NFL Games Today: Preseason Week 1 Friday Football Schedule, Start Times, How to Watch, and More

The first few games of 2024 NFL preseason Week 1 are in the books, but the action doesn’t stop. Are there more NFL games today?

With three more matchups kicking off Friday, here’s how to watch the games tonight, including start times, TV channels, live stream options, and more.

Are There Any NFL Games Today? Friday Football Week 1 Preseason Schedule

The second night of Week 1 of the 2024 NFL preseason features three matchups, with five teams making their preseason debuts. After participating in the Hall of Fame Game, the Houston Texans will play the Pittsburgh Steelers in their second preseason tilt.

Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins host the Atlanta Falcons, and the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens battle in an exhibition bird bowl to round out the night. Here’s how to watch the NFL games today.

Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins

• Start time: Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, 7 p.m. ET
• Channel: Local
• Live stream options: NFL+
• Radio stations: 92.9 The Game, Dolphins Broadcast Network
• Starting QBs: Michael Penix Jr., Mike White
• Betting lines:
  • Spread: ATL -2.5
  • Total: 38.5
  • Moneyline: ATL -148, MIA +124

The Falcons head to Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Dolphins as both teams prepare to begin their season. After an impressive offseason between free agent signings, draft selections, and extensions, the Dolphins are prepped and ready to improve on their late-season collapse in 2023.

While Miami’s most recent move holds the most significance, the offseason roster building started with the Dolphins finally inking quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212 million contract that will keep him with the team through 2028. Both sides seemed eager to agree, but hammering out the precise terms of the extension took a bit longer than expected.

In addition to Tua’s deal, Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle earned a three-year, $84.75 million extension, and Tyreek Hill had his contract restructured.

Has the team made enough of a mark in other areas to take another shot at a Super Bowl in 2024? The splashes on defense look promising, but time will tell with the all-important Achilles heel of the Dolphins: the offensive line.

On the other hand, the Falcons had a very intriguing offseason. Atlanta had a chance to take the NFC South in 2023 if the quarterback situation was a bit better. Despite his best efforts, Desmond Ridder couldn’t cut it under center, as the team turned to backup Taylor Heincke at multiple points in the season. With Ridder and former head coach Arthur Smith gone, it was time for change.

However, the change got a bit strange. After bringing in Raheem Morris as the team’s new head coach, Atlanta signed QB Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract to finally give the Falcons offense a fighting chance. Then, a month and a half later, Atlanta used the eighth overall pick to select Penix. As a result, fans went crazy.

One could argue that the Falcons thought they wouldn’t find themselves with the eighth pick in the NFL Draft in the near future, with a chance to select a quarterback who could be a foundational cornerstone for their franchise. However, if that’s the case, why would you give a veteran QB a $100 million guaranteed contract?

Falcons fans will get to see their quarterback back of the future plenty this preseason. Penix will take the field while Cousins continues to rehab his Achilles injury to prepare for Week 1 of the regular season. Don’t be fooled; no matter how good Penix looks, this is Cousins’ squad.

No matter who takes over under center, upgrading the floor at quarterback only helps the vast number of playmakers on this roster, such as running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts. Could we see career years from these young offensive weapons?

2023 Stats Leaders

• QB:
  • Falcons: Desmond Ridder, 249 cmp/388 att, 2,836 yards, 12 TDs, 12 INTs
  • Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, 388 cmp/560 att, 4,624 yards, 29 TDs, 14 INTs
• RB:
  • Falcons: Bijan Robinson, 214 carries, 976 yards, four TDs, three fumbles lost
  • Dolphins: Raheem Mostert, 209 carries, 1,012 yards, 18 TDs, one fumble lost
• WR:
  • Falcons: Drake London, 69 rec/110 targets, 905 yards, two TDs
  • Dolphins: Tyreek Hill, 119 rec/171 targets, 1,799 yards, 13 TDs, one fumble lost

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers

• Start time: Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, 7 p.m. ET
• Channel: NFL Network
• Live stream options: NFL App, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
• Radio stations: SportsRadio 610, Steelers Audio Network
• Starting QBs: C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields
• Betting lines:
  • Spread: PIT -1
  • Total: 37.5
  • Moneyline: PIT -110, HOU -110

The Texans and Chicago Bears couldn’t outlast the rain in Canton and had to call it quits, with Houston falling 21-17 in the third quarter despite Davis Mills and Case Keenum looking sharp in their time on the gridiron. At the same time, second-year WR Xavier Hutchinson made the most of his touches. The 2023 sixth-round pick caught five of six targets for 56 yards and got one carry for eight yards.

Houston’s defense held firm in the first quarter but started to fold slightly when Brett Rypien came in in the second. While the Texans didn’t have a chance to answer Rypien’s third touchdown in the second half, the secondary and defensive reserves needed some work.

Fans finally get to see Stroud hit the field, but there’s no word if his new weapon, WR Stefon Diggs, will also play.

Meanwhile, the Steelers’ offense got a makeover. Former offensive coordinator Matt Canada was dismissed after Week 11 last season and replaced in the offseason with Smith. Additionally, after Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson, the franchise traded Kenny Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round pick (RB Jaylen Wright) to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2023 third-round pick (LB Payton Wilson) and two 2025 seventh-round selections.

