Before the NFL regular season starts, there’s a month of preseason matchups to watch. Most of these exhibition games air on local channels, though you’ll need a TV plan with NFL Network or an NFL+ subscription 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 preseason—including game schedules and channel listings.
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 2024, 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.
2024 NFL preseason schedule
The 2024 NFL preseason begins with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 1, in Canton, Ohio. After that, preseason matchups continue over the next three weeks before wrapping up on Sunday, August 25. 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 schedule. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chicago Bears vs. Houston Texans (Hall of Fame Game) |
Thursday, Aug. 1 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes |
| Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots | Thursday, Aug. 8 | 7:00 p.m. | Panthers TV Network, Patriots Preseason TV Network, NFL Network |
| Detroit Lions at New York Giants | Thursday, Aug. 8 | 7:00 p.m. | Lions TV Network, WNYW 5 |
| Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins | Friday, Aug. 9 | 7:00 p.m. | WAGA-TV 5, WFOR-TV 4 |
| Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers | Friday, Aug. 9 | 7:00 p.m. | KTRK-TV 13, KDKA-TV 2, NFL Network |
| Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens | Friday, Aug. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | WCAU 10, WMAR-TV 2 |
| Washington Commanders at New York Jets | Saturday, Aug. 10 | Noon | WUSA 9, WCBS-TV 2 |
| Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 1:00 p.m. | WFLD 32, WIVB-TV 4, NFL Network |
| Las Vegas Raiders at Minnesota Vikings | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 4:00 p.m. | KVVU-TV 5, KMSP-TV 9, NFL Network |
| Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 4:25 p.m. | Packers TV Network, WEWS-TV 5 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 7:00 p.m. | WTTA 38, Bengals Preseason TV |
| Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 7:00 p.m. | KMCI-TV 38, WJAX-TV 47, NFL Network |
| San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 7:05 p.m. | KPIX-TV 5, WKRN-TV 2 |
| Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Chargers | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 7:05 p.m. | KONG 16, KCBS-TV 2 |
| New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 8:00 p.m. | WVUE-DT 8, KPHO-TV 5 |
| Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts | Sunday, Aug. 11 | 1:00 p.m. | KTVD 20, WXIN 59, NFL Network |
| Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams | Sunday, Aug. 11 | 4:30 p.m. | KTVT 11, KABC-TV 7, NFL Network |
Data effective as of post date.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots | Thursday, Aug. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | WCAU 10, Patriots Preseason TV Network, NFL Network |
| Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens | Saturday, Aug. 17 | Noon | WAGA-TV 5, WBAL-TV 11 |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 1:00 p.m. | Bengals Preseason TV Network, WFLD 32, NFL Network |
| New York Giants at Houston Texans | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 1:00 p.m. | WNYW 5, KTRK-TV 13 |
| Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 4:00 p.m. | Lions TV Network, KSHB-TV 41, NFL Network |
| Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 4:25 p.m. | KMSP-TV 9, WEWS-TV 5 |
| New York Jets at Carolina Panthers | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:00 p.m. | WCBS-TV 2, Panthers TV Network |
| Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:00 p.m. | KPHO-TV 5, WTTV 4 |
| Washington Commanders at Miami Dolphins | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:00 p.m. | WUSA 9, WFOR-TV 4 |
| Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:00 p.m. | WIVB-TV 4, KDKA-TV 2, NFL Network |
| Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:00 p.m. | KING-TV 5, WKRN-TV 2 |
| Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:05 p.m. | KABC-TV 7, KCBS-TV 2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | WFLA-TV 8, WJAX-TV 47 |
| Dallas Cowboys at Las Vegas Raiders | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 10:00 p.m. | KTVT 11, KVVU-TV 5, NFL Network |
| Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos | Sunday, Aug. 18 | 8:00 p.m. | Packers TV Network, KUSA 9, NFL Network |
| New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers | Sunday, Aug. 18 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX |
Data effective as of post date.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 8:00 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video |
| Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 8:20 p.m. | WFLD 32, KMCI-TV 38, NFL Network |
| Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons | Friday, Aug. 23 | 7:00 p.m. | WJAX-TV 47, WAGA-TV 5, NFL Network |
| Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Friday, Aug. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | WFOR-TV 4, WFLA-TV 8 |
| San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders | Friday, Aug. 23 | 10:00 p.m. | KPIX-TV 5, KVVU-TV 5, NFL Network |
| Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 1:00 p.m. | Panthers TV Network, WIVB-TV 4 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 1:00 p.m. | KDKA-TV 2, Lions TV Network, NFL Network |
| Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 1:00 p.m. | WBAL-TV 11, Packers TV Network |
| Los Angeles Rams at Houston Texans | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 1:00 p.m. | KABC-TV 7, KTRK-TV 13 |
| Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 1:00 p.m. | KMSP-TV 9, WCAU 10 |
| Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 4:00 p.m. | KCBS-TV 2, KTVT 11, NFL Network |
| New York Giants at New York Jets | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | WNBC 4, WCBS-TV 2, NFL Network |
| Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 10:00 p.m. | WEWS-TV 5, KING-TV 5, NFL Network |
| Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 2:00 p.m. | WKRN-TV 2, WVUE-DT 8, NFL Network |
| Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 4:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| New England Patriots at Washington Commanders | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 8:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
Data effective as of post date.
Best NFL preseason TV plans
The best TV plan for watching the NFL preseason depends on what 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 new home of NFL Sunday Ticket.
How to watch the NFL preseason for free
*CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $39.99 (as of 5/20/24 10:00 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
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 Federal Communications Commission’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 2024 preseason, the streaming service will carry a Week 3 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts.
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 football experts compiled every NFL team’s preseason schedule and channel listings. With that information, we 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.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Amazon.com price as of 5/20/24 10:00 a.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
