NFL Week 3 coverage map: TV schedule for CBS, Fox regional broadcasts

The NFL season is now in full swing and Week 3 could end up being a make-or-break one for many teams. Only six teams since 1979 have made the NFL playoffs after starting 0-3, so several fanbases will be extra nervous while watching the NFL's Sunday games play out.

And as usual, the NFL's Sunday slate is loaded with some of those important matchups, including a battle between the Chargers and Vikings, who are both 0-2.

In Week 3, there will be 12 games contested on Sunday, one fewer than the typical non-bye week number of 13. Why is that? It's because ESPN is hosting another "Monday Night Football" doubleheader, its second in as many weeks, to celebrate the opening stages of the campaign.

Even so, CBS and Fox will each get a solid slate of games to split down the middle. Each of the NFL's Sunday afternoon broadcast partners will show six of the 12 games, but Fox will get a chance to broadcast a doubleheader this week. CBS did so last week but now will now be able to air just one game in each TV market.

MORE: Watch NFL Week 3 games live with Fubo (free trial)

That said, CBS still has some solid matchups among its six-game slate. The Patriots vs. Jets game will be a critical one for New England as it looks to avoid dropping to 0-3 while Vic Fangio's revenge game in the Dolphins vs. Broncos matchup will also be worth watching. No game appears to be getting preferred treatment for CBS, so the mix of available games will vary greatly from region to region.

As for Fox, its focus will be on the Packers vs. Saints game in the 1 p.m. ET time slot, so the majority of the country will be able to see those teams play. The later window is more of an even split between the Chiefs vs. Bears and Cardinals vs. Cowboys games. While the Chiefs and Cowboys look like a couple of the NFL's best teams, these games against a couple of bottom-of-the-barrel teams aren't expected to be very competitive.

Below are the full NFL coverage maps for Week 3, plus a list of major TV markets and the CBS and Fox games that will be presented in each on Sunday.

NFL coverage map Week 3

(NFL coverage maps courtesy of 506sports.com)

• Fox early games

(Courtesy of 506Sports.com)

Red: Falcons at Lions

Blue: Saints at Packers

Green: Chargers at Vikings

Yellow: Texans at Jaguars

• Fox late games

(Courtesy of 506Sports.com)

Red: Bears at Chiefs

Blue: Cowboys at Cardinals

• CBS single game

(Courtesy of 506Sports.com)

Red: Patriots at Jets

Green: Broncos at Dolphins

Yellow: Bills at Commanders

Orange: Titans at Browns

Light Blue: Colts at Ravens

Dark Blue: Panthers at Seahawks (LATE)

TV schedule for NFL Week 3 games

Below are the Sunday afternoon games that will be broadcast regionally by CBS and Fox.

CBS coverage

• Patriots at Jets (1 p.m. ET)
• Broncos at Dolphins (1 p.m. ET)
• Bills at Commanders (1 p.m. ET)
• Titans at Browns (1 p.m. ET)
• Colts at Ravens (1 p.m. ET)
• Panthers at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET)

Fox coverage

• Falcons at Lions (1 p.m. ET)
• Saints at Packers (1 p.m. ET)
• Chargers at Vikings (1 p.m. ET)
• Texans at Jaguars (1 p.m. ET)
• Bears at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET)
• Cowboys at Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET)

Shortly after the afternoon slate ends, "Sunday Night Football" will begin. The program will feature a historic rivalry battle between the Steelers and the Raiders. Each 1-1 team will look to move up in its division in a rematch of the "Immaculate Reception" game.

For the second consecutive week, "Monday Night Football" will be a doubleheader. The Eagles and Buccaneers will square off in a matchup of 2-0 teams to start the evening while the Rams and Bengals will face off in a Super Bowl 56 rematch in the later game. Cincinnati will look to avoid dropping to 0-3 on the season, too, so this is a big game for the Bengals.

List of Week 3 NFL games by TV market

(TV markets listed in order by size)