2026 NFL Preseason Week 2: TV Schedule, Channels and Streaming
NFL Preseason Week 2 of the 2026 season runs from Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23, 2026. All 16 games are played across four days, opening with the Las Vegas Raiders at the Houston Texans at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The week closes on Sunday night when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Tennessee Titans at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Everything below is verified against NFL.com and the official club schedule releases as of July 25, 2026.
NFL Preseason Week 2 2026 Dates and Kickoff Times
Week 2 is spread across a Thursday doubleheader, a three game Friday, a ten game Saturday and a single Sunday nightcap. There is no Monday game this year, unlike the 2025 preseason.
| DAY | DATE | GAMES | WINDOW (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | August 20, 2026 | 2 | 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. |
| Friday | August 21, 2026 | 3 | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | August 22, 2026 | 10 | 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | August 23, 2026 | 1 | 8:00 p.m. |
Full NFL Preseason Week 2 TV Schedule 2026
Two games are national. ESPN has the Thursday opener and FOX has the Sunday finale, so those two air in every market. The rest are split between NFL Network, the ESPN App and local broadcast partners.
| DATE | MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | WHERE TO WATCH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 20 | Raiders at Texans | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN (national) |
| Thu, Aug 20 | 49ers at Chargers | 10:00 p.m. | NFL Network (out of market), CBS 2 LA locally |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Jets at Steelers | 7:00 p.m. | NFL Network (out of market), KDKA-TV locally |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Panthers at Jaguars | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN App (out of market), CBS47 locally |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Packers at Broncos | 9:00 p.m. | NFL Network (out of market), 9NEWS locally |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Commanders at Lions | 12:00 p.m. | Local TV only |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Bills at Browns | 1:00 p.m. | NFL Network (out of market), WEWS News 5 locally |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Ravens at Vikings | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN App (out of market), FOX 9 locally |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Falcons at Colts | 1:00 p.m. | Local TV only |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Giants at Dolphins | 4:00 p.m. | NFL Network (out of market), CBS Miami locally |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Saints at Rams | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN App (out of market), CBS LA locally |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Eagles at Patriots | 7:00 p.m. | NFL Network (out of market), WBZ-TV locally |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Bears at Bengals | 7:00 p.m. | Local TV only |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Chiefs at Buccaneers | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN App (out of market), WFLA-TV locally |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Cowboys at Cardinals | 10:00 p.m. | NFL Network (out of market), Arizona’s Family locally |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Seahawks at Titans | 8:00 p.m. | FOX (national) |
Also Check: NFL Preseason Full Schedule 2026 and the Week 1 preseason TV schedule
What Channels Are the NFL Preseason Week 2 Games On?
The 2026 preseason is the first under ESPN ownership of NFL Network. ESPN closed its acquisition of NFL Network in late January 2026 and took over operations on April 1, which is why more games than ever sit behind ESPN platforms this August.
NFL Network: 7 Week 2 games
NFL Network carries 19 live games across the full preseason, seven of them in Week 2: 49ers at Chargers, Jets at Steelers, Packers at Broncos, Bills at Browns, Giants at Dolphins, Eagles at Patriots and Cowboys at Cardinals. Every one of them is out of market only.
If you live in either team’s home market, the game is blacked out on NFL Network and airs on the local partner listed in the table above.
ESPN App: 4 Week 2 games
ESPN streams 12 extra preseason games on the ESPN App this year, up from five in 2025. Week 2 gets four: Panthers at Jaguars, Ravens at Vikings, Saints at Rams and Chiefs at Buccaneers. These require an ESPN Unlimited plan, not the cheaper ESPN Select tier, and the same out of market restriction applies.
Local TV only: 3 Week 2 games
Three Saturday games have no national or out of market live window at all: Commanders at Lions, Falcons at Colts and Bears at Bengals. Outside those four markets your only option is the NFL Network replay, since ESPN has confirmed all 48 preseason games are available on replay.
How to Stream NFL Preseason Week 2 Games Online
NFL+ is the cheapest route to the out of market slate at $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with NFL+ Premium at $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year adding NFL RedZone, All-22 coaches film and NFL Pro. Preseason games on NFL+ do stream to connected TV devices including Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox, PlayStation and Samsung, LG and Vizio sets from 2020 onward. That connected TV access is a preseason perk; regular season local and primetime games stay on phones and tablets.
For the ESPN App games you need ESPN Unlimited at $29.99 a month or $299.99 a year. It is included at no extra cost with Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV streaming, Fubo, Spectrum, Cox and Verizon Fios.
ESPN also sells an ESPN Unlimited plus NFL+ Premium bundle starting at $39.99 a month, which covers both the ESPN App games and the NFL+ slate for less than buying the two separately.
Live TV streaming plans compared (July 2026 pricing)
| SERVICE | PRICE | NFL NETWORK | ESPN | FREE TRIAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sling Select | $19.99/mo | Yes | No | No (7 day pass $14.99) |
| Sling Blue | $45.99/mo | Yes | No | No |
| YouTube TV Sports Plan | $64.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube TV Base | $82.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fubo Pro | $88.99/mo | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes (3 days) |
| DirecTV Choice | $94.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes (5 days) |
Two things worth knowing before you subscribe. Sling splits its channels awkwardly: NFL Network sits on Blue and Select while ESPN sits on Orange, so no single Sling plan gets you both the Thursday opener on ESPN and the NFL Network games. And DirecTV Entertainment at $89.99 does not carry NFL Network, so Choice at $94.99 is the lowest DirecTV tier that works.
NFL Preseason Week 2 Blackout Rules
Blackouts are the single biggest source of confusion in preseason viewing, and the rules are simple once you know them.
