Your Complete Guide to the 2026 NFL Preseason Schedule

Published: August 9, 2026 | 5:30 AM ET

What Just Happened? The Hall of Fame Game Kickoff

The NFL preseason officially started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6. Think of this like the "preview show" before the main event!

Hall of Fame Game Results

Carolina Panthers 33 vs. Arizona Cardinals 30
Rookie quarterbacks Carson Beck (Panthers) and Haynes King (Cardinals) both played great
High-scoring, exciting game — unusual for preseason!

Hall of Fame Weekend Bonus: On Saturday, August 7, legends Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri were officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Are There Games Today (Sunday, August 9)?

Nope! The NFL is taking a short break. The next games won’t be until Thursday, August 13 — that’s 4 days from now.

Full 2026 NFL Preseason Schedule at a Glance

The preseason has 3 weeks of games before the real season starts. Here’s the complete breakdown:

Hall of Fame Game (Already Played)

Date	Matchup
Thu, Aug 6	Panthers 33, Cardinals 30

Preseason Week 1

Thursday, August 13 (4 games)

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions — 7:00 PM ET
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers — 7:00 PM ET
New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts — 7:30 PM ET
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers — 8:00 PM ET

Friday, August 14

No games scheduled

Saturday, August 15

No games scheduled

Preseason Week 2

Thursday, August 20 (2 games)

Houston Texans vs. Las Vegas Raiders — 8:00 PM ET (ESPN)
Los Angeles Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers — 10:00 PM ET

Friday, August 21 (3 games)

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets — 7:00 PM ET
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers — 7:30 PM ET
Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers — 9:00 PM ET

Saturday, August 22 (11 games — BIG DAY!)

Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders — 12:00 PM ET
Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills — 1:00 PM ET
Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons — 1:00 PM ET
Minnesota Vikings vs. Baltimore Ravens — 1:00 PM ET
Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints — 4:00 PM ET
Miami Dolphins vs. New York Giants — 4:00 PM ET
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Chicago Bears — 7:00 PM ET
New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles — 7:00 PM ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs — 8:30 PM ET
Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys — 10:00 PM ET

Sunday, August 23 (1 game)

Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks — 8:00 PM ET (Fox)

Preseason Week 3 (Final Preseason Week)

Thursday, August 27 (4 games)

Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers — 7:00 PM ET
Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots — 8:00 PM ET (Prime Video)
Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers — 8:00 PM ET
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams — 10:00 PM ET

Friday, August 28 (10 games)

Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons — 7:00 PM ET
Carolina Panthers vs. Houston Texans — 7:00 PM ET
Baltimore Ravens vs. Washington Commanders — 7:00 PM ET
New York Jets vs. New York Giants — 7:30 PM ET
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 7:30 PM ET
Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints — 8:00 PM ET
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks — 8:00 PM ET
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals — 8:00 PM ET (CBS)
Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals — 8:00 PM ET
Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings — 9:00 PM ET (NFL Network)

Saturday, August 29 (2 games)

Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions — 1:00 PM ET
Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears — 6:00 PM ET

When Does the REAL NFL Season Start?

IMPORTANT: Mark Your Calendar!

Detail	Information
Date	Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Kickoff Matchup	Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots
Special Note	First Wednesday season opener since 2012!
Extra Fun	Rematch of Super Bowl 60

Quick Summary

Hall of Fame Game already happened (Panthers beat Cardinals 33-30)
No games today (Aug 9) — next games are Thursday, Aug 13
3 weeks of preseason games total (Weeks 1–3)
Regular season starts Wednesday, Sept 9 with Seahawks vs. Patriots
Watch for rookies like Carson Beck and Haynes King — they’re already making noise!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What’s the difference between preseason and regular season?

A: Preseason games are like practice scrimmages that count on the schedule. Teams use them to evaluate players, test strategies, and get in shape. The wins/losses don’t count toward playoff standings. Regular season games count for real — they determine who makes the playoffs!

Q2: Why do star players barely play in preseason?

A: Teams protect their best players from injury in games that don’t "count." You’ll mostly see rookies, backups, and players fighting for roster spots playing the most minutes.

Q3: How many preseason games does each team play?

A: Most teams play 3 preseason games. A few teams (like those in the Hall of Fame Game) play 4.

Q4: Can I watch all these games on regular TV?

A: Many games are on local networks or national channels like ESPN, Fox, CBS, NFL Network, and Prime Video. Check your local listings — some games might only be on streaming services.

Q5: Why does the 2026 season start on a Wednesday?

A: The NFL occasionally moves the opener to Wednesday to avoid conflicts (like religious holidays or labor day weekend). The last time was 2012. It’s rare but not unprecedented!

Pro Tip: Use the preseason to learn new players’ names, watch rookie quarterbacks develop, and see which teams look sharp before fantasy football drafts!

Enjoy the football! The wait is almost over.

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