When Is NFL Preseason 2019 Week 1? Giants, Jets Start Slate Of Games, Cowboys, 49ers End Schedule

Even though Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game between the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons marks the first NFL game since Super Bowl LIII, Week 1 of the 2019 NFL preseason doesn’t officially begin for another seven days. Most of the league will return to action on Thursday, Aug. 8 with an 11-game schedule.

Since the Broncos and Falcons are also set to play on Aug. 8, 20 NFL teams will make their preseason debuts when Week 1 officially kicks off. Four more teams will start the 2019 preseason on Friday, Aug. 9. Six teams are scheduled to take the field on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Two games will simultaneously start at the beginning of Week 1. The Buffalo Bills are set to host the Indianapolis Colts at 7 p.m. EDT. The New York Giants and New York Jets will face off with a 7 p.m. EDT start time, as well.

Five games will start a half-hour later, including the New England Patriots’ first exhibition game. New England won the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the last meaningful NFL game six months ago.

Week 1 of the 2019 NFL preseason will culminate in Santa Clara, California. That’s where the San Francisco 49ers will host the Dallas Cowboys at 9 p.m. EDT on Aug. 10. The Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders will all be in action that Saturday starting at 8 p.m. EDT.

The two Friday games are both rematches from the 2018 regular season. The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints will host the Minnesota Vikings.

The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles are among the other teams that will open the preseason at home.