Before the NFL regular season starts, there’s a month of preseason matchups to watch. Navigating the NFL preseason TV schedule can be tricky, as most of these exhibition games air on local channels. But a TV plan with NFL Network or an NFL+ subscription is the quickest way to get the most live coverage.
Will last year’s duds become this year’s studs? We can’t say for sure, but preseason can provide a glimpse of what to expect. Keep reading for complete details on how to watch your favorite NFL team this August.
What channels show NFL preseason games?
Most NFL preseason games air locally on each team’s TV affiliate network. You can also watch several nationally televised preseason games on NFL Network. In 2026, five other national broadcasts will appear across Amazon Prime Video, CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC.
Pro tip: All non-nationally televised games stream live on NFL+ (formerly NFL Game Pass) for out-of-market fans who don’t live near their favorite teams.
2026 NFL preseason TV schedule
The 2026 NFL preseason begins with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6, in Canton, Ohio. After that, preseason matchups continue over the next three weeks before wrapping up on Saturday, August 29. The fourth and final week of the NFL preseason is a bye week as college football makes its full return over the Labor Day weekend.
Below is the complete NFL preseason TV schedule. Click or tap the boxes to expand each week and view every matchup. We’ll continue updating kick-off times and channel listings as August approaches.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals (Hall of Fame Game) |
Thursday, Aug. 6 | 8:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock Premium |
| Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 7:00 p.m. | Lions TV Network, Bengals Preseason TV Network |
| Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 7:00 p.m. | Packers TV Network, CBS/KDKA |
| Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 59, Patriots Preseason Network |
| Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 8:00 p.m. | CBS2 LA, KTRK |
| Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 8:00 p.m. | Arizona's Family Sports, FOX 5 Vegas |
| Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 9:00 p.m. | Titans Preseason TV Network, KPIX |
| Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons | Friday, Aug. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | 9NEWS, TBD |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets | Friday, Aug. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | WFLA, WCBS |
| Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders | Friday, Aug. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | CBS Miami, WUSA9 |
| Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | Panthers TV Network, WIVB |
| Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | WEWS News 5, Chicago Bears Network |
| Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | FOX 9, NBC 4 NY |
| Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 4:00 p.m. | KCBS, KSHB 41 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 4:00 p.m. | FOX30, Gray TV |
| Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | NBC10, WBAL |
| Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 8:00 p.m. | TBD, KING 5 |
Data effective as of post date.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans | Thursday, Aug. 20 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers | Thursday, Aug. 20 | 10:00 p.m. | KPIX, CBS2 LA |
| New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers | Friday, Aug. 21 | 7:00 p.m. | WCBS, CBS/KDKA |
| Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars | Friday, Aug. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Panthers TV Network, CBS47 |
| Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos | Friday, Aug. 21 | 8:00 p.m. | Packers TV Network, 9NEWS |
| Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions | Saturday, Aug. 22 | Noon | WUSA9, Lions TV Network |
| Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | WIVB, WEWS News 5 |
| Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | TBD, CBS4 |
| Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | WBAL, FOX 9 |
| New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 4:00 p.m. | Gray TV, KCBS |
| New York Giants at Miami Dolphins | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 4:00 p.m. | NBC 4 NY, CBS Miami |
| Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 7:00 p.m. | Chicago Bears Network, Bengals Preseason TV Network |
| Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 7:00 p.m. | NBC10, Patriots Preseason Network |
| Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | KSHB 41, WFLA |
| Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 10:00 p.m. | TBD, Arizona's Family Sports |
| Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans | Sunday, Aug. 23 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX |
Data effective as of post date.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 7:00 p.m. | CBS/KDKA, WIVB |
| New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 8:00 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video |
| San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 8:00 p.m. | KPIX, FOX5 Vegas |
| Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 10:00 p.m. | KCAL, CBS2 LA |
| Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens | Friday, Aug. 28 | 6:00 p.m. | WUSA9, WBAL |
| Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers | Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:00 p.m. | KTRK, Panthers TV Network |
| Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins | Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:00 p.m. | TBD, CBS Miami |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars | Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | WFLA, FOX30 |
| New York Giants at New York Jets | Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | NBC 4 NY, WCBS |
| New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys | Friday, Aug. 28 | 8:00 p.m. | Gray TV, TBD |
| Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs | Friday, Aug. 28 | 8:00 p.m. | KING 5, KSHB 41 |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles | Friday, Aug. 28 | 8:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers | Friday, Aug. 28 | 8:00 p.m. | Arizona's Family Sports, Packers TV Network |
| Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos | Friday, Aug. 28 | 9:00 p.m. | FOX 9, 9NEWS |
| Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts | Saturday, Aug. 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Lions TV Network, CBS4 |
| Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans | Saturday, Aug. 29 | 6:00 p.m. | Chicago Bears Network, Titans Preseason TV Network |
Data effective as of post date.
