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 can fill many of the gaps, with select out-of-market games also streaming in the ESPN app.
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.
DIRECTV is the easiest way to watch all your football in one place
Did you know that DIRECTV is the preferred streaming service of true-blue sports fans? In fact, a staggering 97% of DIRECTV streaming subscribers reported high satisfaction with their live sports viewing experience. And if you're a rabid football fan, DIRECTV delivers more football channels than competitors, an industry-leading multiview experience, and even free ESPN Unlimited. Those are just some of the many reasons why the CableTV.com editorial staff recommends DIRECTV as the best streaming service for sports. What are you waiting for? Try DIRECTV free for five days and don't miss a single snap of your favorite football teams.
What channels show NFL preseason games?
Most NFL preseason games air locally through each team’s TV affiliate network, while NFL Network carries 19 live out-of-market games in 2026. Five preseason matchups will appear nationally across Amazon Prime Video, CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC.
For out-of-market fans, NFL+ streams live preseason games, subject to local blackout restrictions. The ESPN app adds 12 more out-of-market matchups in 2026 for viewers with an ESPN Unlimited subscription, either purchased directly or activated through a qualifying TV provider.
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 kickoff 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, KDKA-TV (CBS 2), NFL Network |
| Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | WXIN (FOX 59), Patriots Preseason Network |
| Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 8:00 p.m. | KCBS-TV (CBS 2), KTRK-TV (ABC 13) |
| Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 8:00 p.m. | KPHO-TV (CBS 5), KVVU-TV (FOX 5) |
| Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers | Thursday, Aug. 13 | 9:00 p.m. | Titans Preseason TV Network, KPIX-TV (CBS 5), NFL Network |
| Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons | Friday, Aug. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | KUSA (NBC 9), WAGA-TV (FOX 5) |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets | Friday, Aug. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | WFLA-TV (NBC 8), WCBS-TV (CBS 2), NFL Network |
| Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders | Friday, Aug. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | WFOR-TV (CBS 4), WUSA (CBS 9) |
| Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | Panthers TV Network, WIVB-TV (CBS 4) |
| Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | WEWS (ABC 5), Chicago Bears Network, NFL Network |
| Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | KMSP-TV (FOX 9), WNBC (NBC 4) |
| Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 4:00 p.m. | KCBS-TV (CBS 2), KSHB-TV (NBC 41) |
| Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 4:00 p.m. | WFOX-TV (FOX 30), WVUE-DT (FOX 8) |
| Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | WCAU (NBC 10), WBAL-TV (NBC 11) |
| Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks | Saturday, Aug. 15 | 8:00 p.m. | KTVT (CBS 11), KING-TV (NBC 5), NFL Network |
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-TV (CBS 5), KCBS-TV (CBS 2), NFL Network |
| New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers | Friday, Aug. 21 | 7:00 p.m. | WCBS-TV (CBS 2), KDKA-TV (CBS 2), NFL Network |
| Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars | Friday, Aug. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Panthers TV Network, WJAX-TV (CBS 47) |
| Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos | Friday, Aug. 21 | 9:00 p.m. | Packers TV Network, KUSA (NBC 9), NFL Network |
| Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions | Saturday, Aug. 22 | Noon | WUSA (CBS 9), Lions TV Network |
| Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | WIVB-TV (CBS 4), WEWS (ABC 5), NFL Network |
| Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | WAGA-TV (FOX 5), WTTV (CBS 4) |
| Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 1:00 p.m. | WBAL-TV (NBC 11), KMSP-TV (FOX 9) |
| New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 4:00 p.m. | WVUE-DT (FOX 8), KCBS-TV (CBS 2) |
| New York Giants at Miami Dolphins | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 4:00 p.m. | WNBC (NBC 4), WFOR-TV (CBS 4), NFL Network |
| 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. | WCAU (NBC 10), Patriots Preseason Network, NFL Network |
| Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | KSHB-TV (NBC 41), WFLA-TV (NBC 8) |
| Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals | Saturday, Aug. 22 | 10:00 p.m. | KTVT (CBS 11), Arizona's Family Sports, NFL Network |
| 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. | KDKA-TV (CBS 2), WIVB-TV (CBS 4), NFL Network |
| New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 8:00 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video, WCVB (ABC 5) |
| San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 8:00 p.m. | KPIX-TV (CBS 5), KVVU-TV (FOX 5) |
| Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 10:00 p.m. | KCAL-TV (9), KCBS-TV (CBS 2), NFL Network |
| Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens | Friday, Aug. 28 | 6:00 p.m. | WUSA (CBS 9), WBAL-TV (NBC 11), NFL Network |
| Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers | Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:00 p.m. | KTRK-TV (ABC 13), Panthers TV Network |
| Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins | Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:00 p.m. | WAGA-TV (FOX 5), WFOR-TV (CBS 4) |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars | Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | WFLA-TV (NBC 8), WFOX-TV (FOX 30) |
| New York Giants at New York Jets | Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | WNBC (NBC 4), WCBS-TV (CBS 2) |
| New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys | Friday, Aug. 28 | 8:00 p.m. | WVUE-DT (FOX 8), KTVT (CBS 11) |
| Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs | Friday, Aug. 28 | 8:00 p.m. | KING-TV (NBC 5), KSHB-TV (NBC 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. | KMSP-TV (FOX 9), KUSA (NBC 9), NFL Network |
| Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts | Saturday, Aug. 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Lions TV Network, WTTV (CBS 4), NFL Network |
| Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans | Saturday, Aug. 29 | 6:00 p.m. | Chicago Bears Network, Titans Preseason TV Network, NFL 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 as a 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 home to 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 call signs 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.
