<P> Training camps for the 2017 season were held in late July through August . Teams started training camp no earlier than 15 days before the team's first scheduled preseason game . </P> <P> Prior to the start of the regular season, each team played four preseason exhibition games, beginning on August 10 . The preseason began on the evening of August 3 with the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, that featured the Dallas Cowboys (represented in the 2017 Hall of Fame Class by owner Jerry Jones) who hosted Arizona Cardinals (represented by former quarterback and 2017 Hall of Famer Kurt Warner). It was televised nationally on NBC . The 64 - game preseason schedule ended on August 31; a 65th game, that of the 2017 Texas Governor's Cup, was canceled due to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey . </P> <P> The 2017 regular season's 256 games will be played over a 17 - week schedule which began on September 7 . Each of the league's 32 teams plays a 16 - game schedule, with one bye week for each team . The slate also features games on Monday nights . There are games played on Thursday, including the National Football League Kickoff game in prime time on September 7 and games on Thanksgiving Day . The regular season will conclude with a full slate of 16 games on Sunday, December 31, all of which will be intra--division matchups, as it has been since 2010 . </P> <Dl> <Dt> Scheduling formula </Dt> </Dl>

When does the regular season start for the nfl