NFL Network Preseason Schedule 2026: Full Game List, Times & TV Info
The NFL Network preseason schedule for 2026 runs from Thursday, August 13 to Saturday, August 29 and covers 19 live games. Every kickoff time below is Eastern and matches the NFL and ESPN listings.
One change shapes the season. ESPN closed its purchase of NFL Media on January 31, 2026 and took over daily operations on April 1, so NFL Network is now an ESPN property.
The out of market package survived the handover, and ESPN more than doubled its own streaming slate, from five games in 2025 to 12 on the ESPN App.
NFL Network Preseason Schedule 2026 at a Glance
- Live games on NFL Network: 19, down from 21 in 2025
- Dates: Thursday, August 13 to Saturday, August 29, across nine nights
- Extra games on the ESPN App: 12, up from five last year
- Exclusive game on ESPN: Raiders at Texans, August 20
- Total live games across ESPN platforms: 32
- Replays: all 48 preseason games air on NFL Network after the fact, 49 counting the Hall of Fame Game
- Cheapest live option: Sling Select at $19.99 a month, or NFL+ at $6.99
All 19 games are out of market broadcasts. Inside the two participating teams’ home markets the NFL Network feed goes dark, the game moves to a local station, and the club streams it free on its own website and app. There is no Sunday game on the NFL Network slate this year.
NFL Network Preseason Schedule 2026: Full Game List
Times are Eastern. The team listed second is the home team.
Week 1: August 13 to 15
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 13 | Packers at Steelers | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Thu, Aug 13 | Titans at 49ers | 9:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Buccaneers at Jets | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Browns at Bears | 1:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Rams at Chiefs | 4:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Cowboys at Seahawks | 8:00 PM | NFL Network |
Week 2: August 20 to 22
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 20 | 49ers at Chargers | 10:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Jets at Steelers | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Packers at Broncos | 9:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Bills at Browns | 1:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Giants at Dolphins | 4:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Eagles at Patriots | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Cowboys at Cardinals | 10:00 PM | NFL Network |
Week 3: August 27 to 29
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 27 | Steelers at Bills | 7:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Thu, Aug 27 | Rams at Chargers | 10:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Commanders at Ravens | 6:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Vikings at Broncos | 9:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 29 | Lions at Colts | 1:00 PM | NFL Network |
| Sat, Aug 29 | Bears at Titans | 6:00 PM | NFL Network |
Pittsburgh is the only team with all three games on NFL Network, on August 13, August 21 and August 27. Week by week guides: Week 1, Week 2 and Week 3.
Also Check: Full 2026 NFL preseason schedule for all 32 teams
12 More Preseason Games on the ESPN App
These 12 out of market games stream in the ESPN App only. They are not on the NFL Network channel. You need an ESPN Unlimited plan or a pay TV package that includes it. The cheaper ESPN Select plan does not cover them.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 13 | Cardinals at Raiders | 8:00 PM |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Broncos at Falcons | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Vikings at Giants | 1:00 PM |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Jaguars at Saints | 4:00 PM |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Eagles at Ravens | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Panthers at Jaguars | 7:30 PM |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Ravens at Vikings | 1:00 PM |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Saints at Rams | 4:00 PM |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Chiefs at Buccaneers | 7:30 PM |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 49ers at Raiders | 8:00 PM |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Seahawks at Chiefs | 8:00 PM |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Saints at Cowboys | 8:00 PM |
If you are following the No. 1 overall pick, note that Fernando Mendoza never appears on NFL Network. All three Las Vegas games sit on ESPN platforms.
National TV Preseason Games in 2026
Five games air nationally on broadcast networks and Prime Video. None are on NFL Network, and all five are blacked out on NFL+.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 6 | Panthers vs Cardinals (Hall of Fame Game) | 8:00 PM | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu, Aug 20 | Raiders at Texans | 8:00 PM | ESPN |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Seahawks at Titans | 8:00 PM | FOX |
| Thu, Aug 27 | Patriots at Browns | 8:00 PM | Prime Video |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Bengals at Eagles | 8:00 PM | CBS |
Carolina and Arizona open in Canton because Luke Kuechly and Larry Fitzgerald headline the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, alongside Drew Brees, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig. Those five are the entire class. Enshrinement follows on Saturday, August 8.