Best NFL preseason TV plans
The best TV plan for watching the NFL preseason depends on which teams you want to watch. Using the schedule above for reference, here’s a breakdown of our viewing recommendations based on game type.
- Local games: An over-the-air (OTA) antenna is the best way to watch in-market preseason games. Check out our free viewing options section for more information on how an antenna can pick up live games without a monthly subscription fee.
- Out-of-market games: Starting at just $6.99 a month, NFL+ offers the only way to watch every out-of-market preseason game. The streaming service usually has device restrictions for live games, but you can watch preseason matchups on any device with NFL app support.
- National games: An antenna can get you national broadcasts that air on CBS, FOX, and NBC. But you’ll need a TV subscription to access ESPN and NFL Network. If you’re sticking around for the NFL after the preseason, YouTube TV is our favorite service for watching local and national games. It’s also the home of NFL Sunday Ticket for in-season out-of-market access.
How to watch the NFL preseason for free
You can watch some NFL preseason games for free this season. All you need is an OTA antenna to pick up your local NFL team’s affiliate station and other regional channels that air national games.
Before you settle on an antenna, you’ll want to verify the channels available in your area. You can do this by entering your zip code into the FCC’s Reception Map Tool. The map will display channel callsigns in your area, which you can click on to view the channel’s tower distance.
How far away you are from those channel towers will dictate the type of antenna you want. Usually, we recommend the Mohu Leaf 50 for its 60-mile range and slim design. But you may need a stronger antenna if you live in a rural area. We highlight several excellent antenna options in our Best OTA Antennas guide.
How to watch the NFL preseason FAQ
Are the NFL preseason games televised?
Yes, all NFL preseason games air on TV—usually on local networks within the region of each participating team. Other channels like NFL Network and ESPN broadcast select preseason games nationally, while NFL+ carries every live out-of-market preseason game.
Where can I stream NFL preseason games?
You can stream NFL preseason games through any live TV streaming service that offers your local NFL team’s affiliate network and NFL Network. NFL+ streams live out-of-market preseason games, while Amazon Prime Video carries one game per preseason.
Can I watch NFL preseason games on Amazon Prime Video?
Yes, one NFL preseason game streams on Amazon Prime Video each year. During the 2026 preseason, the streaming service will carry a Week 3 matchup between the New England Patriots and New York Giants.
Can I watch in-market preseason games on NFL+?
No, only out-of-market and nationally televised preseason games stream on NFL+. Typically, the best way to watch in-market preseason matchups is over the air if you live within range of your local team’s network affiliate. Some teams—like the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, and Green Bay Packers—have network partnerships with several local affiliate stations.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com sports editor, Taylor Kujawa, compiled every NFL team’s preseason TV schedule, complete with game times and channel listings. With that information, he researched and tested the best ways to watch preseason games by comparing popular TV providers’ channel offerings and pricing. We chose our viewing recommendations based on service accessibility and ease of use.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
