NFL Preseason Schedule and How To Watch With DISH - THE DIG (2025)

Table of Contents

Week 1 NFL Preseason Games (National TV) Week 2 Preseason Games (National TV) Week 3 Preseason Games (National TV) References

For NFL fans, hope always burns hottest in the weeks leading up to the first game of the season. This year, that’s especially true. With a record six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the draft, teams like the New England Patriots (Drake Maye), Washington Commanders (Jayden Daniels), and Denver Broncos (Bo Nix), finally feel hopeful about the future at the most important position on the field.

That emotion is even more acute in Chicago, where the Bears have spent generations in search of a homegrown, long term QB. After moving on from Justin Fields (who found a soft landing spot in Pittsburgh, where he’ll compete with Russell Wilson for the starting job), the Bears selected Heisman-winner Caleb Williams no. 1 overall. Chicago also traded for star Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, and signed D.J. Moore to a long term extension, so Williams will at least have weapons to throw to.

If all goes well, the Bears would like to become this year’s version of the 2023 Houston Texans, whose turnaround was greatly accelerated by last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, QB C.J. Stroud. Taken no. 2 overall, Stroud (along with Defensive Rookie of the Year, Will Anderson) led Houston to a division title and a playoff win in his first season. He was rewarded in April when the Texans traded with the Buffalo Bills for sticky-handed receiver Stefon Diggs, adding a formidable weapon to Houston’s already talented offensive roster.

Fans of the Bears and Texans will get an early look at their 2024 rosters when the two teams kickoff the preseason in the Hall of Game on Thursday, Aug. 1 on ESPN and ABC. Although neither Williams or Stroud are expected to play, the game should provide early insight into the depth of two of the NFL’s most promising young teams.

The preseason begins in earnest a week later, on Thursday, Aug. 8, when the Carolina Panthers visit the New England Patriots for a game on NFL Network. All three weeks of the preseason will feature games Thursday through Sunday, many of which will be nationally televised on the league’s broadcasting partners: NFL Network, CBS, NBC, Amazon Prime Video, and FOX.

Check out a full list of nationally-televised NFL preseason games below, and follow this link for more information on watching football with DISH.

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Week 1 NFL Preseason Games (National TV)

Thur. Aug. 8

Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots – 7:00pm ET – NFL Network

Week 2 Preseason Games (National TV)

Thur. Aug. 15

Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots – 7:00pm ET – NFL Network

Sat. Aug. 17

Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears – 1:00pm ET – NFL Network

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs – 4:00pm ET – NFL Network

Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers – 7:00pm ET – NFL Network

Dallas Cowboys at Las Vegas Raiders – 10:00pm ET – NFL Network

Sun. Aug. 18

Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos – 8:00pm ET – NFL Network

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers – 8:00pm ET – FOX

Week 3 Preseason Games (National TV)

Thur. Aug. 22

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals – 8:00pm ET – Prime Video

Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs – 8:15pm ET – NFL Network

Fri. Aug. 23

Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons – 7:00pm ET – NFL Network

San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders – 11:00pm ET – NFL Network

Sat. Aug. 24

Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions – 1:00pm ET – NFL Network

LA Chargers at Dallas Cowboys – 4:00pm ET – NFL Network

New York Giants at New York Jets – 7:30pm ET – NFL Network

Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks – 10:00pm ET – NFL Network

Sun. Aug. 25

Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints – 2:00pm ET – NFL Network

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos – 4:30pm ET – CBS

New England Patriots at Washington Commanders – 8:00pm ET – NBC