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Your Ultimate Guide To Watching the 2024 NFL Preseason

Catch up with your favorite football teams during the NFL preseason with CableTV.com’s complete viewing guide.

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.

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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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Find the best provider in your area

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How to watch the NFL preseason for free

Get free local channels
Recommended antenna:
Mohu Leaf 50 ($39.99, one-time purchase*)
NFL channels:
ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC
Features:
All local broadcast channels

*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.

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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.

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