Tonight, the NFL Preseason begins with the Hall of Fame Game between the Cardinals and Panthers. From now through August 29th, the NFL's 32 teams will play a total of 49 preseason games. It all leads up to the start of the 2026-27 regular season on September 9th! We have identified 17 nationally televised preseason games that are worth watching.
NFL Hall of Fame Game
Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals at 8:00 p.m. EDT on August 6th on NBC.
It may not carry any weight, but this is the first NFL game that we have seen since the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Every single football fan who is desperate for the six-month NFL drought to end will be tuning in to watch this contest, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. On top of that, we will get more clarity on the Cardinals' quarterback situation. Jacoby Brissett is expected to be the Week One starter, but rookie QB Carson Beck will be starting for Arizona in this contest. We'll get a better idea as to where Beck is in his development and how close he is to possibly becoming the Cardinals' starter.
NFL Preseason Week One
Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers at 7:00 p.m. EDT on August 13th on NFL Network.
After new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy announced that he wants quarterback Aaron Rodgers to start some preseason games, it wouldn't be surprising to see the 21-year vet play a few drives for Pittsburgh. Also, this might be the first and last time that we see Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers working together to go against their former team, the Green Bay Packers. Even if Rodgers doesn't take a single snap in this game, there will be a lot of people tuning in to see if he says anything to the media after the incredibly controversial comments he made against Dr. Anthony Fauci on a recent edition of "The Pat McAfee Show." Whenever Aaron Rodgers is on television screens, he is going to draw a lot of eyeballs, whether it's for good or bad reasons.
Arizona Cardinals @ Las Vegas Raiders at 8:00 p.m. EDT on August 13th on ESPN Unlimited.
This will be the first NFL action for quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was taken with the number-one overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. In late July, Kirk Cousins was named Vegas' starting quarterback by new head coach Klint Kubiak, with the expectation that he will be the starter when the regular season begins, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Based on that fact alone, people are going to want to see every preseason game that Mendoza plays in because we don't know when he’ll eventually take the reins from Kirk Cousins. Not to mention, we'll get our first look at Klint Kubiak's offense in Sin City.
Tennessee Titans @ San Francisco 49ers at 9:00 p.m. EDT on August 13th on NFL Network.
This marks the return of head coach Robert Saleh to the Bay Area, where he twice served as the 49ers' defensive coordinator. It'll be interesting to see what he dials up against the franchise that helped mold him into the coach he is today. On the other side, there is no shortage of storylines for San Francisco. Following the intense car crash that he was involved in last month, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan will be coaching on a "limited basis," which means assistant head coach Chris Foerster will get his first opportunity to show what he can do as the interim leader of this team. Lastly, we will get a chance to see what the 49ers have further down the roster with so many players already dealing with injuries.
Cleveland Browns @ Chicago Bears at 1:00 p.m. EDT on August 15th on NFL Network.
The Browns will not be a good team this season. However, the Cleveland quarterback battle is one of the most interesting storylines of the 2026 preseason. The Browns have four QBs expected to make the 53-man roster when the regular season begins, and each one of them has a case to be the starter when Week One rolls around. Though he hasn't played in a game since October 2024, Deshaun Watson is the most veteran quarterback on the team and looks like the favorite to be named the Week One starter. Then again, Shedeur Sanders is giving him a run for his money after he reportedly outplayed Watson during training camp. However, Dillon Gabriel was a better recruit coming out of college, so he could get some snaps. We also can't forget sixth-round draft pick Taylen Green, who put up record-setting numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine. At least two of these guys will get meaningful snaps in this game, and a front-runner to win the job should emerge from this.
Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants at 1:00 p.m. EDT on August 15th on ESPN Unlimited.
There are significant storylines for both teams coming into this game. The Vikings will get a better idea of who might be the starting quarterback when the regular season begins, with Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy both expected to play in this contest. It doesn't matter who it is; the Minnesota faithful just want somebody to come out as a clear front-runner for the starting job. Simultaneously, this will be the Giants' first game under new head coach John Harbaugh, who is obviously hoping to bring the G-Men back to their winning ways. Additionally, we will likely see two top-ten draft picks take the field in edge rusher Arvell Reese and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, as they begin their NFL careers.
Los Angeles Rams @ Kansas City Chiefs at 4:00 p.m. EDT on August 15th on ESPN Unlimited.
The last Week One Preseason game worth watching will feature two of the favorites to reach Super Bowl LXI. In all likelihood, quarterback Matthew Stafford will not play a single snap for the Rams, but that's inconsequential because everybody wants to see how first-round draft pick Ty Simpson will look against NFL competition. Will the 13th-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft play well, or is he going to look like a deer in the headlights? This will also be the first time we watch marquee names playing for their new teams, like Myles Garrett with the Rams and Kenneth Walker III for the Chiefs. Even if they don't play a snap, it'll be cool to see those guys in their new uniforms. And who knows, maybe Patrick Mahomes will line up under center!
NFL Preseason Week Two
New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers at 7:00 p.m. EDT on August 21st on NFL Network.
It shouldn't come as much of a shock that Aaron Rodgers is a vindictive motherf*cker, so he will probably demand that he starts the game against the team and head coach that shamefully cast him out of New York. I expect intense booing from Pittsburgh fans for a preseason game. Meanwhile, the Jets - whether they're good or bad - are always going to draw a large audience. People will want to see if fourth-round draft pick Cade Klubnik has the toughness, talent, and mental fortitude to challenge Geno Smith for the Jets' starting quarterback job. Also, Gang Green will probably have three first-round selections playing in this game, including number-two overall draft pick David Bailey.
Buffalo Bills @ Cleveland Browns at 1:00 p.m. EDT on August 22nd on NFL Network.
