As the clock ticks down, with less than 100 days to the start of the 2025 season of the National Football League (NFL), eager anticipation is building. Imminently closer is the preseason, which is the opening act for this sporting spectacle. The NFL recently unveiled the game dates and times stretching over the three-week preseason schedule. The first of these encounters, the Hall of Fame Game, is set to take place on July 31.
The setting for the Hall of Fame Game is none other than Canton, Ohio, known for its strong heritage in football. Acting as the home team are the Detroit Lions, who are slated to go head-to-head with the Los Angeles Chargers. The kickoff for the game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Neither the Lions nor the Chargers have graced the Hall of Fame Game with their presence since 1994, making this game a bit of a nostalgic throwback.
The remainder of the preseason will bear witness to the remaining 30 NFL teams battling it out across three games in three eventful weeks in August. These will encompass a multitude of match-ups, some of which will receive national television coverage. One such game features the Buffalo Bills who are scheduled to meet the Chicago Bears on the 17th of August (8 p.m.).
The next day, on August 18, an intriguing showdown is lined up, one that will attract countless eyeballs. Joe Burrow will lead the Cincinnati Bengals against the Washington Commanders, a team led by Jayden Daniels. Noteworthy is the fact that the Bengals haven’t set foot on Washington’s turf since 2020. Anticipation is high, and fans can catch this broadcast game at 8 p.m.
The final act of the preseason showcase features a number of games on August 23. Following this climax, the regular season is set to commence with the opening game on September 4. In this opener, old foes, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Dallas Cowboys, renew their rivalry and start the rankings race.
Details for the preseason’s first week have also been released. For instance, the much-anticipated game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens is scheduled for the evening (7 p.m.) of August 7. On the same date, the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles will have a faceoff at 7:30 p.m., and the last match of the day will be between the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks at 10 p.m.
Action continues on the following day, August 8, with matches featuring the Detroit Lions going up against the Atlanta Falcons, and the Cleveland Browns locking horns with the Carolina Panthers. Both games start at 7 p.m. Then on August 9, a full day of football kicks off at 1 p.m. with the New York Giants going head-to-head with the Buffalo Bills.
The Houston Texans versus the Minnesota Vikings are set to play at 4 p.m. Later games include the Pittsburgh Steelers facing off with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Dallas Cowboys against the Los Angeles Rams, and the Tennessee Titans playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The final games of the day include the Kansas City Chiefs against the Arizona Cardinals, the New York Jets versus the Green Bay Packers, and the Denver Broncos playing the San Francisco 49ers.
The first week of preseason rounds out on August 10 with the Miami Dolphins facing the Chicago Bears in an early game at 1 p.m. Closing the week, the New Orleans Saints will face the Los Angeles Chargers at 4:05 p.m. Team lineups and tension make for a promising start to the preseason.
The second week of preseason starts on August 15 with games between the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks. On August 16, games are set for a 1 p.m. kickoff, with teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles playing their respective opponents.
As the day progresses on August 16, we’ll see San Francisco 49ers against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Chargers meeting the Los Angeles Rams, and an iconic city face-off between the New York Jets and New York Giants. The late-night game involves the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the day closes with the Arizona Cardinals tackle the Denver Broncos.
Moving to August 17, the Jacksonville Jaguars will open the day against the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. The Buffalo Bears and the Chicago Bears will have their televised game in the evening at 8 p.m. The last game of the week takes place on Monday, August 18, when the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Washington Commanders.
The third week of the preseason begins on August 21 with a match between the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Games on August 22 include the Philadelphia Eagles meeting the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons going against the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings facing the Tennessee Titans, and a late-night match-up between the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The last day of the preseason, August 23, offers a long list of games, starting with the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders at noon. Another handful of matches follow throughout the day, including Los Angeles Rams against Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans meeting Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos playing New Orleans Saints, and the Seattle Seahawks facing Green Bay Packers.
Among other games on August 23 are the Jacksonville Jaguars versus Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills facing Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers meeting San Francisco 49ers, and the nighttime game between Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals. As this comprehensive preseason ends, excitement hits its peak, signaling that the most awaited NFL season is about to kick off.