🏈 NFL Preseason 2026: Games to Watch, Championship Favorites and What Is at Stake

Introduction

The NFL preseason is where preparation finally meets competition. Although the results do not count toward the regular-season standings, these games give coaches their first meaningful opportunity to evaluate rookies, new acquisitions, backup quarterbacks and players fighting for roster positions.

From Thursday, August 13, through Saturday, August 15, all 32 teams will participate in the opening full week of the 2026 preseason. Several games will also offer an early look at franchises with legitimate Super Bowl expectations and teams that made major offseason changes.

Next Week’s NFL Preseason Games

The following games are scheduled for next week. All kickoff times are Eastern, according to the NFL’s official 2026 preseason schedule.

Thursday, August 13

• Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals — 7:00 p.m.

• Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers — 7:00 p.m.

• Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots — 7:30 p.m.

• Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans — 8:00 p.m.

• Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders — 8:00 p.m.

• Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers — 9:00 p.m.

Friday, August 14

• Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons — 7:00 p.m.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets — 7:00 p.m.

• Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders — 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 15

• Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills — 1:00 p.m.

• Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears — 1:00 p.m.

• Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants — 1:00 p.m.

• Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs — 4:00 p.m.

• Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints — 4:00 p.m.

• Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens — 7:00 p.m.

• Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks — 8:00 p.m.

The Rams-Chiefs matchup may attract the most attention because of Los Angeles’ aggressive offseason and Kansas City’s continued status as a contender. Dallas-Seattle is another intriguing matchup, as Seattle enters the year as the defending champion.

Fans should remember that starting-player availability is determined by each team and may change shortly before kickoff.

NFL Teams Favored This Season

The Los Angeles Rams enter the preseason as the clearest championship favorite. DraftKings listed Los Angeles at +550to win Super Bowl LXI as of July 28. The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills were next at +1000, followed by the Seattle Seahawks at +1100. The Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles were each listed at +1600. Odds can change throughout training camp and the preseason. (FOX Sports)

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are operating in a championship window with veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. Their acquisitions of Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie have strengthened a defense that already complements an accomplished offense. If the new pieces fit together quickly, Los Angeles could possess one of the NFL’s most complete rosters.

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore remains a major AFC threat because of its established offensive identity, talented roster and strong organizational stability. The addition of pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson could help the Ravens create more pressure without constantly relying on blitzes.

Buffalo Bills

Any team led by Josh Allen must be taken seriously. Buffalo added wide receiver DJ Moore to improve an inconsistent receiving corps, giving Allen another proven target as the Bills continue pursuing their first Super Bowl championship.

Seattle Seahawks

The defending champions deserve to remain near the top of the list. Seattle will now face the difficult challenge of responding to every opponent’s best effort while maintaining the intensity and discipline that carried it to the title.

Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles

Kansas City still has an elite coaching structure, although Patrick Mahomes’ recovery and changes in the secondary create important questions. New England strengthened its offense by acquiring A.J. Brown, while Philadelphia retains a talented core despite trading Brown. All three teams have enough ability to compete deep into the postseason.

Major NFL Trades From the 2026 Offseason

Several blockbuster trades changed the competitive outlook of the league.

• Myles Garrett to the Rams: Los Angeles acquired the reigning Defensive Player of the Year from Cleveland. The Browns received Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick. The move established the Rams as the league’s leading win-now team. (NFL.com)

• A.J. Brown to the Patriots: New England acquired Brown from Philadelphia for a 2028 first-round selection and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Brown gives quarterback Drake Maye a physical, proven No. 1 receiver and reunites with head coach Mike Vrabel. (NFL.com)

• Trent McDuffie to the Rams: Kansas City sent its All-Pro cornerback to Los Angeles for the Rams’ 2026 first-round pick, two additional 2026 selections and a 2027 third-round choice. Adding McDuffie and Garrett transformed the Rams’ defense, but the trades also placed enormous pressure on Los Angeles to win immediately. (NFL.com)

• Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals: Cincinnati acquired Lawrence from the New York Giants in exchange for the No. 10 selection in the 2026 draft. The Bengals paid a premium price, but Lawrence could significantly improve the middle of a defense that needed an impact player. (NFL.com)

• Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos: Denver acquired Waddle and a fourth-round pick from Miami. The Dolphins received first-, third- and fourth-round selections in the 2026 draft. Waddle provides quarterback Bo Nix with an explosive receiver who can threaten defenses at every level. (NFL.com)

• DJ Moore to the Bills: Buffalo acquired Moore and a fifth-round selection from Chicago in exchange for a second-round pick. The Bills are betting that Moore can rediscover his best form and give Allen the reliable outside target he needs. (NFL.com)

What Is at Stake During the Preseason?

