The 2026 NFL regular season kicks off on September 9, and guess who’s hosting the New England Patriots to get things started? Your Seattle Seahawks, baby! But before we dive into the real action with coach Mike Macdonald and quarterback Sam Darnold, there’s one last gauntlet for the rest of the league. We’re talking about NFL Preseason Week 3, the final weekend of warm-up games, hitting our screens from Thursday, August 27 through Saturday, August 29. This is it. This is the last shot for dozens of guys to prove they belong on that 53-man roster.
One Last Shot at Glory: Roster Cuts Loom Large
Seriously, this isn’t just another exhibition. Week 3 of the preseason is the ultimate live evaluation. Coaches, including our own Brian Fleury up in the offensive coordinator booth, are getting their absolute last look at those tight position battles. Rookies, new additions to the squad, and every single player fighting for a job knows this is their final chance to shine. We’re talking 16 games across three days, and every single snap matters for someone’s dream. Most teams only play three preseason games, so for the vast majority of the league, this is the end of the tryouts. Only the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals get an extra game this year because they were in the Hall of Fame Game back on August 6. For everyone else, the clock is ticking on those initial 53-man rosters right after this weekend wraps.
Catching All The Preseason Action
So, how can you watch all this last-ditch effort? NFL Network is carrying seven of these Week 3 games, so you know where to find a good chunk of the action. If you’re a Prime Video subscriber, you can catch the Patriots-Browns game on Thursday. And mark your calendars for Friday, because CBS has the Bengals-Eagles matchup. For any other games not on those national channels, you’ll want to check out the local broadcast affiliates for those participating teams. Want to stream? NFL+ has live national and out-of-market preseason games, though you gotta watch out for those local blackouts and device restrictions. And hey, if you’ve got the ESPN bundle, NFL Network is usually included there on FOX.com. Just remember, none of this counts toward the regular-season record. Not a single win or loss gets added to the column, so don’t get too stressed about the scores. It’s all about player evaluation.
The Real Season Is Almost Here, 12s!
After all this player evaluation wraps up, the real football is finally here for the Emerald City. The 2026 regular season kicks off on September 9, and the New England Patriots are coming to Lumen Field to face our Seahawks. This Week 3 preseason action might not matter for the standings, but it’s the crucible where careers are forged and dreams are realized, or sadly, put on hold. We’re almost there, 12s. The real fight is just around the corner, and we’re ready to see what our boys, from Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed, can do when it truly matters. Get hyped!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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