The curtain comes down on the NFL preseason with a Saturday doubleheader. And at this stage, players across the league are playing the waiting game.
Roster cuts are coming into focus with the deadline looming at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30. It means that rosters will shrink from 90 players to just 53, marking the end of the road for countless players – at least temporarily.
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For now, the focus is on the final 120 minutes of game action before those tough decisions are made.
Players for the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears still have one last chance to make an impression.
One more solid showing could make all the difference.
Here’s what to know about the final day of the NFL preseason.
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
When it comes to fan avidity, Bills Mafia reigns supreme. On the other hand, fans of the New York Jets and New York Giants have some work to do. According to the inaugural “Nielsen Scarborough NFL Fandom Index” from media audience research firm Nielsen, the Buffalo Bills have the best fandom in the league. Bills fans scored 208 on the new index, which takes into account eight key metrics, Nielsen announced in a press release. The key metrics, all from Nielsen’s own data are apparel purchases, event attendance, streaming, social media following, TV viewership, radio listening, betting intent, and overall interest level. The firm noted that fanbases in Philadelphia and Cincinnati both ranked in the top five across several categories, which pushed Eagles and Bengals fans near the top of the index despite “neither lead[ing] a single metric outright.” New York 30
(Leslie Barbaro, NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY Network)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
When it comes to fan avidity, Bills Mafia reigns supreme. On the other hand, fans of the New York Jets and New York Giants have some work to do. According to the inaugural “Nielsen Scarborough NFL Fandom Index” from media audience research firm Nielsen, the Buffalo Bills have the best fandom in the league. Bills fans scored 208 on the new index, which takes into account eight key metrics, Nielsen announced in a press release. The key metrics, all from Nielsen’s own data are apparel purchases, event attendance, streaming, social media following, TV viewership, radio listening, betting intent, and overall interest level. The firm noted that fanbases in Philadelphia and Cincinnati both ranked in the top five across several categories, which pushed Eagles and Bengals fans near the top of the index despite “neither lead[ing] a single metric outright.” New York 30
(Leslie Barbaro, NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY Network)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Joe Scarnici, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
San Francisco/ Oakland / San Jose 27
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Diannie Chavez, The Republic via USA TODAY Network)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Jess Rapfogel, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Quinn Harris, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Grace Smith, IndyStar via USA TODAY Network)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Jeremy Brevard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Denny Simmons, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Bob Self, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY Network)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Jeffrey Becker, Imagn Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Jamie Sabau, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Andrew Nelles, Tennessean.com via USA TODAY Network)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY Network)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Greg Fiume, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Justin Berl, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Kayla Wolf, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Denny Medley, Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
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Nielsen ranks most passionate NFL fan bases, from worst to first
(Gregory Fisher, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
NFL games today: Saturday, Aug. 29
There are two NFL games scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29. Here’s who’s playing:
Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears, 6 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
NFL preseason Week 3 schedule
Thursday, Aug. 27
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams, 10 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Friday, Aug. 28
Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals, 8 p.m. ET (Local TV)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks, 8 p.m. ET (Local TV)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8 p.m. ET (CBS)
Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings, 9 p.m ET (NFL Network)
Saturday, Aug. 29
Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears, 6 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
How to watch NFL preseason games
TV channel (national): NFL Network
TV channel (local): By market
The NFL Network will broadcast a number of nationally televised games throughout the preseason. Most games will air in local markets on CBS, NBC, and others. Thursday night’s preseason action will include a pair of nationally televised games, with the Steelers-Bills and Rams-Chargers games both on NFL Network.
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For cord-cutters, NFL+ Premium will broadcast every preseason game. Fubo carries NFL Network, as well as CBS, NBC, Fox and the ESPN family of networks.
ESPN+ Unlimited will also carry a number of games.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What NFL games are on today? Preseason Week 3 TV channels, Saturday schedule
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