NFL fans looking for football on Sunday, August 16, will have to wait a few more days. There are no NFL preseason games scheduled today after all 32 teams completed their first preseason matchups.
The break is short. Preseason Week 2 begins Thursday, August 20, with two games, followed by a packed Friday and Saturday schedule and one Sunday night matchup. For teams, these remaining exhibition games provide valuable opportunities to evaluate rookies, quarterbacks and players competing for roster spots before the regular season begins.
Are there NFL games today, August 16?
No NFL games will be played Sunday, August 16. Preseason Week 1 concluded Saturday, and the next kickoff is scheduled for Thursday.
That can feel unusual because Sunday is the NFL’s signature day during the regular season. The preseason calendar is different, with games spread across several days and no guarantee of Sunday action every weekend.
When is the next NFL game?
Football returns Thursday, August 20, when the Las Vegas Raiders visit the Houston Texans at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The San Francisco 49ers then visit the Los Angeles Chargers at 10 p.m. ET.
The Raiders-Texans matchup also offers another preseason opportunity for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Full NFL preseason Week 2 schedule
Here is the upcoming schedule. All kickoff times are Eastern Time.
Thursday, August 20
- Raiders at Texans — 8 p.m., ESPN
- 49ers at Chargers — 10 p.m.
Friday, August 21
- Jets at Steelers — 7 p.m.
- Panthers at Jaguars — 7:30 p.m.
- Packers at Broncos — 9 p.m.
Saturday, August 22
- Commanders at Lions — noon
- Bills at Browns — 1 p.m.
- Falcons at Colts — 1 p.m.
- Ravens at Vikings — 1 p.m.
- Saints at Rams — 4 p.m.
- Giants at Dolphins — 4 p.m.
- Bears at Bengals — 7 p.m.
- Eagles at Patriots — 7 p.m.
- Chiefs at Buccaneers — 8:30 p.m.
- Cowboys at Cardinals — 10 p.m.
Sunday, August 23
- Seahawks at Titans — 8 p.m., FOX
Fans can confirm game and national broadcast details through the official NFL 2026 preseason schedule.
Browns quarterback battle adds another storyline
Cleveland’s quarterback situation will be one of the more closely followed Week 2 storylines. Deshaun Watson started against Chicago and completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards. Shedeur Sanders completed 6 of 11 for 79 yards with an interception in Cleveland’s 34-10 loss.
The Browns host Buffalo at 1 p.m. ET Saturday, giving Cleveland another opportunity to evaluate its quarterbacks before the preseason ends.
One final preseason weekend remains
After Week 2, preseason Week 3 runs from August 27 through August 29. That final stretch includes Patriots-Browns on Prime Video on Thursday and Bengals-Eagles on CBS Friday, alongside the rest of the league’s final exhibition games.
For players competing near the bottom of a depth chart, those games can be particularly important. Coaches are evaluating much more than scores, including execution, positional flexibility and special-teams contributions.
The preseason follows months of roster building through free agency, the draft and training camp. The 2026 NFL offseason calendar and key dates provides additional context on how teams reached this final evaluation stage.
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When does the 2026 NFL regular season start?
The regular season opens Wednesday, September 9, when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch.
The unusual Wednesday opener will be followed by another historic game. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to play at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 10, marking the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia.
Seattle and New England meeting again adds an immediate storyline to opening week. Readers can revisit the Seahawks vs. Patriots Super Bowl LX matchup for background on the teams before their September rematch.
Key dates for NFL fans
- Aug. 16: No NFL games
- Aug. 20: Preseason Week 2 begins
- Aug. 23: Seahawks-Titans on Sunday night
- Aug. 27-29: Final preseason weekend
- Sept. 9: Seahawks-Patriots opens the regular season
So there is no NFL football today, but the wait is brief. Games return Thursday before a busy weekend, followed quickly by the final preseason tests and the countdown to the September 9 regular-season opener.
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