Preseason wins and losses may be erased before Week 1, but the individual performances can alter careers and determine the direction of a team.

First, players near the bottom of the depth chart are competing for limited roster positions. A rookie, undrafted free agent or veteran reserve may have only a few series to prove that he can contribute on offense, defense or special teams.

Second, coaches must settle position battles. Competitions involving quarterbacks, offensive linemen, defensive backs and specialists can be decided by how players communicate and respond under pressure—not simply by their statistics.

Third, new players must become comfortable with unfamiliar systems. Teams such as the Rams, Patriots, Broncos, Bills and Bengals need their offseason acquisitions to build chemistry with new teammates without being exposed to unnecessary injury risks.

Finally, coaching staffs must evaluate whether their schemes are ready for the regular season. Preseason games provide an opportunity to examine formations, substitutions, communication and situational execution against a real opponent.

Recommendations for NFL Teams

To begin the regular season on the best possible footing, teams should use the preseason with clear priorities.

1. Protect essential starters. Established veterans need enough work to regain game speed, but coaches should avoid exposing franchise players to unnecessary snaps.

2. Give meaningful opportunities to developing players. Coaches should evaluate younger players against stronger competition instead of waiting until late in games when both teams are using deep reserves.

3. Emphasize fundamentals. Tackling, blocking, ball security, penalties and special-teams discipline should matter more than installing an oversized playbook.

4. Build chemistry around new acquisitions. Recently traded players need carefully planned repetitions with the teammates beside them. Communication is especially important along the offensive line and throughout the secondary.

5. Test situational football. Teams should rehearse red-zone possessions, two-minute drives, third downs, fourth-down decisions and end-of-half clock management.

6. Create individual workload plans. Playing time should be based on age, health, experience and position rather than one uniform approach for the entire roster.

7. Make roster decisions using complete evidence. One spectacular play or one mistake should not determine a player’s future. Coaches should combine game film with practice performance, special-teams value and consistency.

Conclusion

The NFL preseason is not primarily about producing a perfect record. It is about collecting information, developing depth and preparing players to perform when the results begin to count.

Next week’s schedule will provide the first full look at every team, including a heavily reinforced Rams roster, the defending champion Seahawks and several AFC contenders. For coaches, the challenge will be balancing evaluation with player safety. For players fighting for jobs, every snap could shape their careers. For fans, the games mark the return of football and the beginning of another unpredictable race to the Super Bowl.

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Major Sports Events This Weekend: August 8–9, 2026

Beyond the NFL, sports fans have a packed weekend of professional and international competition. The following roundup covers the most prominent events scheduled for Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9. Times are Eastern and remain subject to change.

NFL and Pro Football

Although the NFL’s full preseason schedule does not begin until August 13, the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony takes place in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday. The ceremony celebrates the newest group of players, coaches and contributors entering football’s most prestigious institution.

Canadian Football League action also continues, including the Hamilton Tiger-Cats visiting the BC Lions on Saturday.

Major League Baseball

All 30 MLB teams are scheduled to play on both Saturday and Sunday. Notable weekend series include:

• Atlanta Braves at New York Yankees

• Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies

• Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks

• Houston Astros at San Diego Padres

• Detroit Tigers at San Francisco Giants

• Athletics at Boston Red Sox

• New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates

• Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners

• Chicago Cubs at Kansas City Royals

• Minnesota Twins at Milwaukee Brewers

• Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers

With the trade deadline completed and the playoff races intensifying, these games could influence division standings, wild-card positioning and pitching decisions for the final portion of the season. The complete weekend slate is available through the MLB schedule.

WNBA

Seven WNBA games are scheduled across the weekend.

Saturday, August 8

• Las Vegas Aces at Minnesota Lynx — 1:00 p.m.

• Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky — 3:30 p.m.

• Seattle Storm at Portland Fire — 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 9

• Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty — 12:30 p.m.

• Phoenix Mercury at Washington Mystics — 3:00 p.m.

• Dallas Wings at Minnesota Lynx — 3:30 p.m.

• Golden State Valkyries at Los Angeles Sparks — 7:00 p.m.

The Aces’ games against Minnesota and New York are especially significant because Las Vegas must face two strong opponents on consecutive days. Sunday’s Dallas-Minnesota game will be nationally televised on NBC and Peacock. (ESPN WNBA schedule)

PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship

The Wyndham Championship concludes this weekend at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. Saturday features the third round, followed by Sunday’s final round.

This tournament is especially important because it is the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season. Players near the FedEx Cup cutoff have one last opportunity to qualify for the playoffs, making the competition near the middle of the leaderboard almost as important as the battle for the championship. (CBS Sports)

Other Major Golf Events

Several other notable golf tournaments will be contested this weekend:

• U.S. Women’s Amateur: Match play continues Saturday before Sunday’s championship match.

