How to watch the 2024 NFL preseason (2024)

The long wait for the NFL is over! OK, it's just the NFL preseason, but considering this is the first on-field action since the thrilling Super Bowl LVIII in February, we're willing to bet many NFL diehards are chomping at the bit to watch 2024 NFL preseason action. Well, we've got you covered with everything you need to know.

This month will see all 32 teams play three preseason games (the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans are playing four as they participate in the annual Hall of Fame game). However, watching NFL preseason games isn't like tuning in to the NFL on CBS or the NFL on Fox every Sunday.

Read on to find the best ways to watch your favorite team this preseason, whether that be on TV or streaming. Plus, we've got the full schedule and list of games that are going to be available on national TV.

How to watch NFL preseason games on TV

The NFL returns to TV for preseason action with all of the major networks that carry NFL games during the season having at least one national broadcast for a game (the announcing teams need some preseason reps, too).

As we head into the official first week of the preseason, with all 32 teams in action, here is what you need to know to watch the games.

Most games will be available to watch on local ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC stations (check your local listings to see what games are available and on what channel). But any of the games that air on these networks are going to be accessible to anyone with a traditional pay-TV provider, a TV antenna or a live TV streaming service. In the case of the later, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV get you all four of the national broadcast networks, while Sling TV carries ABC, Fox and NBC.

There are going to be seven preseason games that air nationally on NFL Network; they are: Panthers vs Patriots, Texans vs Steelers, Bears vs Bills, Raiders vs Vikings, Chiefs vs Jaguars, Broncos vs Colts and Cowboys vs Rams (see full schedule below for exact dates and times). The NFL Network is a premium cable channels, though they are available through most cable TV providers as well as being available on Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV.

If you are not in an area where your favorite team is available on live TV, streaming is going to be the best way to watch these preseason games.

How to stream NFL preseason games

There are a few options to stream 2024 NFL preseason games, the best of which is NFL Plus. Subscribers to NFL Plus can watch all out-of-market preseason games live on any supported device; if a game is nationally televised, it'll only be available on a phone or tablet via NFL Plus. As the streams are just for out-of-market games, fans cannot stream their local team via NFL Plus, but NFL Plus Premium subscribers can see full and condensed replays of all games on-demand.

NFL Plus is exclusively available in the US, but NFL Game Pass is available internationally, including in the UK, through the DAZN streaming platform. NFL Game Pass allows fans to watch replays of American broadcasts, including analysis, commentary and even commercials.

The NFL has also made the move to streaming, with preseason games being available on Paramount Plus, Peaco*ck and Prime Video. Paramount Plus will live stream CBS's nationally televised preseason game, as well as other live streams of local CBS station broadcasts of games for different markets. NBC's preseason national broadcast is also going to be available on its streaming service, Peaco*ck. Finally, Prime Video, the home of Thursday Night Football, is going to have its own exclusive preseason game this year. In order to watch any of the games on these services, you must be a subscriber.

2024 NFL preseason schedule

Here is the complete 2024 NFL preseason schedule, from the Hall of Fame game to week 3. If a game is available nationally, we've shared what network or streaming service it's going to be on.

2024 Hall of Fame game

Thursday, August 1

• Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, ESPN/ABC

2024 NFL preseason week 1

Thursday, August 8

• Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, NFL Network
• Detroit Lions vs New York Giants, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT

Friday, August 9

• Atlanta Falcons vs Miami Dolphins, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT
• Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, NFL Network
• Philadelphia Eagles vs Baltimore Ravens, 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT

Saturday, August 10

• Washington Commanders vs New York Jets, noon ET/9 am PT
• Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, 1 pm ET/10 am PT, NFL Network
• Las Vegas Raiders vs Minnesota Vikings, 4 pm ET/1 pm PT, NFL Network
• Green Bay Packers vs Cleveland Browns, 4:25 pm ET/1:25 pm PT
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Cincinnati Bengals, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT
• San Francisco 49ers vs Tennessee Titans, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT
• Kanas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, NFL Network
• Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Chargers, 7:05 pm ET/4:05 pm PT
• New Orleans Saints vs Arizona Cardinals, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT

Sunday, August 11

• Denver Broncos vs Indianapolis Colts, 1 pm ET/10 am PT, NFL Network
• Dallas Cowboys vs Los Angeles Rams, 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT, NFL Network

2024 NFL preseason week 2

Thursday, August 15

• Philadelphia Eagles vs New England Patriots, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, NFL Network

Saturday, August 17

• Atlanta Falcons vs Baltimore Ravens, noon ET/9 am PT
• Cincinnati Bengals vs Chicago Bears, 1 pm ET/10 am PT, NFL Network
• New York Giants vs Houston Texans, 1 pm ET/10 am PT
• Detroit Lions vs Kansas City Chiefs, 4 pm ET/1 pm PT, NFL Network
• Minnesota Vikings vs Cleveland Browns, 4:25 pm ET/1:25 pm PT
• Seattle Seahawks vs Tennessee Titans, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT
• Arizona Cardinals vs Indianapolis Colts, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT
• Washington Commanders vs Miami Dolphins, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT
• Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, NFL Network
• New York Jets vs Carolina Panthers, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT
• Los Angeles Rams vs Los Angeles Chargers, 7:05 pm ET/4:05 pm PT
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Jacksonville Jaguars, 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT
• Dallas Cowboys vs Las Vegas Raiders, 10 pm ET/7 pm PT, NFL Network

Sunday, August 18

• Green Bay Packers vs Denver Broncos, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, NFL Network
• New Orleans Saints vs San Francisco 49ers, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, Fox

2024 NFL preseason week 3

Thursday, August 22

• Indianapolis Colts vs Cincinnati Bengals, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, Prime Video
• Chicago Bears vs Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 pm ET/5:20 pm PT, NFL Network

Friday, August 23

• Jacksonville Jaguars vs Atlanta Falcons, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, NFL Network
• Miami Dolphins vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT
• San Francisco 49ers vs Las Vegas Raiders, 10 pm ET/7 pm PT, NFL Network

Saturday, August 24

• Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills, 1 pm ET/10 am PT
• Pittsburgh Steelers vs Detroit Lions, 1 pm ET/10 am PT, NFL Network
• Baltimore Ravens vs Green Bay Packers, 1 pm ET/10 am PT
• Minnesota Vikings vs Philadelphia Eagles, 1 pm ET/10 am PT
• Los Angeles Rams vs Houston Texans, 1 pm ET/10 am PT
• Los Angeles Chargers vs Dallas Cowboys, 4 pm ET/1 pm PT, NFL Network
• New York Giants vs New York Jets, 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT, NFL Network
• Cleveland Browns vs Seattle Seahawks, 10 pm ET/7 pm PT, NFL Network

Sunday, August 25

• Tennessee Titans vs New Orleans Saints, 2 pm ET/11 am PT, NFL Network
• Arizona Cardinals vs Denver Broncos, 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT, CBS
• New England Patriots vs Washington Commanders, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, NBC