Games Worth Circling
- Packers at Steelers, Thu, Aug 13, 7:00 PM. Mike McCarthy’s first game as Pittsburgh head coach comes against the club he coached for 13 seasons. Aaron Rodgers, who has called 2026 his last season, faces Green Bay too. He took no preseason snaps in 2025, but has said he is open to playing this August, so his workload is the thing to watch.
- Titans at 49ers, Thu, Aug 13, 9:00 PM. Robert Saleh opens his Tennessee tenure in San Francisco, where he ran the defense in 2025 and again from 2017 to 2020. It is his second head coaching job after four years with the Jets.
- Cowboys at Seahawks, Sat, Aug 15, 8:00 PM. Seattle’s first game at Lumen Field since beating New England 29 to 13 in Super Bowl LX.
- Eagles at Patriots, Sat, Aug 22, 7:00 PM. A.J. Brown faces Philadelphia for the first time since the June trade that sent him to New England for a 2028 first round pick. The Patriots went 14 and 3 and won the AFC last season.
- Commanders at Ravens, Fri, Aug 28, 6:00 PM. Jesse Minter’s first home game in Baltimore, with Lamar Jackson expected to take a short series.
- Bears at Titans, Sat, Aug 29, 6:00 PM. The last game of the preseason, one day before rosters drop to 53. Expect roster bubble players to log heavy snaps.
Rookie quarterbacks to track on NFL Network: Ty Simpson, the Rams’ No. 13 pick, on August 15 and August 27; Drew Allar with Pittsburgh in all three games; and Carson Beck, who starts the Hall of Fame Game for Arizona, back on the channel August 22.
How to Watch the NFL Network Preseason Schedule Without Cable
Several live TV streaming services carry NFL Network, but the tier matters. Below is the cheapest plan on each service that actually includes the channel, checked in August 2026.
| Service and plan | Price (mo) | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Sling Select | $19.99 | Cheapest route. Add $5 in markets with one or two local stations, $10 with all three |
| DirecTV MySports | $64.99 | Sports only genre pack with ESPN Unlimited included |
| YouTube TV Sports Plan | $64.99 | 34 channels including ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. $54.99 for a year if you join by August 26 |
| Fubo Sports & News | $64.99 | Rose $9 in July 2026 after the NBCUniversal deal |
| YouTube TV Base Plan | $82.99 | 100 plus channels and unlimited cloud DVR |
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99 | Adds ESPN Unlimited access inside the ESPN app |
| DirecTV Choice | $94.99 | Entertainment, the $89.99 tier below it, drops NFL Network |
For the 12 ESPN App games you need ESPN Unlimited at $29.99 a month or $299.99 a year. It also comes at no extra cost with Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, Fubo, Spectrum, Verizon Fios, U-verse, Cox, Xfinity and, since late July, YouTube TV. Activation runs through a MyDisney login. ESPN Select, at $12.99, does not include these games.
NFL+ Streaming
NFL+ costs $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year and streams live out of market preseason games plus on demand replays. NFL+ Premium is $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year and adds NFL RedZone, NFL Pro and full replays with All 22 coaches film, with 20 percent off the annual plan running through September 21.
The phone and tablet restriction that frustrates NFL+ users applies to local and primetime regular season and postseason games, not to the NFL Network channel feed.
Xfinity Customers Should Check First
NFL Network and NFL RedZone went dark on Comcast Xfinity when the carriage contract expired on April 30, 2026, and the channels were still off the lineup in early August. ESPN wants higher fees and a broader tier placement, while Comcast wants a guarantee that NFL Network keeps its seven exclusive regular season games for the length of the deal.
