When Does the NFL Preseason Start for 2021?

The NFL preseason is set to start on August 5th, 2021. Here’s everything you need to know about the NFL preseason schedule, including dates and times for all 32 teams.

Introduction

The National Football League (NFL) preseason is an exhibition season that occurs every August/September, prior to the start of the regular season. It consists of four to five games played by each team, and gives coaches and players an opportunity to assess their skills against other teams in the league.

The NFL preseason schedule is typically released in April, but the Exact dates and times are usually not announced until late July/early August. The 2021 NFL Preseason is scheduled to begin on August 5th, with the Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.

What is the NFL Preseason?

The National Football League preseason is the period each year during which NFL teams play several not-for-the-record exhibition games before the regular season commences. Preseason games are typically played during August and sometimes into September. The NFL preseason generally lasts about four weeks.

Preseason Schedule

The NFL preseason is a series of exhibition games played before the regular season by National Football League (NFL) teams. Teams compete in four preseason games, each game typically featuring different starters. The following is the 2021 NFL preseason schedule, as released by the NFL on May 12, 2021. All times are EDT (UTC-4).

Preseason week 1 (Aug. 5-9)

Thursday, Aug. 5
Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals, 10 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday, Aug. 6
Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers, 7:30 p.m. (CBS)

Saturday, Aug. 7
Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions, 4 p.m. (FOX)
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4 p.m. (NBC)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8 p.m. (NBC)

Preseason Games

Preseason games are exhibition games played before the regular season. These games do not count in the standings, but they do give coaches a chance to see how their team stacks up against other teams in the league.

The NFL preseason typically starts in early August and runs for four weeks. The first two weeks are typically used for training camp, while the last two weeks are used for preseason games.

During the preseason, each team plays four games. Two of these games are played at home, and two are played away. The schedule is made so that each team plays one game against each of the other teams in their conference, and one game against a team from the other conference.

The NFL preseason is important for a few reasons. First, it gives coaches a chance to evaluate their players in live game action. This is important because it allows them to make decisions about who will make the final roster cuts. Second, it gives players a chance to show their stuff on a big stage. For many players, this is their only chance to play in an NFL game, so they want to make the most of it. Finally, it gives fans a chance to see their favorite teams and players in action before the regular season starts.

So when does the NFL preseason start? The answer is usually sometime in early August. However, the exact date depends on when training camp starts and how long it lasts.

When does the NFL Preseason Start for 2021?

The NFL preseason start for 2021 is tentatively set for August 5-9, with the Hall of Fame Game being played on August 5. The regular season is set to begin on September 9. The preseason schedule has not been released yet, but it will be released in the spring.

Preseason Week 1

The first full week of the NFL preseason is set to start on August 9th and will feature 16 games total. The preseason schedule is typically made up of four weeks, with each team playing four exhibition games. Two of those games are played during the first full week of the preseason, while the other two are played during the last full week of the preseason.

Preseason Week 2

The second week of the NFL preseason is here, and there are some great games on the slate.

The New England Patriots will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl, while the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There are also a number of important divisional matchups, including the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Houston Texans.

Here is a complete guide to all of the games in Week 2 of the NFL preseason:

Thursday, August 16
– Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers (7:00 PM ET, ESPN)
– Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7:30 PM ET, FOX)
– Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks (10:00 PM ET, NBC)

Friday, August 17
– Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles (7:00 PM ET, NFL Network)
– Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants (7:00 PM ET, ESPN)
– Chicago Bears vs. New York Jets (7:30 PM ET, CBS)

Preseason Week 3

The third week of the NFL preseason is typically the dress rehearsal for regular season games. Starters will play the entire first half, and some may even see action into the third quarter. This is the last chance for coaches to evaluate players before finalizing their 53-man rosters. Preseason Week 3 games are typically held from August 23-27.

Conclusion

The NFL preseason is set to begin on Thursday, August 5th. All teams will play four games leading up to the regular season. The exhibition season is important for coaches to evaluate young talent and decide which players will make the final roster. Preseason games are also a great opportunity for fans to catch a glimpse of their favorite team in action before the start of the regular season.