If you're searching how to watch Lions vs. Bills for free, the live window has already closed. The Week 2 matchup between the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills kicked off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Sept. 17 at Buffalo's new Highmark Stadium.
The good news is that the game is available as a replay. Prime Video currently offers the full broadcast replay, and eligible viewers may be able to use Amazon's 30-day Prime trial to watch without paying upfront. NFL+ Premium also carries full and condensed replays, but it requires a paid subscription.
During the live broadcast, viewers had several free options that are no longer useful for watching the game now. WKBW Channel 7 carried it over the air in Buffalo, WJBK FOX 2 did the same in Detroit, and Amazon streamed the game nationally through its Prime Video channel on Twitch.
For a replay now:
Prime Video: The Lions-Bills main broadcast replay is available, along with Prime Vision and Spanish-language versions. Existing Prime members can watch at no additional charge, while eligible new subscribers can use Amazon's 30-day free trial.
NFL+ Premium: Includes full, condensed, and All-22 replays of every NFL game. It is not included with the standard NFL+ plan.
Twitch: The game streamed free live, but Amazon does not advertise Twitch as an on-demand replay option.
How to Watch Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills Without Cable
The live game was carried nationally through Prime Video, but viewers in both teams' home markets also had local over-the-air options.
In Buffalo, WKBW Channel 7 carried the game. Viewers within antenna range could watch without a cable or Prime subscription.
Detroit viewers had the same kind of option through WJBK FOX 2. FOX 2 Detroit covered the matchup, and multiple local listings identified WJBK Channel 2 as Detroit's over-the-air station for the game.
The national live stream was Prime Video. Amazon also made the game available through its Prime Video Twitch channel, giving viewers a free national streaming option during the live broadcast.
Amazon confirms that Thursday Night Football games stream live on Twitch in addition to Prime Video and local over-the-air stations in the competing teams' home markets.
Those free live options ended with the broadcast, so replay access works differently.
What 'Included at No Extra Cost' Actually Means
Prime members can watch Thursday Night Football through Prime Video without paying an additional sports fee. That does not make Prime Video free for everyone because an Amazon Prime membership is normally required.
There is one exception for eligible new customers. Amazon offers a 30-day Prime free trial, and the current Lions-Bills replay is available through Prime Video. That makes the trial the clearest way to watch the full replay without paying upfront if your account qualifies.
Prime Video currently lists several replay versions of the game, including the main broadcast, Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats, TNF en Español, and the TNF Tonight pregame show.
NFL+ works differently. The standard NFL+ plan includes live local and primetime games on phones and tablets, but game replays require NFL+ Premium.
According to NFL support, Premium includes full-game replays, condensed replays, and All-22 coaches film. NFL+ Premium currently costs $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year, with pricing subject to change.
How to Find a Lions vs Bills Replay Now
Prime Video is the simplest place to start if you already have Prime or qualify for a free trial. Search for "Lions vs. Bills" in Prime Video and select the Sept. 17 game.
The replay page currently includes the main broadcast as well as the Prime Vision alternate feed. Prime Vision adds Next Gen Stats overlays and All-22-style camera angles that were available during the live game.
NFL+ Premium is the other confirmed replay option. The NFL says full and condensed replays of every current-season game become available shortly after the original broadcast.
In the NFL app, open NFL+, select Replays, and choose the game. On NFL.com, open the Watch section and select Game Replays. Replays are also supported on compatible connected-TV devices with NFL+ Premium.
Unlike live NFL+ viewing, which limits local and primetime games to phones and tablets, NFL+ Premium replays can be watched across supported devices.
What to Check Before the Next Prime Video Thursday Night Game
The Lions-Bills broadcast also clears up how to approach future Prime Video-exclusive Thursday games.
Amazon says each Thursday Night Football game streams live on Prime Video and Twitch. Viewers in the two competing teams' home markets can also get the game through designated local over-the-air stations.
Before kickoff:
Check the team's official viewing page for the local affiliate in your market.
Check that station's schedule if you plan to watch with an antenna.
Use Prime Video if you already have Prime or qualify for a free trial.
Check Amazon's Prime Video Twitch channel for the free live stream.
Use NFL+ on a phone or tablet if you have a subscription and want the live primetime feed.
Replay access is different. Prime Video keeps Thursday Night Football replays available on demand, while NFL+ requires the Premium tier for full, condensed, and All-22 replays.
What to Do Now
For a Lions-Bills replay, Prime Video is the best place to check first. The game is currently available on demand, and existing Prime members can watch without an additional fee. Eligible new customers can use Amazon's 30-day Prime trial.
NFL+ Premium is the alternative if you want a full replay, a condensed version, or All-22 coaches film. It costs $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year at current pricing.
The free antenna broadcasts in Detroit and Buffalo and the national Twitch stream were live-only options, so they no longer provide a straightforward way to watch the complete game. For the next Thursday Night Football matchup, however, Twitch remains a confirmed free live-streaming option alongside local over-the-air broadcasts in the participating teams' home markets.
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