Another week in August and another slate of preseason NFL games today. The league moves into the second week of the 2023 preseason with two more games Friday night. What time can you watch football tonight? Here’s the Week 2 Friday schedule, including start times and channels.
Are There NFL Games Today?
While Week 1 of the 2023 NFL preseason featured six matchups, the Week 2 schedule is abbreviated with just two NFL games today. Here are the Friday NFL games for Week 2.
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET
- Channel: NFL Network
The first NFL game today sees the Carolina Panthers heading to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants. This will be the Giants’ second Friday preseason game after losing to the Detroit Lions 21-16 in Week 1. Carolina enters Week 2 reeling from their 27-0 loss to the New York Jets.
Rookie QB Bryce Young had a rough debut a week ago. Playing in just three drives, the 2023 first-overall pick completed just 4 of 6 six passes for 21 yards. He was also sacked once for a nine-yard loss.
Panthers head coach Frank Reich explained that he expects Young’s workload to be the same against the Giants as against the Jets. Additionally, Reich added that he was uncertain whether RB Miles Sanders would see the field during the preseason, given his groin injury.
Meanwhile, given that the Giants have the QB situation figured out for the time being, this preseason will focus heavily on who Daniel Jones is throwing to. The WR position was hit hard by injuries last year.
Currently, Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell, and 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt should all be locks to be on the 53-man squad to start the season.
Wan’Dale Robinson will fight long-time veterans like Cole Beasley and Jamison Crowder and a finally healthy Sterling Shepard for the final spots. Who will make the most of these last two games and fill those final spots in the WR room?
Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons
- Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: Local
The second NFL game tonight sees the Cincinnati Bengals heading south to take on the Atlanta Falcons. Both of these teams played last Friday, seeing very different results.
The Falcons defeated the Miami Dolphins by a wide margin, but the game was 6-0 until nine minutes and 29 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati, however, was shredded by the Green Bay Packers 36-19, with the Bengals’ only touchdown coming from the defense.
The Bengals will look for more from their offense in Week 2 of the preseason. While Burrow is expected to start the season, after his calf injury, he’s unlikely to see the field until Week 1 of the regular season.
This gives Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning plenty of opportunities to take control of the backup QB position. Neither made a great impression against the Packers. Will either have some luck against the Falcons?
As for Atlanta, most of their starters were missing from their 19-3 win over the Dolphins. However, HC Arthur Smith has said QB Desmond Ridder will play for the Falcons in the Week 2 preseason matchup.
Ridder said he’s ready to get out there and hopefully take a hit or two to shake the rust off and get back to NFL speed. The offense and defense are excited to get out there in Week 2 to see what this Atlanta team can look like.
