It is that mid-November stretch where the sun starts setting at 4:30 p.m. and your Sunday afternoon basically revolves around whether you're getting the "good" game or some random blowout. If you have ever stared at an nfl week 11 tv map and wondered why on earth you’re watching two sub-.500 teams instead of a divisional showdown, you aren't alone. It’s a mix of complex contracts, protected markets, and some very specific decisions by the big networks.
The 2025 season's eleventh week was particularly weird. We had a game in Madrid, a bunch of divisional fights, and some serious playoff implications that shifted the broadcast maps at the last second.
The Logistics Behind the NFL Week 11 TV Map
Most fans think the NFL just picks the best game and shows it to everyone. I wish. In reality, it’s a tug-of-war between CBS and FOX. Week 11 featured a heavy slate of regional games that forced the networks to slice the country into a jigsaw puzzle of colors.
Take the early window on CBS, for example. They had a huge matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Buffalo Bills. This was the "Red" game for most of the country because both teams were sitting at 6-3 at the time. Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt were on the call. But if you lived in Ohio or Western Pennsylvania, you were stuck with the Cincinnati Bengals at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That’s how regional bias works. The "Blue" zone on the map wasn't about who was better; it was about who lived closer. Even if the Bengals were struggling without Joe Burrow, the local interest in the AFC North rivalry trumped a high-stakes Bills-Bucs game every time.
FOX and the Singleheader Mess
Week 11 was a FOX singleheader week. If you aren't a broadcast nerd, that basically means FOX only got to show one game in your market—either an early kickoff or a late one—while CBS got to do a doubleheader. This creates some "dead air" on one channel while the other is humming.
FOX’s big ticket was the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Rams in the late 4:05 p.m. ET slot. This was a massive game for the NFC West. Both teams were 7-2. Joe Davis and Greg Olsen had the call. However, because it was a singleheader, large chunks of the country that saw an early game like the Chicago Bears at the Minnesota Vikings (featuring Tom Brady in the booth) didn't get to see that Seahawks-Rams finish.
👉 See also: Why the Texas Texas Tech Game Always Feels Like a War
If you were in Chicago, you got Burkhardt and Brady at 1 p.m. Once that game ended? Static. Or, well, infomercials. You had to flip over to CBS to catch the end of the Kansas City Chiefs at the Denver Broncos. It’s annoying, but that’s how the TV contracts are written to protect the "Eye" network's exclusive window.
The Madrid Factor and National Windows
We can't talk about the nfl week 11 tv map without mentioning the Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins game. This wasn't in D.C. or Florida. It was in Madrid, Spain.
Because this was an international game, it started at 9:30 a.m. ET. It aired nationally on NFL Network, which means it didn't actually take up a "slot" on the regional maps. However, per NFL rules, the local markets in Washington and Miami still got the game on their local broadcast stations (WUSA and WFOR, respectively).
Then you have the true "National" games where the map doesn't matter because everyone sees the same thing:
- Thursday Night: Jets at Patriots (Amazon Prime)
- Sunday Night: Lions at Eagles (NBC)
- Monday Night: Cowboys at Raiders (ESPN/ABC)
The Sunday night game between Detroit and Philadelphia was the crown jewel. Both teams were fighting for home-field advantage in the NFC. When Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are on your screen, you know the regional maps have been tossed out the window for the night.
Why Your Area Got the "Wrong" Game
I get emails about this constantly. "I live in Dallas, why am I watching the Bills?"
Well, in Week 11, the Dallas Cowboys were playing on Monday night. Since they weren't in the Sunday afternoon window, the local FOX and CBS affiliates were free to "bid" or be assigned the most attractive national game. Since the Bills and Bucs are both high-profile teams with massive fanbases, they often become the default "filler" game for markets without a local team playing at that hour.
There is also the "Secondary Market" rule. If you live in a city that is within 75 miles of an NFL stadium, your local station is technically required to show that team's road games. That’s why a city like Austin, Texas, almost always mirrors the Dallas or Houston maps, even if there’s a better game happening in the AFC.
🔗 Read more: When Does The Super Bowl Start Tomorrow: The Kickoff Schedule Nobody Talks About
How to Check the Map Before Kickoff
Honestly, the best way to handle the nfl week 11 tv map is to check a site like 506 Sports on Wednesday or Thursday. They color-code the entire U.S. map so you can see exactly which game is hitting your zip code.
If you find out you're stuck with a blowout, you've basically got three options:
- NFL Sunday Ticket: The only way to legally bypass the regional maps entirely.
- NFL RedZone: Best for fantasy players who don't care about a single game and just want the scoring highlights.
- Sports Bar: The old-school method. Find a place with 20 TVs and sit in the corner with the game you actually want.
Week 11 is usually when the "flex" scheduling starts to kick in too. The NFL can move games from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night with about 12 days' notice. This can completely blow up the predicted tv maps, so don't get too attached to the schedule you see at the beginning of the month.
The most important takeaway for any fan is that the map is a living document. Networks constantly tweak it based on playoff races. If a team like the Broncos suddenly becomes the hottest story in the AFC (as they did during their 8-2 start in 2025), CBS will expand that "Red" zone to cover more of the country, bumping smaller regional matchups to the periphery.
✨ Don't miss: NBA Where to Watch: What Most People Get Wrong About the New Deals
To stay ahead of the broadcast changes, make sure you verify your local listings on the Friday before the game. Local affiliates sometimes switch their game choice at the eleventh hour if they think a different matchup will pull better ratings in their specific city. Keep an eye on the injury reports too; if a star quarterback like Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson is ruled out, the networks might shrink the coverage area for that game because they know the neutral-site viewership will tank.
Next Steps for Your Game Day Prep
- Confirm your local affiliate: Check your cable guide or digital antenna scan to see if you are getting CBS or FOX for the early window.
- Download a map app: Use a sports news app that provides real-time updates on broadcast territories.
- Sync your fantasy lineup: If your players are in a game not being broadcast in your area, set up your RedZone stream early to avoid missing the scores.