• LIV Golf New York: The tournament continues throughout the weekend.

• LPGA Tour: Women’s professional golf competition continues as players pursue season points and major championship positioning.

NASCAR at Watkins Glen

NASCAR visits Watkins Glen International for one of the most anticipated road-course weekends of the season.

Saturday’s program includes support-series competition and Cup Series qualifying. The main event, the Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR Cup Series race, is scheduled for Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET. Watkins Glen’s fast corners, elevation changes and limited passing opportunities make track position and pit strategy particularly important. (NASCAR)

IndyCar Grand Prix of Portland

The NTT IndyCar Series competes at Portland International Raceway throughout the weekend. Practice and qualifying take place Saturday, with the Grand Prix of Portland scheduled for Sunday at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET on FOX. (FOX Sports)

The narrow opening section of the Portland circuit has historically produced first-lap incidents, so drivers will need to balance aggression with championship awareness.

MotoGP

MotoGP competition is also part of the weekend’s international motorsports schedule. Saturday includes qualifying and sprint action, while the main Grand Prix takes place Sunday. The event will be important for riders attempting to close the gap in the world championship standings.

UFC Fight Night

UFC Fight Night: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Quillan Salkilld takes place Saturday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

The event is headlined by a five-round lightweight contest between the experienced Gamrot and rising contender Salkilld. The preliminary card begins at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 8:00 p.m. ET. The co-main event features Diego Ferreira against Billy Quarantillo. (MMA Fighting)

International Boxing

A major women’s bantamweight contest between Cherneka Johnson and Dina Thorslund is scheduled for Saturday. The bout brings together two highly regarded fighters and could significantly affect the championship picture in the division.

National Bank Open Tennis

The National Bank Open continues in Canada with leading ATP and WTA players competing in Montréal and Toronto.

Saturday’s women’s matches include prominent players such as Iga Świątek, Jessica Pegula, Aryna Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova and Elina Svitolina. The men’s field also features Arthur Fils, Cameron Norrie and other ranked competitors. Tournament play continues Sunday as the draws move closer to the quarterfinal stages. (ESPN tennis scoreboard)

Leagues Cup Soccer

The Leagues Cup continues with MLS and Liga MX clubs competing against one another.

Saturday, August 8

• Orlando City vs. León — 3:30 p.m.

• Inter Miami vs. Monterrey — 5:00 p.m.

• Chivas Guadalajara vs. FC Dallas — 6:00 p.m.

• Real Salt Lake vs. Atlante — 7:00 p.m.

• Toluca vs. Los Angeles FC — 8:10 p.m.

Sunday, August 9

• Seattle Sounders vs. Querétaro — 12:30 p.m.

• Philadelphia Union vs. Necaxa — 4:30 p.m.

• Cruz Azul vs. New York City FC — 4:30 p.m.

• Chicago Fire vs. Santos Laguna — 5:00 p.m.

• Nashville SC vs. Atlético de San Luis — 5:00 p.m.

• Austin FC vs. Puebla — 6:00 p.m.

• San Diego FC vs. Tijuana — 7:00 p.m.

• Club América vs. Portland Timbers — 7:15 p.m.

The official match list and broadcast information are available through the Leagues Cup schedule.

International Soccer Friendlies

Several major European clubs are playing preseason matches on Saturday:

• Chelsea vs. AC Milan — 8:00 a.m. ET

• Juventus vs. Inter Milan — 7:00 a.m. ET

• Manchester United vs. Paris Saint-Germain — 11:00 a.m. ET

Although these are friendly matches, they provide coaches with opportunities to test new signings, formations and younger players before the European domestic seasons begin.

NWSL and Women’s Soccer

National Women’s Soccer League competition continues during the weekend, alongside other domestic and international women’s matches. Teams will be competing for playoff position as the second half of the season progresses.

USA Gymnastics Championships

The U.S. Gymnastics Championships continue this weekend. The men’s competition is featured Saturday, while the women’s finals take place Sunday. Results will influence national-team selections and provide an early indication of which athletes may lead the United States in upcoming international events.

Horse Racing at Saratoga

Saratoga Race Course continues its prestigious summer meeting with full programs on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend includes important graded-stakes competition featuring leading horses, trainers and jockeys.

Weekend Sports Outlook

The weekend offers something for almost every sports audience. Baseball and the WNBA provide important regular-season games, golf’s Wyndham Championship determines the final FedEx Cup playoff places, and NASCAR and IndyCar deliver two major Sunday races. Tennis, UFC, international soccer and the Leagues Cup add further depth to one of the busiest sports weekends of the summer.