Full slate of August exhibition games sets the stage for a rare Wednesday night Super Bowl LX rematch to start the regular season.
NEW YORK – Football season has officially returned as the NFL transitions into its 2026 preseason action this week, setting the stage for a action-packed buildup to kickoff night.
Following the Carolina Panthers’ 33–30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game on August 6, all 32 teams take the field for Preseason Week 1 running Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 15. Slate highlights include the Green Bay Packers traveling to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Tennessee Titans visiting the San Francisco 49ers, and the Detroit Lions kicking off action against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The momentum continues into Preseason Week 2 (August 20–23), featuring a national broadcast double header:
- Thursday, Aug. 20: Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans (8:00 PM ET on ESPN)
- Sunday, Aug. 23: Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans (8:00 PM ET on FOX)
Other key Week 2 matchups include the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Los Angeles Chargers, the New York Jets facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Green Bay Packers taking on the Denver Broncos.
The 2026 regular season officially begins on Wednesday, September 9, at 8:20 PM ET. In a rare Wednesday night opener—the NFL’s first since 2012—the defending Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field. The opening night clash, broadcast nationally on NBC and Peacock, serves as a high-stakes Super Bowl LX rematch to launch the regular season.
