Last week’s thrilling Hall of Fame Game was merely an appetizer because the NFL preseason is about to kick off in earnest with six Thursday night games.
We’ll get to tonight’s (August 13) matchups in a bit, but the preseason will continue on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15 with 10 games airing on ESPN Unlimited, NFL Network, and streaming on NFL+.
Friday night will feature the preseason debut of the New York Jets as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network) as well as the Denver Broncos traveling to Atlanta to take on the Falcons (7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited).
Week 1 of the preseason has finally arrived! Here’s how to watch all the action live online.
What Channel Is The NFL Preseason on Tonight?
Two of tonight’s six preseason games will air on NFL Network, with the Arizona Cardinals/Las Vegas Raiders matchup streaming on the ESPN app for ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
NFL Preseason Schedule For Tonight (August 13):
Six NFL preseason games are on the schedule tonight, three of which will be available to stream on ESPN Unlimited or NFL Network:
The other three games will be available to stream on your TV, PC, Phone, or tablet via NFL+ (streaming details below):
- Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals (7:00 p.m. ET on NFL+)
- Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots (7:30 p.m. ET on NFL+)
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Houston Texans (8:00 p.m. ET on NFL+)
Is The NFL Airing on ESPN Tonight?
If you have an ESPN Unlimited plan, you can stream the Packers/Steelers, Cardinals/Raiders, and Titans/49ers games, but those matchups won’t be airing on ESPN.
How To Watch NFL Preseason Football on NFL+:
You can watch live out-of-market preseason games on your TV, PC, phone, or tablet via NFL+.
You can purchase NFL+ as a standalone service for $6.99/month or $39.99/year ($14.99/month or $79.99/year for NFL+ Premium). The NFL notes that “live preseason games are subject to local blackouts,” and “certain games are restricted to mobile devices” on NFL+.
You can also bundle ESPN Unlimited and NFL+ Premium for $39.99/month or $45.99/month (includes Disney+ and Hulu). This plan also includes access to NFL RedZone.
How To Watch NFL Network For Free:
NFL RedZone with NFL Network is available through DIRECTV’s “MySports Genre Pack,” Premier Streaming TV package, and DIRECTV Sports Pack Add-on.
The “MySports” Genre Pack, which also includes ESPN Unlimited, is currently $49.99/month for the first month ($64.99/month after) and offers a five-day free trial.
NFL Network is also included with a variety of cable providers (Dish, Fios, Optimum, Xfinity, and more) and available via an active subscription to Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Fubo TV, YouTube TV, NFL+, and ESPN Unlimited. Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu offer free trials for new subscribers.
If you have a valid cable login, you can also watch NFL Network live on the NFL app.
Is NFL Network Included With ESPN Unlimited?
Yes! NFL Network has been added to the ESPN App for Unlimited plan subscribers. You can access ESPN Unlimited with an active subscription to DIRECTV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum TV, Verizon, FiOS, U-Verse, or Cox.
Does ESPN Unlimited Have a Free Trial?
While ESPN doesn’t directly offer a free trial, you can sign up for a free trial of DIRECTV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV. As we mentioned above, all four platforms offer access to ESPN Unlimited in select packages.
ESPN’s Unlimited Plan is also included in DIRECTV’s MySports package, which is now only $49.99/month for the first two months ($64.99/month after).
