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Imago

Friday, August 21, could turn into a remote-control battle for sports fans. NFL preseason Week 3 kicks off with three games, but football will have to fight for attention with a packed MLB slate and WNBA action. With several leagues competing for the same audience, the bigger question may not be what to watch, but what gets ignored. Before diving into the full broadcast schedule, here’s what the NFL has lined up.

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The Steelers still do not have a clear answer behind Aaron Rodgers, and Friday’s game against the Jets could expose just how unsettled that backup job really is. Mason Rudolph may have the experience, but Drew Allar and Will Howard are pushing for a chance to change the pecking order. For Allar and Howard, this is not just another preseason appearance. It is a chance to prove Pittsburgh should trust them if Rodgers goes down.

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The Steelers-Jets game is not the only matchup with something to prove. Denver and Green Bay, two familiar opponents, will meet again with the Broncos holding a 9-7-1 edge in the all-time series. The Packers have not beaten Denver since 2019, so Friday gives Green Bay a chance to end that drought while both teams test where they really stand before the regular season.

And of course, the NFL isn’t the only part of Friday’s schedule. As mentioned earlier, MLB and the WNBA will also be in action, with plenty of games competing for fans’ attention. Here’s a look at the broadcast schedule.

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NFL

NFL fans have three preseason games to look forward to. The action gets underway at 7:00 PM ET, when the New York Jets visit the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the game airing on NFL Network. At 7:30 PM ET, the Carolina Panthers take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, also on NFL Network.

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Well, some listings suggest the game may air only on local channels, so fans should check their local listings. The night then closes at 9:00 PM ET with the Green Bay Packers taking on the Denver Broncos on NFL Network.

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WNBA

WNBA fans have three games to tune into on Friday. The evening gets started at 7:30 PM ET, when the Minnesota Lynx visit the Washington Mystics, while the Golden State Valkyries take on the Chicago Sky at the same time. Both games will be available on ION.

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The action continues at 10:00 PM ET, when the Portland Fire face the Toronto Tempo in Vancouver. The game will air on ION in the U.S. and TSN/TSN+ in Canada.

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MLB

Friday’s MLB slate is packed from afternoon to late night. Here’s every matchup and where to watch it.

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  • 4:10 PM ET: Atlanta Braves at Milwaukee Brewers
    TV: BravesVision, Brewers.TV
  • 6:40 PM ET: St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies
    TV: Cardinals.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
  • 7:05 PM ET: Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees
    TV: Sportsnet, TVA Sports, YES
  • 7:10 PM ET: Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins
    TV: Marlins.TV: Nationals.TV
  • 7:10 PM ET: San Francisco Giants at Boston Red Sox
    TV: NBC Sports Bay Area, NESN
  • 7:15 PM ET: Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles
    Streaming: Apple TV
  • 7:40 PM ET: New York Mets at Chicago White Sox
    TV: Chicago Sports Network, WPIX
  • 8:10 PM ET: Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals
    TV: Detroit Sports Network, KCTV5, Royals.TV
  • 8:10 PM ET: Athletics at Houston Astros
    TV: NBC Sports California, Space City Home Network
  • 8:15 PM ET: Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers
    Streaming: Apple TV
  • 8:40 PM ET: Cleveland Guardians at Colorado Rockies
    TV: Guardians.TV, Rockies.TV
  • 9:40 PM ET: Minnesota Twins at San Diego Padres
    TV: Padres.TV, Twins.TV
  • 9:40 PM ET: Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks
    TV: DBACKS.TV, Reds.TV
  • 10:10 PM ET: Chicago Cubs at Seattle Mariners
    TV: KING 5, Mariners.TV, Marquee Sports Network
  • 10:10 PM ET: Pittsburgh Pirates at Los Angeles Dodgers
    TV: SportsNet LA, SportsNet Pittsburgh
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After five days, Friday will mark the NFL’s return to the screens. But there’s a catch: MLB will have 15 games on the schedule that same day, with most of the action coming in the evening. And with three WNBA games also on tap, sports fans will once again have some tough choices to make. It could be another night of jumping between screens, trying not to miss the biggest moments.

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Written by

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Prasun Chakrabarty

2,355 Articles

Prasun Chakrabarty is a Senior Writer in the Olympic Sports division at EssentiallySports, where he covers track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and other Olympic disciplines. A seasoned journalist with three years at the company, Prasun's extensive knowledge and passion for track and field were evident from day one. With years of connections and research already established, he brought a unique edge to the ES Insights and Trends Desk. He has since become a key voice in the company's Olympic sports coverage. His star coverage includes World Athletics Indoor Championships, USATF Outdoor Championships, and reporting live from the U.S. Marathon Trials. His expertise earned him a special invitation from the Paris City Council to cover lead-up events ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Over time, his stories have sparked real-world impact. His piece on athlete mental toughness drew praise from Texas Volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott, while a feature on winter sports caught the attention of Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, who engaged with it publicly. His reporting has made its way into Wikipedia, where editors have cited his work as a trusted source on Olympic sports. Being an alum of the Journalistic Excellence Program (JEP) and an active member of the ES Think Tank, he’s part of the team driving the site’s long-term coverage strategy.

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