Real NFL fans understand the value of watching the NFL preseason. With the stars only playing a handful of snaps, it’s a chance to see if your team has the depth needed to make a serious run for the Super Bowl. It’s also a great way to find sleeper picks for your fantasy team.
If you want to find out how to watch the NFL preseason, read the guide below. I’ll also show you how CyberGhost VPN can help you watch your favorite team, no matter where you are.
Quick Guide: How to Watch NFL Preseason Games with CyberGhost VPN
- Download CyberGhost VPN on your streaming device.
- Connect to our streaming-optimized server for NFL+.
- Live stream the NFL preseason with no ISP throttling!
How to Watch NFL Preseason Games in the US
Broadcasters for NFL preseason games are somewhat the same as for regular-season NFL games. Local FOX and CBS affiliates will show games for teams in their broadcast zones for free.
NFL+ has every preseason game, live and on demand, except in-market and nationally televised games. You can get around local blackouts and watch in-market games by connecting to CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized VPN server for NFL+. This changes your virtual location so you can watch your team play. On the off chance that the NFL+ server location is in your team’s TV market, simply choose from one of the other 11 US server locations where your game is available.
Four NFL preseason games will be on national TV – NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN – and one will be live streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
If you don’t have cable, you can watch the NFL preseason on a streaming service like Sling TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV. These platforms give you access to the national TV games and, in most ZIP codes in the US, the locally televised games as well.
2024 NFL Preseason National Broadcast Schedule in the US
| Week | Date and Time | Game | Channel |
| 1 | Thursday, August 1 at 8:00 p.m. | Texans at Bears | ESPN |
| 2 | Sunday August 18 at 8:00 p.m. | Saints at 49ers | FOX |
| 3 | Thursday, August 22 at 8:00 p.m. | Colts at Bengals | Prime Video |
| 3 | Sunday, August 25 at 4:30 p.m. | Cardinals at Broncos | CBS |
| 3 | Sunday, August 25 at 8:00 | Patriots at Commanders | NBC |
How to Watch NFL Preseason Games in Canada
There are two ways to watch the NFL preseason in Canada.
The first is to subscribe to DAZN, which comes with NFL Game Pass. It has every NFL preseason game, although some games may be blacked out and only available to watch on demand.
The second option is to watch or live stream on TSN. The official home of the NFL in Canada will air 8 NFL preseason games on TSN and TSN2.
| Week | Date and Time (ET) | Game | TSN Channel |
| 1 | Thursday, August 1 — 7:00 p.m. | Texans vs. Bears (Hall of Fame) | TSN2 |
| 2 | Saturday, August 10 — 7:00 p.m. | Seahawks vs. Chargers | TSN2 |
| 2 | Saturday, August 17 — 7:00 p.m. | Seahawks vs. Titans | TSN |
| 2 | Sunday, August 18 — 8:00 p.m. | Saints vs. 49ers | TSN |
| 3 | Thursday, August 22 — 8:00 p.m. | Colts vs. Bengals | TSN |
| 3 | Saturday, August 24 — 10:00 p.m. | Browns vs. Seahawks | TSN |
| 3 | Sunday, August 25 — 4:30 p.m. | Cardinals vs. Broncos | TSN |
| 3 | Sunday, August 25 — 8:00 p.m. | Patriots vs. Commanders | TSN |
How to Watch NFL Preseason Games Internationally
The easiest way to watch the NFL preseason outside of the US, is with DAZN NFL Game Pass International. In countries where DAZN is available, you can add NFL Game Pass to your subscription, or get it as a standalone service.
Some TV channels or streaming platforms may have the broadcast rights for a few games, but you’ll be stuck with the matchups they choose, which may not feature your favorite team. DAZN NFL Game Pass International gives you every game with no blackouts, and you can stream live, or on demand if overnight start times make live games inconvenient to watch in your region.
When Does the NFL Preseason Start?
The NFL preseason traditionally starts with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. This year, the opening matchup will be the Houston Texans versus the Chicago Bears, on August 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET. This will be your first chance to see Caleb Williams, the #1 pick of the 2024 draft, play against NFL talent.