The Browns are going to be must-see TV throughout the preseason because they have the most intriguing quarterback competition. This will be especially true if an unexpected guy outperforms the other QBs on the roster, like Taylen Green or Dillon Gabriel. Of all 32 teams in the NFL, the preseason will be most important for Cleveland. At the same time, this will be Joe Brady's first time coaching in front of a national audience. We'll get to see how he might call plays for Josh Allen when the regular season begins, even if the former MVP doesn't play in this game. Not to mention, Jim Leonhard's defense will be on full display with free agent signing Bradley Chubb and rookie T.J. Parker expected to get some snaps.
New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams at 4:00 p.m. EDT on August 22nd on ESPN Unlimited.
Though it won't be as important as the Browns' preseason, the Rams will be taking a lot of stock in the three games they play before their regular-season opener on September 10th. After all, they need to know where Ty Simpson is in his development because he might be Los Angeles' contingency plan if starting quarterback Matthew Stafford deals with any injuries this coming season. Conversely, the Saints know that Tyler Shough will be their Week One starter, which means NFL fans across the globe will get their first glimpse of the new-look New Orleans offense that features free-agent running back Travis Etienne Jr. and Jordyn Tyson, the eighth-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The hope in the Big Easy is that Shough will perform so well that it eliminates any doubt that he should be the team's Week One starter. If he plays well on a stage like that, then it'll solidify him as the Saints' QB1.
New York Giants @ Miami Dolphins at 4:00 p.m. EDT on August 22nd on NFL Network.
As we mentioned previously, the Giants are going to be much more interesting this coming season, and that should also be the case during the preseason as this team decides important position battles like WR2, CB1, kicker, and so on. However, the Miami Dolphins will arguably be a more fascinating team to watch during the preseason. They completely revamped their franchise with a new general manager, head coach, quarterback, left guard, and cornerback. Hell, there's even a competition for the starting kicker job between Riley Patterson and free-agent Zane Gonzalez. This is going to be the first opportunity for the Dolphins to show the world that they are headed in the right direction. How they perform in this matchup could set the tone for expectations during the regular season.
Philadelphia Eagles @ New England Patriots at 7:00 p.m. EDT on August 22nd on NFL Network.
There aren't any positional battles of major importance in this game. However, this might be the second-most-watched game of the 2026 preseason because it will feature Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown going up against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Though Brown claims that there are no hard feelings between him and the Eagles, I don't believe that for a second. Actually, a rivalry has developed online between Eagles and Patriots fans. Even if there isn't any bad blood between these two teams, there certainly is animosity between the fans. In all likelihood, Brown will not only start this game, but New England will make targeting him a top priority when he's on the field.
Dallas Cowboys @ Arizona Cardinals at 10:00 p.m. EDT on August 22nd on NFL Network.
Whenever the Cowboys grace television screens, it’s going to garner a lot of viewers. Whether you love them or hate them, people tune into Dallas Cowboys games. This will be the best chance for people to see the new-look Dallas defense, which added edge rusher Rashan Gary, cornerback Cobie Durant, pass rusher Malachi Lawrence, and highly-touted safety Caleb Downs. Plus, the Cards will probably give each one of their top-three quarterbacks a chance to line up under center. I wouldn't be surprised if Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Carson Beck play at least one quarter apiece in this game. That will give Arizona a better idea as to who should be the team's backup QB when the season begins.
NFL Preseason Week Three
New England Patriots @ Cleveland Browns at 8:00 p.m. EDT on August 27th on Amazon Prime Video.
This will be Cleveland's last in-game action before their regular-season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 13th. At this point, the quarterback competition should be cut down to two candidates. In my opinion, it will probably be between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Both guys will likely play at least two quarters, giving the Browns front office an understanding as to who should be named the Week One starter. As is often the case, the last preseason game will decide positional battles before rosters are cut down to 53 players, so there will be some important decisions for the Patriots too, like QB2, EDGE3, and starting right tackle.
San Francisco 49ers @ Las Vegas Raiders at 8:00 p.m. EDT on August 27th on ESPN Unlimited.
NFL teams usually bench their most important players for the third game of the preseason, so it's unclear whether or not Fernando Mendoza will see the field during this matchup. If he does play, then this might be the last time we see him before he makes his regular-season debut, whenever that might be. If he doesn't play, there will still be battles to watch out for, like who emerges as Vegas' top wide receiver and who should be the starting nose tackle. On San Francisco's side, this will be a fantastic opportunity to figure out who is worthy of a roster spot since this team is dealing with injuries. Ensuring the 49ers have depth will be key to the long-term success of this team.
Los Angeles Rams @ Los Angeles Chargers at 10:00 p.m. EDT on August 27th on NFL Network.
Think of this as the warm-up before the main course. The Chargers and Rams will face off on November 1st in the battle for Los Angeles, but - in the meantime - the winner of this game will have bragging rights over the other. If everything goes according to plan, then this will be the last time we see Ty Simpson during the 2026 NFL season. There's no question that Matthew Stafford is the Rams' QB1, but, hopefully, Simpson will have played well enough during the preseason to be named the backup quarterback. For the Chargers, this game will decide things like who will be the second running back and whether or not first-round draft pick Akheem Mesidor earns a spot as a starter.
Chicago Bears @ Tennessee Titans at 6:00 p.m. EDT on August 29th on NFL Network.
There may not be exciting quarterback competitions decided in this game, but people should still tune into this matchup. After all, this is the final NFL game before the regular-season opener! There are only two games on August 26th, and the first one starts at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Undoubtedly, this matchup between the Bears and Titans will be the last NFL action we see for 11 days. Even if you don't have a dog in this fight, you should tune into this contest to get your NFL fix before the Seahawks open the year against the Patriots.
