How to Watch Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints: 2026 NFL Preseason Game Time, TV Channel, Streaming Info and Key Storylines
ARLINGTON, Texas — The 2026 NFL preseason is reaching its final stage, and one of the most interesting games on the closing schedule will take place under the lights at AT&T Stadium.
The Dallas Cowboys will host the New Orleans Saints on Friday, August 28, 2026, in the third and final preseason game for both teams. Kickoff is officially scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central Time, which is 8:00 p.m. Eastern and 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
For fans, it is the final opportunity to watch preseason football before the focus shifts completely toward Week 1.
For coaches and players, however, the stakes are much higher.
Roster spots remain on the line. Young players are trying to make one final impression. Veterans near the bottom of the depth chart are fighting to protect their jobs. And both coaching staffs will use the game as an important evaluation before finalizing their regular-season rosters.
Cowboys vs. Saints Game Information
The matchup will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home of the Cowboys.
Dallas enters the game after playing its first two preseason contests on the road, making the Saints matchup the Cowboys’ only home preseason game of 2026.
The official game details are:
- Matchup: New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
- Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
- Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CT / 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
- Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Preseason Week: Week 3
Dallas officially lists the game for 7:00 p.m. CDT, while New Orleans also confirms the same kickoff time on its 2026 schedule.
What TV Channel Is Cowboys vs. Saints On?
For viewers in the Dallas market, the Cowboys’ official schedule lists CBS as the television broadcast for the preseason finale.
Saints fans in New Orleans can watch the game locally on WVUE-FOX 8, with regional coverage also available through the Saints’ Gray Television preseason network across several Gulf Coast markets.
That regional network includes affiliates in markets such as Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Mobile, Birmingham, Jackson, Shreveport and several other areas throughout the South.
Because preseason television rights differ from regular-season national broadcasts, fans outside the participating local markets should check their local listings before kickoff.
How to Stream Cowboys vs. Saints Live
The easiest option for many out-of-market viewers will be NFL+.
The Cowboys officially list NFL+ as a viewing option for the game, and the Saints’ game center also includes NFL+ among the available ways to watch.
NFL+ generally provides access to live out-of-market preseason games, while availability for live local and primetime regular-season games varies by device and location.
Fans who receive the relevant local CBS or FOX affiliate through a live-TV streaming package may also be able to watch through services that carry those stations in their market.
Availability can differ geographically, so viewers using streaming services should confirm their local channel lineup before game day.
How to Listen on Radio
Fans who prefer radio coverage will also have several options.
The Cowboys list 105.3 The Fan as their radio home for the matchup.
In New Orleans, the game will air on WWL 105.3 FM and 870 AM, with the Saints Radio Network providing pregame, game and postgame coverage.
The Saints also offer Spanish-language radio coverage in the New Orleans market on 105.7 FM and 830 AM.
That gives fans who cannot watch live another reliable way to follow every snap.
Why This Game Matters for Dallas
For the Cowboys, the preseason finale represents the final live-game evaluation before the roster begins taking its regular-season shape.
Dallas has already gone through weeks of training camp, practices and two preseason games, meaning the coaching staff has accumulated substantial information on nearly every player.
Now comes the final test.
Players competing for reserve roles will need to show they can execute assignments consistently rather than simply produce one highlight.
Special teams will be particularly important.
A player battling for the final five or six roster spots may not receive enough offensive or defensive snaps to make his case there alone.
Kick coverage, punt protection and return duties can therefore determine whether a player survives final cuts.
The Saints Also Have Plenty at Stake
New Orleans enters the matchup with similar concerns.
The Saints opened their preseason against Jacksonville before traveling to Los Angeles to face the Rams, and Dallas represents their third and final exhibition opponent.
By this point in the preseason, the coaching staff will already have a strong understanding of which established players are safe.
The biggest questions will concern depth.
Backup quarterbacks.
Reserve offensive linemen.
Special-teams contributors.
Young defensive backs.
Receivers competing for the final roster positions.
Those are the players most likely to receive meaningful snaps Friday night.
A Familiar Coaching Connection Adds Interest
There is also an interesting connection between the two teams.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore is extremely familiar with Dallas.
Moore previously played quarterback for the Cowboys before becoming a member of the team’s coaching staff and eventually serving as offensive coordinator.
