There aren’t any NFL games today per say, but the 2021 season is quickly approaching, and there are plenty of key dates and events surrounding pro football to keep fans interested until the weekly game action gets underway again.
Check in here throughout the year for a full weekly schedule, links to Sportsnaut’s season forecasts for all 32 teams and much more on the road to the NFL’s grand finale, Super Bowl LVI, on February 13, 2022.
Check Out: The Most Valuable Football Cards From The 1990s – Includes Peyton Manning And Brett Favre
NFL calendar: Key 2021 dates, Full schedule
Thursday, August 5: Hall of Fame Game, NFL preseason begins
The NFL preseason has been reduced from four to three games. It was canceled in 2020, as was the annual Hall of Fame game, which is played in Canton, Ohio. This year, the Dallas Cowboys take on the Pittsburgh Steelers to kick off the proceedings.
Related: NFL Top 100 Players of 2021 – Patrick Mahomes best NFL player, young stars rise
NFL roster cutdown date – August 31
On Tuesday, Aug. 31, NFL teams are required to simultaneously submit their final 53-man rosters for the upcoming season. Any player on the active/physically unable to perform list must either be active or be placed on the reserve/PUP list or be activated.
2021 NFL preseason schedule
Hall of Fame Weekend
| Thursday, Aug. 5 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (in Canton, Ohio) | 8:00 PM | FOX |
NFL preseason Week 1
| Thursday, Aug. 12 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Washington Football Team @ New England Patriots | 7:30 PM | Patriots Preseason Network |
| Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles | 7:30 PM | KDKA-TV, NBC10 |
| Friday, Aug. 13 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Tennessee Titans @ Atlanta Falcons | 7:00 PM | WKRN |
| Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions | 7:00 PM | WIVB, FOX 2 |
| Dallas Cowboys @ Arizona Cardinals | 10:00 PM | KTVT, KPNX (Channel 12) |
| Saturday, Aug. 14 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Miami Dolphins @ Chicago Bears | 1:00 PM | CBS4, FOX32 |
| Denver Broncos @ Minnesota Vikings | 4:00 PM | FOX 9 |
| Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars | 7:00 PM | NEWS 5 |
| New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens | 7:00 PM | WBAL-TV |
| New York Jets @ New York Giants | 7:30 PM | WNBC |
| Cincinnati Bengals @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7:30 PM | Bengals TV Network, WFLA |
| Houston Texans @ Green Bay Packers | 8:00 PM | ABC13, Packers TV Network |
| Kansas City Chiefs @ San Francisco 49ers | 8:30 PM | KSHB |
| Seattle Seahawks @ Las Vegas Raiders | 9:00 PM | Q13 FOX, FOX5 Las Vegas |
| Los Angeles Chargers @ Los Angeles Rams | 10:00 PM | CBS2 LA |
| Sunday, Aug. 15 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Carolina Panthers @ Indianapolis Colts | 1:00 PM | Panthers TV Network, FOX59 |
NFL preseason Week 2
| Thursday, Aug. 19 | Time (ET) | TV |
| New England Patriots @ Philadelphia Eagles | 7:30 PM | Patriots Preseason Network, NBC10 |
| Friday, Aug. 20 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Cincinnati Bengals @ Washington Football Team | 8:00 PM | Bengals TV Network, NBC4 |
| Kansas City Chiefs @ Arizona Cardinals | 8:00 PM | KSHB, KPNX (Channel 12), ESPN |
| Saturday, Aug. 21 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Buffalo Bills @ Chicago Bears | 1:00 PM | WIVB, FOX32 |
| New York Jets @ Green Bay Packers | 4:25 PM | WLNY/CBS, Packers TV Network |
| Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins | 7:00 PM | CBS4 |
| Baltimore Ravens @ Carolina Panthers | 7:00 PM | WBAL-TV, Panthers TV Network |
| Detroit Lions @ Pittsburgh Steelers | 7:30 PM | FOX 2, KDKA-TV |
| Tennessee Titans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7:30 PM | WKRN, WFLA |
| Houston Texans @ Dallas Cowboys | 8:00 PM | ABC13, KTVT |
| Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings | 8:00 PM | FOX59, FOX 9 |
| Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Rams | 10:00 PM | FOX5 Las Vegas |
| Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks | 10:00 PM | Q13 FOX |
| Sunday, Aug. 22 | Time (ET) | TV |
| New York Giants @ Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | WNBC, NEWS 5 |
| San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Chargers | 7:30 PM | CBS2 LA |
| Monday, Aug. 23 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Jacksonville Jaguars @ New Orleans Saints | 8:00 PM | ESPN |
NFL preseason Week 3
| Friday, Aug. 27 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Indianapolis Colts @ Detroit Lions | 7:00 PM | FOX59, FOX 2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Jets | 7:30 PM | NBC10, WCBS |
| Pittsburgh Steelers @ Carolina Panthers | 7:30 PM | KDKA-TV, Panthers TV Network |
| Minnesota Vikings @ Kansas City Chiefs | 8:00 PM | FOX 9, KSHB |
| Saturday, Aug. 28 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Green Bay Packers @ Buffalo Bills | 1:00 PM | Packers TV Network, WIVB |
| Baltimore Ravens @ Washington Football Team | 6:00 PM | NFL Network, WBAL-TV, NBC4 |
| Chicago Bears @ Tennessee Titans | 7:00 PM | FOX32, WKRN |
| Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints | 8:00 PM | KPNX (Channel 12) |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Houston Texans | 8:00 PM | WFLA, ABC13 |
| Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos | 9:05 PM | TBD |
| Los Angeles Chargers @ Seattle Seahawks | 10:00 PM | CBS2 LA, Q13 FOX |
| Sunday, Aug. 29 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Jacksonville Jaguars @ Dallas Cowboys | 1:00 PM | KTVT |
| Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals | 4:00 PM | CBS |
| Las Vegas Raiders @ San Francisco 49ers | 4:00 PM | FOX5 Las Vegas |
| New England Patriots @ New York Giants | 6:00 PM | Patriots Preseason Network, WNBC |
| Cleveland Browns @ Atlanta Falcons | 8:00 PM | NBC |
Related: Predicting NFL playoff teams and Super Bowl 2022 winner
NFL Games Today: Week 1 kickoff: Thursday, September 9
Tom Brady and the Super Bowl LV champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers host Dak Prescott the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium to kick off the 2021 NFL season. It’s a great lineup of Week 1 matchups, but this one is going to be seriously intriguing.
