Fans Crush NFL for Airing Cardinals-Chargers Exclusively on ESPN+

Once again, the NFL has aired a game exclusively on a streaming service.

As a follow-up to the wild-card matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins last season that aired exclusively on Peacock, the Week 7 tilt between the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals was broadcast on ESPN+—and ESPN+ only—aside from local markets in the Phoenix and Los Angeles areas.

Chargers. Cardinals. EXCLUSIVELY ON ESPN+ 🍿

You’re not going to want to miss this Monday Night game 🔥

📺 9 PM ET | ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/wfga0n7vrr
— ESPN (@espn) October 21, 2024

NFL fans who wanted to watch the Monday Night Football battle between Kyler Murray and Justin Herbert had to subscribe to ESPN's streaming service. Plans currently start at $11.99 per month, meaning fans needed to fork over $12 just to watch a single game.

Sure, it's the new reality of being a sports fan, which requires more and more dollars and subscriptions to keep up each year. But fans are not happy:

There's a Monday Night Football game that's ONLY on ESPN plus? Is the objective here to make sure nobody watches the game? Great job, guys
— Pat Casey 🎅 (@Pat_Kc) October 22, 2024

Why the heck is there an nfl game on Espn+ tonight.
— Eric Baldwin (@ericbaldwin2) October 21, 2024

NFL turned into nothing but a money grubbing machine, sad to see really https://t.co/xUqlvKxiNE
— Seth Repp (@pappa_repp56) October 22, 2024

Having TWO Monday Night Football games just to put one on ESPN+ is insane to me. I have the subscription service but I know not everyone does. Starting to ruin the inclusivity that is the sport of football, imo.
— Dan. (@Visionary_SZN) October 21, 2024

Two Monday Night Football games, with one requiring ESPN+ is an abomination.
— Ryan Jerue 🧘🏻‍♂️ (@rjerue) October 22, 2024

It wasn't the first or final subscription-only game of the year, either. The Green Bay Packers season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil was only available on Peacock.

Additionally, Netflix will air two games on Christmas Day—a clash between the Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as a battle between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.