- Local blackout. If you are inside either participating team’s market, the game is blacked out live on NFL+, NFL Network and the ESPN App. Watch it on the local station instead, or stream it free on the club’s own website and app.
- National blackout. Games airing live on ESPN, FOX, CBS or NBC are blacked out nationally on NFL+. That means the Raiders at Texans opener and the Seahawks at Titans finale are not on NFL+ live anywhere.
- Audio is never blacked out. Live game audio on NFL+ works in every market for every game.
Comcast Xfinity customers: check before Week 2
Comcast Xfinity has not carried NFL Network or NFL RedZone since May 1, 2026, when the carriage contract expired under ESPN’s new ownership of NFL Network distribution. As of late July 2026 there is still no deal. If you are on Xfinity and want the seven NFL Network games in Week 2, you will need NFL+ or one of the streaming services above.
Watching NFL Preseason Week 2 Outside the United States
NFL Game Pass International on DAZN remains the primary international home for NFL coverage in 2026, available in more than 200 markets outside the United States and China. DAZN has not yet published its 2026 preseason game listing, so check the platform for the exact Week 2 lineup in your country.
What to Watch in Week 2
- Fernando Mendoza opens the week. The Indiana quarterback taken first overall by Las Vegas headlines the Thursday ESPN opener at Houston. All three Raiders preseason games sit on ESPN platforms.
- Aaron Rodgers against his old team. Rodgers re-signed with Pittsburgh in May and has said 2026 is his last season. The Jets visit Pittsburgh on Friday, though Rodgers sat out the entire 2025 preseason, so his snap count is anything but guaranteed.
- The champions close it out. Seattle, which beat New England 29 to 13 in Super Bowl LX behind MVP Kenneth Walker III, plays the only Sunday game at Tennessee on FOX.
- An AFC title rematch of sorts. New England went 14 and 3 last season before losing the Super Bowl and hosts Philadelphia on Saturday night on NFL Network.
- New quarterbacks in new places. Kyler Murray debuts for Minnesota against Baltimore, Tua Tagovailoa leads Atlanta at Indianapolis, and rookie Carson Beck gets Arizona in the late Saturday window against Dallas.
Key Dates After Week 2
| DATE | EVENT |
|---|---|
| Aug 27 to 29, 2026 | Preseason Week 3, including Patriots at Browns on Prime Video and Bengals at Eagles on CBS |
| Sun, Aug 30, 6:00 p.m. ET | Roster cutdown from 90 players to 53 |
| Mon, Aug 31, 1:00 p.m. ET | Waiver claim deadline |
| Wed, Sep 9, 8:20 p.m. ET | Regular season kickoff, Patriots at Seahawks on NBC |
| Thu, Sep 10, 2026 | 49ers vs Rams in Melbourne on Netflix |
FAQ: NFL Preseason Week 2 2026
When is NFL Preseason Week 2 in 2026?
NFL Preseason Week 2 runs from Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23, 2026. Sixteen games are played: two on Thursday, three on Friday, ten on Saturday and one on Sunday night.
What channels are the NFL Preseason Week 2 games on?
ESPN carries Raiders at Texans on August 20 and FOX carries Seahawks at Titans on August 23. NFL Network has seven games out of market, the ESPN App has four, and three Saturday games are on local television only.
Which Week 2 games are on NFL Network?
Seven games: 49ers at Chargers, Jets at Steelers, Packers at Broncos, Bills at Browns, Giants at Dolphins, Eagles at Patriots and Cowboys at Cardinals. All seven are available out of market only.
Which Week 2 games stream on the ESPN App?
Panthers at Jaguars, Ravens at Vikings, Saints at Rams and Chiefs at Buccaneers. You need an ESPN Unlimited plan rather than ESPN Select, and the games are blacked out in both participating markets.
How can I stream NFL Preseason Week 2 without cable?
NFL+ carries out of market preseason games from 6.99 dollars a month. YouTube TV, Hulu plus Live TV, Fubo, Sling and DirecTV all carry NFL Network, and the Thursday opener needs a plan that includes ESPN.
Do blackout rules apply in Week 2?
Yes. Games are blacked out live on NFL+ inside the participating markets, where they air on a local station instead. Games on ESPN or FOX are blacked out nationally on NFL+. Live audio is never blacked out.
Can Xfinity customers watch NFL Network in Week 2?
No. Comcast Xfinity lost NFL Network and NFL RedZone on May 1, 2026 after the carriage agreement expired, and no new deal had been reached as of late July 2026. Use NFL+ or a live TV streaming service instead.
Is there overtime in NFL preseason games?
No. NFL owners removed preseason overtime in April 2021, so a tied preseason game simply ends in a tie.
Do preseason results count in the standings?
No. Preseason games are exhibitions. They do not affect regular season standings, playoff seeding or official player statistics.
When are roster cuts after preseason Week 2?
Clubs must trim from 90 players to 53 by 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 30, 2026. The waiver claim deadline follows at 1:00 p.m. ET on Monday, August 31.
Can I watch Week 2 games outside the United States?
Yes. NFL Game Pass International on DAZN serves more than 200 markets outside the United States and China. Check the platform for the confirmed 2026 preseason lineup in your country.
NFL Preseason Week 2 gives you 16 games in four days, and the viewing map is straightforward once you sort it: ESPN on Thursday night, FOX on Sunday night, seven NFL Network games and four ESPN App games for out of market fans, and a local broadcast partner for everyone inside a participating market.
If you only add one service for the week, NFL+ at $6.99 covers the widest out of market slate for the least money.
Bookmark this page, because kickoff times and local station assignments can still shift in the days before August 20.
