The countdown to Week 1 in the NFL rolls on with a slate of preseason action on Thursday night, including two games on TSN.
Let’s take a look at the matchups and where you can find them.
Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Watch it LIVE at 7pm ET/4pm PT on TSN2, TSN.ca and the TSN App
The Cincinnati Bengals welcome the Detroit Lions to Paycor Stadium on Tuesday night in the first preseason game for both teams.
Both teams have high expectations in 2026 after missing the playoffs in disappointing fashion a season ago.
After winning back-to-back NFC North titles in 2023 and 2024, Dan Campbell and the Lions struggled in 2025, finishing the campaign with a 9-8 record
The Lions started 5-2 before their bye in Week 7, but dropped four of their last six games to finish last in the division.
The Bengals finished 6-11 and missed the postseason for a third consecutive season as star quarterback Joe Burrow missed half of the season with an injury for the second time in three years.
If Burrow and top receiving option Ja’Marr Chase can stay healthy, the Bengals should be contenders for a playoff return.
Earlier this week, head coach Zac Taylor indicated Burrow, as well as star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, who was acquired from the New York Giants in April, are set to get “limited” playing time on Thursday.
Chase and fellow receiver Tee Higgins are also expected to get on the field.
On the other side of the ball, undrafted rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer will get the start under centre as veteran pivot Jared Goff is not expected to play.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Watch it LIVE at 8pm ET/5pm PT on TSN+
A new era of Las Vegas Raiders football begins on Tuesday night at Allegiant Stadium as No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza is expected to get plenty of reps against the visiting Arizona Cardinals in his first preseason action in the NFL.
“I look forward to seeing him out there with his teammates. [There] are a lot of guys that we need to evaluate, but he will get plenty of reps,” new head coach Klint Kubiak said earlier this week.
Mendoza was selected first overall in the spring after winning the Heisman Trophy last season, throwing for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions with the Indiana Hoosiers. Mendoza led Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers to its first Big Ten title since 1967 and the program’s first National Championship.
The Raiders went 3-14 in 2025 and haven’t made the playoffs since 2021.
Despite the Raiders putting a lot of stock in Mendoza, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed with Las Vegas in the off-season, is still the No. 1 quarterback on the team’s depth chart and could be the starter to begin the 2026 campaign.
Arizona will be playing their second preseason game after dropping the Hall of Fame Game to the Carolina Panthers last Thursday.
Head coach Mike LaFleur, who was hired as the franchise’s 45th head coach in February, expects quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck all to see game action against the Raiders.
Selected in the third-round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Beck had a solid NFL debut against the Panthers, completing 15-of-19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in a little over a half of game action.
Running back Jeremiyah Love, selected third overall in the year’s NFL Draft, will also play Thursday after missing Arizona’s preseason opener.
The Notre Dame product ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.
The Cardinals went 3-14 last season, missing the playoffs for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons.