NFL Preseason Storylines: 3 Key Stories
There are a lot of storylines to follow in the NFL preseason. From rookies and new acquisitions to new coaches and schemes, it’s a chance to see your team’s potential. Here are a few big storylines to watch out for.
Can the Lions make it to the Super Bowl?
As a Detroit Lions fan for over 40 years, this one is personal. Can the Lions keep some of the magic from last season while developing some of the younger players, like Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs, and take that next step? I want to see Jameson get a lot of reps in the preseason games, because he can be a real difference-maker.
Can Justin Fields save his career in Pittsburgh?
After an up-and-down start to his career in Chicago, Justin Fields is finally with a stable organization in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Mike Tomlin said that as of now, he is the starter – but it will depend on his play in practice, and what he does with his preseason opportunities. Fields is determined to show that he has the skills and leadership needed to lead an NFL team, and he will have to do so in the preseason.
Who will be the QB of the Atlanta Falcons?
The Falcons made some interesting choices in the offseason. First they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a multi-year contract, and then used the 8th pick in the draft to take QB Michael Penix. If he’s healthy, the job is Cousin’s to lose, but if Penix has a strong preseason, the fans will be calling for a change at the first sign of struggle with Cousins.
Why You Need a VPN to Watch the NFL Preseason
A VPN for sports improves your NFL preseason viewing experience in a few different ways. The first is in ensuring access to your streaming account. If you’re traveling abroad in August, you won’t be able to watch games on the likes of NFL+, YouTube TV, and Sling TV, because these platforms only work in the US. Connecting to a streaming-optimized VPN server in the US while you’re away for work or a holiday ensures that you won’t have to miss a game.
A VPN helps maintain your internet speed, even when you’re at home. ISP throttling is a common tactic that ISPs use to slow internet speeds when they detect bandwidth-heavy activities, like streaming. VPN encryption hides the apps and websites you’re using to prevent this type of content-based ISP throttling.
Watching the NFL preseason on public WI-Fi is convenient and saves on mobile data. It also makes you a target for cybersnoops who want to steal your personal information. VPN encryption secures your device, so you can live stream the NFL without a worry in cafes, airports, or hotels.
FAQ
In the US, you can stream all out-of-market games on the NFL+ app. Local games are available on services like YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Fubo, as long as they carry local TV affiliates in your ZIP code. Outside the US, every game is streamed on NFL Game Pass International, with the slight exception of Canada where some of the live streams may be blacked out.
If you live in the US and have a TV with an antenna, you can watch today’s NFL games on FOX and CBS. If you don’t have a TV, new subscribers can get a free trial for YouTube TV, Sling TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV. If you’re traveling abroad, you don’t need to subscribe to the local streaming platform for NFL games – just download CyberGhost VPN and connect to a server located in your home country to access your usual streaming account.
Each NFL team plays 3 preseason games. In the first two games, most starters only play a series or two, maybe a full quarter for some teams. The 3rd game is more of a tune-up in which you’ll typically get to watch the starters for the entire first half.
TSN and CTV own the TV and streaming rights for the NFL in Canada. You can also subscribe to DAZN, which includes NFL Game Pass, although some games on TSN or CTV might be blacked out.
The DAZN Game Pass International is the official streaming app of the NFL. It’s available everywhere, except the US,Canada, and China. If you have Game Pass International and you’re visiting the US or Canada, simply connect to a VPN server in your home country to access your account and watch every preseason game.
In the US, most NFL preseason games are not on cable. You can watch them on your local CBS and FOX affiliates. The only exception is the Hall of Fame Game on ESPN. You can watch it, and the local games, via a streaming provider like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV. In much of the rest of the world, you can stream NFL preseason games on Game Pass International without a cable subscription.
The preseason starts with the NFL Draft, which took place at the end of April, and lasts until the regular season begins on September 5th. Each team plays 3 preseason games, beginning on August 1st with the Hall of Fame Game on ESPN and ending with the Patriots and Commanders on August 25th.
Can I use a VPN to watch sports from a different country?
Some sports fans may connect to a VPN server in a country where certain sports events are available in order to watch from a different country. While we don’t snoop on our users’ online activity, this is against our terms of service and is not acceptable.
Rest assured that CyberGhost VPN never logs your browsing data and your activity is always private, but you should always comply with all relevant terms and applicable law, including copyright.
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