The 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 schedule features all 32 teams in action across 16 games from Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23.
Week 2 begins Thursday night with the Las Vegas Raiders visiting the Houston Texans at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Chargers at 10:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
The weekend concludes Sunday night when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Tennessee Titans at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Saturday provides the busiest day of the weekend with nine games, including Bills-Browns, Giants-Dolphins, Eagles-Patriots and Cowboys-Cardinals.
Here is the complete 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 schedule, including dates, kickoff times and national television information.
2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 Schedule
All kickoff times are Eastern Time.
Thursday, August 20
Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Friday, August 21
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: Local coverage/NFL+
Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Saturday, August 22
Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: Local coverage/NFL+
Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: Local coverage/NFL+
Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: Local coverage/NFL+
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
TV: Local coverage/NFL+
New York Giants at Miami Dolphins
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: Local coverage/NFL+
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: Local coverage/NFL+
Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Sunday, August 23
Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
How to Watch NFL Preseason Week 2
NFL fans will have several ways to watch games during 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2.
ESPN carries the nationally televised Raiders-Texans matchup Thursday night, while FOX has the Sunday night Seahawks-Titans game.
NFL Network will also televise several games nationally throughout the weekend, including 49ers-Chargers, Jets-Steelers, Packers-Broncos, Bills-Browns, Giants-Dolphins, Eagles-Patriots and Cowboys-Cardinals.
Other preseason games are generally available through local television affiliates in the participating teams’ markets.
NFL+ also provides access to live out-of-market preseason games on supported devices, although blackout restrictions can apply.
NFL Preseason Week 2 Thursday Night Games
Week 2 gets underway with a Thursday night doubleheader.
The Raiders and Texans kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, providing the first nationally televised game of the weekend.
San Francisco and Los Angeles follow at 10:00 p.m. ET, when the 49ers visit the Chargers.
The late kickoff gives NFL fans nearly an entire evening of preseason football to begin Week 2.
NFL Preseason Week 2 Friday Night Games
Three games are scheduled for Friday, August 21.
The Jets visit the Steelers at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by Panthers-Jaguars at 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s schedule concludes with the Packers visiting the Broncos at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Green Bay-Denver could be particularly interesting as teams continue determining how many preseason repetitions to give their starting quarterbacks and other established players.
Saturday Features Nine NFL Preseason Games
Saturday, August 22 is the biggest day of NFL Preseason Week 2, with nine games spread throughout the afternoon and evening.
Football begins at noon ET when Washington visits Detroit.
Three games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET, with the Bills facing the Browns, Falcons visiting the Colts and Ravens taking on the Vikings.
The afternoon window includes Saints-Rams and Giants-Dolphins at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Saturday night then features Bears-Bengals, Eagles-Patriots and Chiefs-Buccaneers before the Cowboys and Cardinals close the day with a 10:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
Seahawks vs. Titans Closes NFL Preseason Week 2
The final game of the weekend takes place Sunday night.
The Seattle Seahawks visit the Tennessee Titans at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX in the only Sunday game on the Week 2 schedule.
The national television window gives both teams an opportunity to showcase their rosters as coaches continue evaluating position battles and players competing for spots on the 53-man roster.
Why NFL Preseason Week 2 Matters
The second preseason game can be particularly important for players fighting for roster positions.
NFL teams must eventually reduce their rosters to 53 players, meaning opportunities to impress coaches are becoming increasingly limited as the preseason progresses.
Week 2 can also provide additional work for starting quarterbacks, rookies and new offseason additions as teams prepare for the regular season.
Coaching staffs will be evaluating much more than statistics. Special teams performance, blocking assignments, defensive responsibilities, decision-making and consistency can all influence final roster decisions.
When Is NFL Preseason Week 3?
Following Week 2, the NFL moves into its final preseason weekend.
2026 NFL Preseason Week 3 is scheduled for August 27-29, providing teams with their final game action before roster reductions and preparations for the regular season intensify.
The 2026 NFL regular season begins Thursday, September 10.
For Week 2, however, fans will have 16 games across four days as every NFL team continues preparing for the 2026 season.