The real deadline is Sunday, September 13, the first full Sunday of the season, when Xfinity homes would also lose RedZone. Until it is settled, Comcast subscribers need a streaming service or NFL+ for these games.
Watching From Outside the US
NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the widest international option, and Game Pass also carries a 24/7 NFL Network feed. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland DAZN is showing all 49 preseason games live and free this year, starting with the Hall of Fame Game.
Preseason Blackout Rules
- A game airing on a local station in your market is blacked out live on NFL+. Watch it on that channel, or stream it free on the team’s own site and app.
- Games on NBC, ESPN, FOX or CBS carry a national blackout on NFL+.
- Live game audio is never blacked out. You can listen to every game and pick the local or national radio call.
Key 2026 Preseason Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 6 | Hall of Fame Game in Canton |
| Sat, Aug 8 | Hall of Fame enshrinement, Class of 2026 |
| Aug 13 to 15 | Preseason Week 1 |
| Aug 20 to 23 | Preseason Week 2 |
| Aug 27 to 29 | Preseason Week 3 |
| Sun, Aug 30, 6:00 PM ET | Rosters cut from 90 to 53, two days earlier than the old Tuesday deadline |
| Mon, Aug 31, 1:00 PM ET | Waiver claims due |
| Wed, Sep 9, 8:20 PM ET | Season opener, Patriots at Seahawks on NBC. A Wednesday because the Australia game takes Thursday |
Also Check: 2026 NFL regular season full schedule
NFL Network Preseason Schedule FAQs
How many games are on the NFL Network preseason schedule in 2026?
NFL Network airs 19 live preseason games in 2026, from Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 29, down from 21 last year. ESPN adds 12 more on the ESPN App and one exclusive game on ESPN, for 32 live games in total.
Why is my local team’s preseason game not on NFL Network?
NFL Network preseason games are out of market broadcasts. Inside the home markets of the two teams playing, the game moves to a local station, and the club also streams it free on its own website and app.
Can I watch NFL Network preseason games without cable?
Yes. Sling Select at $19.99 a month is the cheapest option, followed by DirecTV MySports, the YouTube TV Sports Plan and Fubo Sports & News at $64.99 each. YouTube TV Base is $82.99, Hulu + Live TV is $89.99 and DirecTV Choice is $94.99. NFL+ at $6.99 a month also streams the out of market preseason games.
Is NFL Network on Xfinity in 2026?
No. NFL Network and NFL RedZone went dark on Comcast Xfinity when the contract expired on April 30, 2026, and the carriage dispute with ESPN was still unresolved in early August 2026.
Does ESPN own NFL Network now?
Yes. ESPN closed its purchase of NFL Media on January 31, 2026 and took over operations on April 1. NFL Network and NFL Fantasy transferred outright and the NFL received a 10 percent stake in ESPN. NFL RedZone is different: ESPN holds its pay TV distribution rights while the NFL still owns and produces the channel.
How do I watch the 12 ESPN App preseason games?
You need ESPN Unlimited, which costs $29.99 a month or $299.99 a year. It is also included at no extra cost with Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, Fubo, Spectrum, Verizon Fios, U-verse, Cox, Xfinity and YouTube TV. The cheaper ESPN Select plan does not include these games.
Are preseason game replays available?
Yes. ESPN says all 48 preseason games will be available as replays on NFL Network. NFL+ carries on demand replays too, and NFL+ Premium adds full replays with All 22 coaches film.
Is there overtime in NFL preseason games?
No. NFL owners voted to remove overtime from preseason games in April 2021, so a tied preseason game ends in a tie after four quarters.
The 2026 NFL Network preseason schedule gives you 19 live games across nine nights in August, with 12 more streaming on the ESPN App and five on national TV.
Check whether your team is in market before kickoff, pick the cheapest tier that actually carries the channel, and bookmark this page. Times and listings here are updated whenever the NFL or ESPN changes them.
