NFL Preseason 2018: Dates, Ticket Info, Live-Stream Schedule and More

The reaction of many NFL fans to the preseason can be rather ho-hum. The early games in August often feature free-agent players who have little chance of seeing significant playing time in the regular season and may not even make their respective teams.

However, preseason games often turn out to be quite important for the players who are competing for the bottom positions on the roster. They get the opportunity to participate in practice and limited chances in games. One or two excellent plays along with consistent work in practice can earn a spot on the roster.

That player may see very little action in the regular season, but the importance of playing well in the preseason can earn a player a paycheck for a full season.

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Chicago Bears 17-16 in the Hall of Fame Game, and that kicked off the 2018 preseason.

The full August schedule begins Thursday night, and coaches can see their teams play four preseason games before the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons kick off the regular season September 6 and the rest of the league will follow with their Week 1 games September 9 and 10.

Here's a look at the national television schedule as well the full slate of preseason games, per NFL.com. We also preview two of the early preseason games.

NFL preseason games can be live-streamed through NFL Game Pass.

Nationally Televised Preseason Games

Thursday, Aug. 16: New York Jets at Washington Redskins, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Monday, Aug. 20: Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday, Aug. 23: Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns, 8 p.m. ET (Fox)

Friday, Aug. 24: Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8 p.m. ET (CBS)

Saturday, Aug. 25: New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers, 8 p.m. ET (CBS)

Sunday, Aug. 26: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills, 4 p.m. ET (Fox)

Sunday, Aug. 26: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)

2018 Preseason Week-by-Week Schedule

Week 1: August 9-13

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals

Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos

Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers

New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Miami Dolphins

Washington Redskins vs. New England Patriots

Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Jets

Detroit Lions vs. Oakland Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers

Indianapolis Colts vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 2: August 16-20

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons

Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers

Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys

Chicago Bears vs. Denver Broncos

New York Giants vs.Detroit Lions

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers

San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts (ESPN, Aug. 20)

Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Oakland Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Tennessee Titans

New York Jets vs. Washington Redskins (ESPN, Aug. 16)

Week 3: August 23-26

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills (Fox, Aug. 26)

New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Chicago Bears

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns (Fox, Aug. 23)

Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys (NBC, Aug. 26)

San Francisco 49ers vs. Indianapolis Colts

Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Chargers (CBS, Aug. 25)

Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Rams

Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants vs. New York Jets

Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders

Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (CBS, Aug. 24)

Denver Broncos vs. Washington Redskins

Week 4: August 30-31

Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals

Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons

Washington Redskins vs. Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions

Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans

Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints

New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Carolina Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Los Angeles Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers

Oakland Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans

Preseason Week 1, Cleveland at N.Y Giants, Aug. 9, 7 p.m. ET, NFLN

The Browns and No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield take on the Giants and No. 2 pick Saquon Barkley in both teams' first preseason game.

The Browns don't expect Mayfield to be their starting quarterback as the year commences, while Barkley appears to have the kind of talent to upgrade the New York running game right from the start. However, neither player is assured of seeing a lot of action in the first preseason game.

Head coach Hue Jackson is hoping that the Browns will have a much better team than the one that finished 0-16 a year ago, and while this game is not likely to decide much, Jackson is looking for a team that can execute plays and avoid mistakes, something the Browns have been unable to do in recent years.

Pat Shurmur, in his first year as head coach of the Giants, would like to set a tone with his new team. In addition to getting a lift from Barkley, the Giants would like to see Odell Beckham Jr. keep his mind on his business all season and stay committed to playing winning football and not distracting the team.

Preseason Week 2, New York Jets at Washington Redskins, August 16, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Sam Darnold, the Jets' first-round pick and the No. 3 selection overall, ended a brief holdout last week and could see some action here against the Redskins. 

Darnold is not likely to start for the Jets until the second half of the season, but New York offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and head coach Todd Bowles want to see how their quarterback of the future reads defenses and responds to pressure of the moment. 

The coaching staff will not have to rush Darnold because Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater should both be competent. However, they would like to see the rookie quarterback build on a few early positive experiences.

The Redskins have no such issues with veteran Alex Smith. While the veteran quarterback has to get used to a new team and a new environment, he has been through every experience a quarterback can have since starting his career in 2005 with the San Francisco 49ers.

Both teams need to make significant improvements to their defense after struggling last year. The Jets feel good about their secondary, but there are issues with their defensive line and linebackers. The Redskins are hoping No. 1 draft pick Da'Ron Payne can provide a lift at the defensive tackle spot.

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Tickets for all NFL preseason games can be purchased at StubHub.com.