You know that feeling in late July when the air starts to smell a little different? It’s not just the humidity. It’s the realization that we’ve finally made it through the desert of the off-season. But here is the thing about the nfl network schedule preseason—most people treat it like background noise until they realize they missed the only live look at their team’s new first-round quarterback.
Preseason isn't just "fake football." For some of these guys, it’s the most important sixty minutes of their lives. Honestly, if you aren't tracking the NFL Network's live slate, you’re basically flying blind into your fantasy draft.
Why the NFL Network Schedule Preseason Matters Now
The league shifted to a three-game preseason a few years back. This changed everything. Teams don't "hide" players for four weeks anymore. They have a narrow window to decide who makes the 53-man cut and who’s looking for a job on LinkedIn. NFL Network usually carries a massive chunk of these games live—typically around 21 games—while the rest are shown as tape-delayed replays.
If you live in New York but root for the Seahawks, NFL Network is your lifeline. Without it, you're stuck watching local car commercials and a blowout in a different time zone.
Breaking Down the Live Broadcasts
The 2025 preseason kicked off with the Hall of Fame Game on July 31, where the Los Angeles Chargers took on the Detroit Lions. That game was on NBC, but once we hit the "official" Week 1 of the preseason, NFL Network took over the heavy lifting.
Week 1 Highlights
The first full week of August is usually a chaotic mess of doubleheaders. On Thursday, August 7, the network gave us the Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens followed by the Las Vegas Raiders at Seattle Seahawks.
Saturday, August 9, was the real marathon. We saw a tripleheader that started at 1:00 p.m. ET with the New York Giants and their weirdly crowded QB room (Wilson, Winston, and the rookie Jaxson Dart) facing the Buffalo Bills. Then we had the Vikings at Texans and finished with Justin Fields making his Jets debut against the Green Bay Packers.
The Logistics of Watching
Look, blackouts are the worst. It’s the one thing that catches fans off guard every single year. If a game is airing on your local CBS or FOX affiliate, NFL Network will "black out" the live feed in your area. You’ll probably see a "Game of the Week" replay or some studio analysis instead.
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- Live Games: NFL Network carries 21 live games across the three weeks.
- Replays: Every single preseason game that isn't shown live is eventually re-aired on the network, usually in the middle of the night or the following morning.
- Streaming: If you’re a cord-cutter, NFL+ is the partner here. You can get out-of-market preseason games live on your phone or tablet.
Week 2 and 3: The "Dress Rehearsals"
By the time we hit mid-August, the nfl network schedule preseason gets a bit more serious. On Saturday, August 16, they ran a quadruple-header. It started at 1:00 p.m. ET with the Browns at Eagles, moved into 49ers at Raiders, then the Jets at Giants (the "Snoopy Bowl"), and ended late with the Cardinals at Broncos.
The final week—Week 3—is the last gasp. On Saturday, August 23, the schedule was packed again.
- Rams at Browns (1:00 p.m. ET)
- Seahawks at Packers (4:00 p.m. ET)
- Jaguars at Dolphins (7:00 p.m. ET)
- Raiders at Cardinals (10:00 p.m. ET)
By Sunday, August 24, the "live" portion of the preseason is essentially over. Teams spend the next 48 hours cutting nearly half their roster. It's brutal.
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Common Misconceptions About the Schedule
People always ask why their team isn't on "live." Usually, it's because of the national TV deals. NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, and even Amazon Prime Video (who had the Patriots at Giants on August 21) get "priority" picks. NFL Network fills in the gaps.
Another weird thing? The schedule isn't symmetrical. Some days have one game; some Saturdays have four. You have to check the daily listings because "NFL GameDay Kickoff" often provides live look-ins at games that aren't being shown in full. If you see Travis Hunter making a play for the Jaguars, it might be a live highlight rather than the full broadcast.
How to Handle the "Preseason Burnout"
Don't try to watch every minute. You'll go crazy. Instead, focus on the "rookie windows." Most starters play a series or two in Week 2 and maybe nothing in Week 3. The fourth quarter of these games is where the real drama is—guys playing for their careers.
Actionable Steps for the Rest of the Month:
- Check the Replay Schedule: If you missed a 1:00 p.m. game because of work, NFL Network almost always loops the "big" games starting at 8:00 p.m. ET or midnight.
- Sync Your Fantasy Draft: If you're drafting late, watch the Week 3 replays to see who is actually getting the "RB2" carries. Coaches lie in press conferences; the tape doesn't.
- Confirm Your Local Listings: Use the NFL's "Ways to Watch" page and enter your zip code. It's the only way to be 100% sure about blackouts.
The nfl network schedule preseason is basically a three-week-long job interview. Whether you’re watching for the draft intel or just because you missed the sound of a stadium horn, it’s the bridge to the real thing. Get your DVR ready now because once the regular season starts on September 4, there’s no looking back.