How to Watch Monday Night Football Free or Cheap Tonight (Seniors Guide 2026)
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man
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The second Sunday of the 2026 NFL regular season is over so it’s time to turn our attention to Monday Night Football! TV For Seniors presents our seniors guide on how to watch Monday Night Football free or cheap tonight (September 21, 2026) when the New York Giants face the Los Angeles Rams at 8:15 p.m. ET.
As always, our senior-friendly guide explains it all with no complicated tech talk, just clear steps that save money.
The absolute free way: Digital antenna + local ABC (best for most seniors)
Many Monday Night Football games, including this one, are simulcast on ABC. That means you can watch it over the air for free with a simple digital antenna. And that means no cable, satellite or streaming bill.
Where to Start:
• Check if you can get a good ABC signal: Visit a site like Antennas Direct’s transmitter locator or antenna web.org, enter your zip code, and see how far the nearest ABC tower is from your home. This will give you a pretty good idea if you can receive the ABC signal from where you live.
• Buy an indoor antenna if you don’t already have one (often $20–$40 at a store or online; look for ones rated for 30–50+ miles).
• Connect it: Plug the antenna into the “Antenna In” or “Cable In” port on the back of your TV. Run a channel scan (usually under Settings > Channels or Antenna > Auto Scan). For more help on installing an indoor antenna, see our article here.
• Tune to your local ABC channel (often 7, but it varies by city—New York/LA/Chicago are commonly 7).
That’s it. You should get a clear HD picture of the game, plus other free local channels for news and more. Many seniors already have an antenna or can set one up in minutes. This works great if you’re in range of an ABC station.
Free trials of live TV streaming (watch on your Smart TV, Roku, Fire Stick or phone)
If an antenna doesn’t work well where you live, try a free trial that includes ESPN and ABC:
• Fubo, YouTube TV and DIRECTV streaming all currently offer free trials with YouTube TV offering one for 21 days! The three streamers carry ESPN, ABC and other sports channels. Sign up with a credit card (cancel before the trial ends so you aren’t charged. If you are nervous about forgetting to cancel, see our article, The Free Trial Trap.). You can stream on a Smart TV, streaming stick, computer, or phone.
These let you watch tonight for FREE without committing long-term.
Cheap options if free isn’t enough
• NFL+ ($6.99/month): Streams live primetime games (including MNF) on your phone or tablet. Not for big-screen TV, but handy if you have a larger tablet or want to watch in bed.
• Sling TV: Offers short day/weekend passes starting at $4.99 for access to ESPN.
• ESPN Unlimited (standalone streaming, around $30/month): Gets you all ESPN channels and MNF if you want it ongoing without a full live-TV package.
Important Note: Avoid illegal streams; they’re unreliable, full of ads and pop-ups, and risky. You can get a malware infection on your devices.
Extra senior tips for easy viewing
• Use a voice remote (Fire TV, Roku, or cable remote) and just say “Monday Night Football” or “ABC” if available. See our article on Voice Remotes For Seniors.
• Sit closer to the TV or use Closed Captions for clearer play-by-play.
• Libraries, senior centers, or sports bars sometimes show the game for free if you prefer company.
• If you have cable or satellite already, check your guide for ESPN or ABC; many packages include them.
Have a question? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