That wasn’t the only move the Steelers made under center, as they also sent a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for Fields. That sixth-rounder could upgrade to a fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51% of snaps this season. Unless his performance in the preseason is vastly better than that of the Super Bowl winner and nine-time Pro Bowler, the plan is for Wilson to start.

It will be challenging, as Pittsburgh has doubled down on its WR group despite Diontae Johnson heading to the Carolina Panthers. George Pickens leads the group, with free agent Van Jefferson and third-year WR Calvin Austin III rounding out the top three. While TE Pat Freiermuth and RB Jaylen Warren have proven to boost the passing game, Pittsburgh needs someone to step up in the receiver room.

Pickens may get a couple of snaps, but expect the rest of the WR core to get a lot of action in the preseason as Pittsburgh attempts to figure out who will make the final 53 for the black and gold. The Steelers got stronger on the line in the 2024 NFL Draft while continuing to fine-tune a top-notch defense through free agency.

They brought in linebacker Patrick Queen from the Baltimore Ravens to pair with T.J. Watt, and they filled out the secondary with the signings of Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott, among others. Head coach Mike Tomlin is making moves to get back to the top of the AFC North, but will they pay off in such a competitive division?

2023 Stats Leaders

• QB:
  • Texans: C.J. Stroud, 319 cmp/499 att, 4,108 yards, 23 TDs, five INTs
  • Steelers: Kenny Pickett, 201 cmp/324 att, 2,070 yards, six TDs, four INTs
• RB:
  • Texans: Devin Singletary, 216 carries, 898 yards, four TDs
  • Steelers: Najee Harris, 255 carries, 1,035 yards, eight TDs, one fumble lost
• WR
  • Texans: Nico Collins, 80 rec/109 targets, 1,297 yards, eight TDs
  • Steelers: George Pickens, 63 rec/106 targets, 1,140 yards, five TDs

Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens

• Start time: Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Channel: Local
• Live stream options: NFL+
• Radio stations: Eagles Gameday Radio, Ravens Gameday Coverage
• Starting QBs: Kenny Pickett, Josh Johnson
• Betting lines:
  • Spread: PHI -1.5
  • Total: 34.5
  • Moneyline: PHI -120, BAL +100

The Eagles start their preseason at M&T Bank Stadium, where they’ll take on the Ravens, who are also making their preseason debut. The 2023 season could not have ended worse for Philadelphia. After sprinting to a 10-1 start, the wheels fell off, and the team went 1-6 to finish the season, including a 32-9 whooping courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Wild Card Round.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni saved his job, but it came with much change. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai was stripped of his playcalling duties midseason and fired after the postseason drubbing, and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson was also canned after the season ended.

Philadelphia hired Kellen Moore to take over the offense and reunited with old friend Vic Fangio on the defensive side.

Sirianni will have to earn the trust of his new coordinators, and, according to Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, his quarterback too. While Hurts has some security by getting locked into a long-term contract before the 2023 season, Sirianni does not.

Will Moore be able to help the two parties see eye-to-eye where it is clear there is a lack of respect? Also, if the team quit on its head coach last season, who’s to say it won’t happen again if times do get difficult? It will be tough for Sirianni in 2024, but his job depends on it.

Meanwhile, Baltimore gears up for another run at the Lombardi Trophy with QB Lamar Jackson under center. However, some other areas of the offense saw some shuffling, specifically the RB room. Since Jackson was drafted, the Ravens have consistently had one of the best-ranked rushing attacks in the NFL. In 2023, they led the NFL with 2,661 rushing yards and 541 carries.

While Jackson was a large part of that total, so was Gus Edwards, who signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. Running back J.K. Dobbins also signed with the Chargers.

But the Ravens didn’t stand pat; they brought in former Tennesee Titans star and NFL leading rusher Derrick Henry to take over the RB room. Meanwhile, Justice Hill and rookie Rasheen Ali will see most of the action in the preseason.

Even throughout the defense, the Ravens are relying heavily on their scouting eye, as many players went elsewhere in free agency. Queen signed with the Steelers, cornerback Ronald Darby signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and linebacker Jadeveon Clowney joined the Panthers, among others.

The Ravens are doubling down on their homegrown defensive talent while continuing to identify pieces in the draft.

2023 Stats Leaders

• QB:
  • Eagles: Jalen Hurts, 352 cmp/538 att, 3,858 yards, 23 TDs, 15 INTs
  • Ravens: Lamar Jackson, 307 cmp/457 att, 3,678 yards, 24 TDs, seven INTs
• RB:
  • Eagles: D’Andre Swift, 229 carries, 1,049 yards, five TDs
  • Ravens: Lamar Jackson, 148 carries, 821 yards, five TDs, two fumbles lost
• WR:
  • Eagles: A.J. Brown, 106 rec/158 targets, 1,456 yards, seven TDs, two fumbles lost
  • Ravens: Zay Flowers, 77 rec/108 targets, 858 yards, five TDs