Regular season upcoming NFL games
NFL Week 1
| Thursday, Sept. 9 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TNF) | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| Sunday, Sept. 12 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| New York Jets @ Carolina Panthers | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Seattle Seahawks @ Indianapolis Colts | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Los Angeles Chargers @ Washington Football Team | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Minnesota Vikings @ Cincinnati Bengals | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Cleveland Browns @ Kansas City Chiefs | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| Denver Broncos @ New York Giants | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| Chicago Bears @ Los Angeles Rams (SNF) | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| Monday, Sept. 13 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Baltimore Ravens @ Las Vegas Raiders (MNF) | 8:15 PM | ESPN, ABC |
Team by Team NFL Schedule
AFC East
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens schedule
- Cincinnati Bengals schedule
- Cleveland Browns schedule
- Pittsburgh Steelers schedule
AFC South
- Houston Texans schedule
- Indianapolis Colts schedule
- Jacksonville Jaguars schedule
- Tennessee Titans schedule
AFC West
NFL Week 2
| Thursday, Sept. 16 | Time (ET) | TV |
| New York Giants @ Washington Football Team (TNF) | 8:20 PM | NFLN |
| Sunday, Sept. 19 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Los Angeles Rams @ Indianapolis Colts | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| New England Patriots @ New York Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Cincinnati Bengals @ Chicago Bears | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Las Vegas Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Houston Texans @ Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Denver Broncos @ Jacksonville Jaguars | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4:05 PM | FOX |
| Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals | 4:05 PM | FOX |
| Dallas Cowboys @ Los Angeles Chargers | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| Tennessee Titans @ Seattle Seahawks | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens (SNF) | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| Monday, Sept. 20 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (MNF) | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
NFL Week 3
| Thursday, Sept. 23 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Carolina Panthers @ Houston Texans (TNF) | 8:20 PM | NFLN |
| Sunday, Sept. 26 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Chicago Bears @ Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| New Orleans Saints @ New England Patriots | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Washington Football Team @ Buffalo Bills | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Arizona Cardinals @ Jacksonville Jaguars | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Baltimore Ravens @ Detroit Lions | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| New York Jets @ Denver Broncos | 4:05 PM | CBS |
| Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders | 4:05 PM | CBS |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angeles Rams | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| Seattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers (SNF) | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| Monday, Sept. 27 | Time (ET) | TV |
| Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (MNF) | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
- *TNF = Thursday Night Football
- *SNF = Sunday Night Football
- *MNF = Monday Night Football
Related: NFL Power Rankings – Dallas Cowboys rise, Indianapolis Colts sink
When is the NFL trade deadline?
All 32 NFL teams must have finalized by 4 PM EST on Nov. 2. After the deadline passes, trades involving players can’t be made until the new 2022 NFL league year begins on March 15 at 4 PM EST.
Key dates for NFL playoffs
- January 15-16: Wild Card Weekend games
- January 22-23: Divisional Round games
- January 30: AFC and NFC Championship Games
- February 13: Super Bowl LVI
NFL Cheerleaders
Oct 22, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders perform in the fourth quarter in a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys cheerleader performs during a timeout from the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers cheerleaders during the second quarter between the Carolina Panthers and the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2019; Landover, MD, USA; A Washington Football Team cheerleader dances on the field during a timeout against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; The Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleaders, The Roar perform before a game against the Chicago Bears at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2019; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins cheerleaders perform during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports.
Oct 15, 2017; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleaders perform during a football game against the Los Angeles Rams at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform during the fourth quarter of a NFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders perform during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cheerleaders perform during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cheerleaders perform during the first quarter of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders perform during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2017; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cheerleaders perform during a NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders perform during the second half of a football game against the New England Patriots at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform a holiday show at halftime for the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat Tampa 26-20. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 24, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers Topcats Cheerleaders perform during the second quarter between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys cheerleader performs on the sidelines during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2018; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Football Team cheerleaders dance on the field during a timeout against the New York Jets in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. Washington won 15-13. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cheerleader perform in the AFC Wild Card NFL Playoff game between the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sportsnn
Oct 21, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins cheerleader performs against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A Minnesota Vikings cheerleader performs during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at U.S. Bank Stadium. Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct. 9, 2011 – Foxboro, Massachusetts, U.S – New England Patriots cheerleaders perform. The New England Patriots defeat the New York Jets 30 – 21 during the AFC East matchup at Gillette Stadium. (Credit Image: u00a9 Geoff Bolte/Southcreek/ZUMAPRESS.com)
Aug 25, 2018; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers girls cheerleaders perform during a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports