However, Thursday Night Football simulcasts are not available through DirecTV unless the game is also broadcast on a local station in the Miami market.
Whether you’re watching on satellite or streaming via the DirecTV app, your location influences what content is unlocked. When the Dolphins play a regular Sunday afternoon game and you're within broadcast range, you’ll get the game on CBS. But if you're outside the Dolphins’ regional footprint, that same game may not air for you at all unless it’s available through NFL Sunday Ticket.
National games bypass this limitation. Every subscriber with access to the relevant national channels—NBC, ABC, ESPN—can watch prime-time Dolphins games, regardless of market.
DirecTV tailors its channel lineup based on your ZIP code during installation and service setup. This determines both the local affiliates you're granted and which regional games air on your CBS and FOX feeds. If you're unsure whether your market qualifies as in-market for the Dolphins, DirecTV’s online ZIP code tool provides a direct answer.
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