Football season is weird. We spend months starving for a single snap, then suddenly, we’re flooded with three weeks of games that "don't count." But if you’re looking for the finish line before the real madness begins, you’re probably asking: when is the last preseason nfl game?
The short answer? It’s basically the final dress rehearsal. For the 2025 season, the preseason officially wraps up on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
While the NFL schedule can sometimes feel like a moving target with all the Monday night doubleheaders and international games, the preseason finale follows a pretty strict rhythm. Most of the league packs it in on that Saturday, though a few stragglers might play on a Sunday if the TV networks demand it. But for the bulk of the 32 teams, August 23rd is the "cut day" eve. It’s the last chance for a guy you’ve never heard of to become a local legend—or at least earn a paycheck for another week.
The 2025 Preseason Finale: Marking Your Calendar
Honestly, the last weekend of the preseason is a bit of a chaotic sprint. Unlike the regular season, where games are spaced out for maximum viewership, the NFL tends to dump a huge chunk of the final preseason matchups into a single window.
For the 2025 cycle, the final day of action is packed. Here is how the finish line looks for the most anticipated matchups on Saturday, August 23:
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- Las Vegas Raiders at Arizona Cardinals: This one kicks off late—10:00 PM ET—making it technically one of the very last games of the entire preseason.
- Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers: A West Coast battle starting at 8:30 PM ET.
- Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A cross-conference clash at 7:30 PM ET.
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins: The battle for Florida starts at 7:00 PM ET.
You might notice something missing: Sunday games. In previous years, the NFL liked to have a big national broadcast on Sunday night to close things out. However, teams have increasingly lobbied for an earlier finish. Why? Because the "roster apocalypse" happens shortly after. Coaches want that extra 24 hours to look at the film before they have to tell 37 players they’re fired.
Why the Date of the Last Preseason NFL Game Constantly Shifts
If you’re confused why the date seems different every year, blame the 17-game regular season. When the NFL added that extra week of meaningful football a few years back, they chopped the preseason from four games down to three.
Well, except for the poor souls playing in the Hall of Fame Game.
In 2025, the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers got the "honor" of playing four games because they kicked off the whole summer in Canton, Ohio, on July 31st. For everyone else, it’s a three-game sprint. This means the last preseason nfl game now happens much earlier in August than it used to. It creates a "dead week" between the preseason and the regular season opener (which is September 4th, 2025). This gap is a godsend for players' hamstrings but a desert for fans who just want to see a touchdown.
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What Actually Happens in the Final Game?
If you tune in to the last preseason game expecting to see Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson, you’re going to be disappointed. Or bored. Most starters won't even put on their pads. They’re standing on the sidelines wearing bucket hats and holding tablets.
This game belongs to the "bubble players."
Basically, the roster has to go from 90 men down to 53. That’s a lot of pink slips. For the guy who was a fourth-string linebacker at a small Division II school, the second half of that final game is his Super Bowl. Scouts from other teams are watching the tape, too. Even if a player doesn't make the 53-man roster for the team he's currently on, a solid performance in the finale could get him claimed on waivers by someone else.
The "Roster Bubble" Drama
It's sorta heart-wrenching if you think about it. You’ve got guys who have given their entire lives to the sport, and their professional survival comes down to a special teams tackle at 11:15 PM on a Saturday in August.
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- The "Audition" Phase: The first half usually features second-stringers trying to lock in their backup roles.
- The "Desperation" Phase: The fourth quarter is usually a mess of penalties and missed assignments, but it's where the rawest talent shows up.
- The "Safety" Priority: Coaches are terrified of injuries here. If a starter does play, it’s usually for one series just to keep the "rust" off.
How to Watch the Final Matchups
Watching the last preseason nfl game is easier than it used to be, but it still requires some navigation. Local stations usually carry their specific team's game. If you're out of market, you’re looking at NFL+ or the NFL Network.
The NFL Network usually does a "Live Look-in" or a whip-around style coverage for the Saturday slate because so many games happen at once. It’s like a low-stakes version of RedZone. You’ll see a touchdown in Miami, then immediately jump to a goal-line stand in Green Bay.
Moving Toward the Regular Season
Once that final whistle blows on August 23rd, the vibe changes instantly. The "experimentation" phase is over.
Within 48 hours, the waiver wire becomes the busiest place in sports. Teams are frantically trying to figure out if the guy the Giants just cut is better than the guy they have. It's a jigsaw puzzle played with human beings.
For fans, the end of the preseason is the ultimate green light. It means your fantasy draft is probably 48 hours away. It means the "real" standings are about to matter. It means the Thursday night opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys is finally on the horizon.
Actionable Steps for the Preseason Finale
If you’re planning to follow the end of the preseason, don't just mindlessly watch the scoreboard. Here is how to actually get value out of it:
- Watch the Backup QB Battle: In 2025, several teams are running "bridge" quarterbacks. The final preseason game is often where a rookie is given the "keys" for a full half to see if he's ready to start by Week 4.
- Monitor the Injury Report: Check social media (specifically beat writers on X) about 30 minutes before kickoff. They’ll tell you exactly who is sitting. If a projected starter is playing, it usually means the coach is unhappy with their conditioning.
- Draft Strategy: If you haven't held your fantasy football draft yet, wait until after August 23. Every year, a major player gets hurt in the final week of practice or a "sleeper" emerges in the final game. Don't be the person who drafts a guy who gets cut two days later.
- Check the Waivers: If your team has a weak offensive line, pay attention to the teams with "deep" rosters like the Ravens or Eagles. The players they cut in the 24 hours following the final game will likely be starters elsewhere by September.