Eagles-Ravens preseason game: Start time, channel, how to watch and stream

Precisely 181 days after their heartbreaking Super Bowl loss, the Eagles return to the field Saturday night to take on the Baltimore Ravens in the first of three preseason games leading up to the regular season.

Tonight’s game will air locally on NBC10 and nationally on the NFL Network, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. NBC10 will also air the Eagles’ second preseason game on Aug. 17 against the Cleveland Browns, but the Birds’ final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts will stream on Amazon’s Prime Video (and air in Philadelphia on Fox 29).

It’s unclear if Jalen Hurts or many Eagles starters will take the field tonight at MT&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Last year, Hurts played the opening drive in the Birds’ first preseason game, but head coach Nick Sirianni didn’t give an answer either way to reporters on Thursday.

“I like to play football,” a tight-lipped Hurts told reporters. “So any opportunity I get to do that, I want to take advantage of.”

Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream the Eagles’ first preseason game:

The Eagles first preseason game against the Ravens is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern locally on NBC10 and nationally on the NFL Network.

Returning to the booth is play-by-play announcer Scott Graham, the former Phillies broadcaster in his 12th year calling Eagles preseason games. Back alongside Graham is former offensive lineman Ross Tucker, who joined the booth in 2019 after Mike Mayock left to become the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders. Dave Spadaro will report from the sidelines.

Tucker said while he isn’t expecting to see starters spend much or any time on the field, he said he’ll be focused on the roster competition for some defensive spots.

“I think what’s really interesting about the Eagles this year is it feels like there’s a lot of positions up for grabs, as opposed to last year,” Tucker told The Inquirer. “They have four different safeties getting time with the [starters] and four or five different linebackers getting time with the ones. That doesn’t happen unless it’s a legitimate battle.”

The NFL Network’s broadcast will feature the Ravens’ TV announcers, which includes Gerry Sandusky, Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, and former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan.

Regionally, the preseason game will air on a number of local stations, including:

Of course, the game will also air on the radio on 94.1 WIP, where fans can listen to Merrill Reese begin what will be his 46th season calling Eagles games — the longest tenure in the NFL, which dates back to 1977. Reese, who signed a new deal back in March that will keep him in the booth through the 2024 season, will once again be joined by former Eagles receiver Mike Quick. WIP host Howard Eskin will handle sideline reporting duties.

Tonight’s game will be free to stream on both the Eagles app or on PhiladelphiaEagles.com if you live in either the Philadelphia or Baltimore TV market.

The game will also stream in the Philadelphia market on any so-called skinny bundle that carries NBC, including fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream. Most offer a free trial.

Fans living outside the Philadelphia market can stream the game on NFL+, the league streaming service. It’ll set you back $6.99 a month, though there is a free seven-day trial.

If you’re looking to stream the game for free and you live in or around Philadelphia, your best option is using a digital antenna, since all the games will air on broadcast television.

Eagles staff writers Jeff McLane, EJ Smith, Josh Tolentino, and Olivia Reiner will be covering the action live on Gameday Central. Notes and observations about the game will be at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

With the Phillies playing the Minnesota Twins tonight, pregame coverage will begin on NBC Sports Philadelphia+ at 6 p.m. with Eagles Pregame Live, featuring Michael Barkann, Ron Jaworski, Barrett Brooks, and Reuben Frank. Eagles Postgame Live will air following the game.

Pregame coverage of the Eagles’ first preseason game on 94.1 WIP begins at 6 p.m., with Glen Macnow and Hugh Douglas