2026 NFL Preseason Week 1: Schedule, TV & Top Storylines

The 2026 NFL preseason officially began on August 6 with the Hall of Fame Game between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals in Canton, Ohio, before Preseason Week 1 got underway on August 13.

This period is particularly important for teams looking to evaluate new players and settle some of the battles for starting positions, especially at quarterback. The games also give fans an opportunity to watch rookies selected in the Draft before the regular season officially begins.

NFL Preseason Week 1 Schedule

Week 1 continues Friday, August 14, featuring three matchups. The Denver Broncos will face the Atlanta Falcons at 7 p.m. ET, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the New York Jets at the same time. The Miami Dolphins will also face the Washington Commanders.

Week 1 concludes Saturday, August 15, with several matchups, including the Carolina Panthers against the Buffalo Bills, the Minnesota Vikings against the New York Giants, and the Los Angeles Rams against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jacksonville Jaguars will also face the New Orleans Saints, while the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys face the Seattle Seahawks.

Where to Watch NFL Preseason Games

NFL Preseason coverage is spread across several U.S. platforms. NFL Network will broadcast a number of out-of-market preseason games, while ESPN announced 12 additional games that can be streamed through the ESPN App by ESPN Unlimited subscribers.

NFL+, the league's official streaming platform, also offers live streaming of out-of-market preseason games, subject to geographic restrictions and local blackout rules. NFL+ Premium also provides on-demand replays of preseason games.

NFL Network's Week 1 schedule includes matchups such as the Green Bay Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Tennessee Titans against the San Francisco 49ers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns against the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Rams against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Dallas Cowboys against the Seattle Seahawks.

Top Storylines to Watch

One of the most closely watched storylines is the Las Vegas Raiders' matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, particularly because of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, whom the Raiders selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 Draft, alongside veteran Kirk Cousins. The matchup between Mendoza and Carson Beck was expected to add another layer of interest, but Beck will not play because of a rib injury he suffered during the Hall of Fame Game, according to Ian Rapoport, as reported by NFL.com.

In Cleveland, the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders is also drawing significant attention. Watson was expected to start the team's Week 1 preseason game against the Chicago Bears, while Sanders was scheduled to start in Week 2.

The list of notable storylines continues with the Minnesota Vikings, as J.J. McCarthy has only 10 career starts, according to NFL.com, while Kyler Murray has been announced as the team's starting quarterback. The Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers matchup also stands out, with attention focused on rookie wide receivers Carnell Tate, who was selected fourth overall in the 2026 Draft, and De'Zhaun Stribling, who was selected No. 33 overall.

Another matchup with a unique angle is the Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game, as Mike McCarthy faces his former team while Aaron Rodgers takes on his former team, Green Bay. According to NFL.com, McCarthy wanted Rodgers to play during the preseason, while Rodgers said he saw no advantage in playing in preseason games.

Written by shindy
Researcher and U.S. news enthusiast since 2011