That history adds another layer to an otherwise straightforward preseason matchup.
The Cowboys themselves highlighted Moore’s return when announcing the 2026 preseason schedule.
While neither side is likely to reveal significant regular-season strategy during an exhibition finale, familiarity between coaching staffs can still make certain individual matchups interesting.
How Much Will the Starters Play?
This is one of the biggest questions surrounding any final preseason game.
NFL teams approach the third exhibition game differently.
Some coaches prefer giving starters a short opportunity to establish rhythm.
Others protect their most important players entirely and use the game almost exclusively to evaluate reserves.
Fans should therefore not assume that every Dallas or New Orleans star will receive significant playing time.
The primary objective remains preparing for the regular season without exposing essential players to unnecessary injury risk.
That means many of the most important performances may come from names casual fans do not yet recognize.
Watch the Offensive Line Battles
Preseason games are particularly valuable for evaluating offensive linemen.
Unlike practices, live games force linemen to respond to unfamiliar defensive fronts and pass-rush techniques without coaches standing nearby.
Dallas will be watching whether its reserve blockers can protect the quarterback and create consistent rushing lanes.
New Orleans will conduct the same evaluation.
One missed protection assignment can completely change a player’s roster outlook.
Conversely, a strong night against NFL-caliber competition can push a young lineman into serious consideration.
Receiver Depth Could Be Decided
Wide receiver competitions are another major storyline during final preseason games.
Star receivers usually have secure roles.
The battle becomes much more intense lower on the depth chart.
Coaches want receivers who can do more than simply catch passes.
They must understand route adjustments.
They must block.
They must contribute on special teams.
They must avoid mental mistakes.
A receiver who catches four passes but misses an assignment may not improve his roster chances nearly as much as fans expect.
That is why the details Friday night will matter.
Defensive Players Have One Final Audition
The same applies defensively.
Young linebackers and defensive backs will be judged heavily on communication and tackling.
Preseason defenses frequently contain players who have practiced together only briefly, making assignment discipline particularly important.
Coaches will look closely at pursuit angles, coverage responsibility and whether defenders can finish tackles in space.
One explosive play allowed because of a communication breakdown can become a significant negative during final roster discussions.
Special Teams Could Decide Everything
Perhaps no phase matters more to bubble players than special teams.
A reserve linebacker who can cover kicks has value.
A backup defensive back capable of playing multiple special-teams units has value.
A receiver who can contribute as a returner may have an advantage over a player who offers only offensive snaps.
This is often where the final roster battle is won.
The stars may attract the headlines, but the players fighting for jobs know Friday could come down to one successful tackle on punt coverage or one costly penalty.
Dallas Gets Its Only Home Preseason Appearance
The setting also makes the game notable for Cowboys fans.
Dallas played preseason games at Seattle and Arizona before returning home for the finale. The Saints matchup will therefore be the club’s only preseason appearance at AT&T Stadium in 2026.
That gives fans in Arlington their first opportunity this preseason to see the team in its home environment.
It also provides younger players a chance to experience AT&T Stadium before potentially playing meaningful games there later in the year.
Final Viewing Guide
Fans planning to watch should remember the most important information:
The Dallas Cowboys host the New Orleans Saints on Friday, August 28, 2026, at AT&T Stadium, with kickoff officially set for 7:00 p.m. Central Time.
Dallas lists the television broadcast on CBS, while the Saints’ regional broadcast will air on FOX 8 in New Orleans and participating Gray Television affiliates.
NFL+ is also listed as an official viewing option, while Cowboys radio coverage will be available on 105.3 The Fan and Saints coverage on WWL 105.3 FM / 870 AM.
One Final Chance Before the Regular Season
The scoreboard will matter Friday night.
But for dozens of players, something much more important will be at stake.
A job.
An NFL future.
One final opportunity to convince a coaching staff that they belong on the 53-man roster.
That is what makes preseason finales compelling.
Dallas and New Orleans may save their most important schemes and protect many of their stars, but the players who do take the field will have every reason to treat the matchup like a playoff game.
For Cowboys and Saints fans, August 28 represents one last football appetizer before the real season begins.
For the players fighting at the bottom of the roster, it could determine everything.
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