What to watch for: Preseason games Week 1

[Greenbacks]

THURSDAY (all times ET)


Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons (7 p.m.)

» How is Kirk Cousins looking? Some, like Good Morning Football's own Peter Schrager expect Cousins to lead the NFL in passing this year, while others (including Cousins' own general manager) want to wait and see before committing long term. Investing too much in preseason performances with vanilla plays against vanilla coverages isn't wise, but it would be nice to see him replicate some of that practice sharpness we've been hearing so much about in a live situation against an improving secondary.

» Who fills out the Atlanta secondary behind Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford? With Trufant just coming back from a hip injury, we'd expect his playing time to be limited. Same for Alford if the Falcons don't want to risk losing one of their top three corners so early on in camp. Jalen Collins' suspension opens the door for some like Akeem King to make plays in a big spot.

» Does Atlanta dance around run-game prep? The strength of the team this year will be the running game and its ability to free up Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, which means it's probably wise to keep touches for Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman to a minimum. That probably goes for new center Alex Mack snaps as well.

 

[Greenbacks]

THURSDAY (all times ET)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles (7 p.m.)

» Did Austin Seferian-Jenkins learn his lesson after being kicked out of practice in June? The Bucs' talented young tight end said this week that it was a wake-up call, but head coach Dirk Koetter already named Cameron Brate the starter. Seferian-Jenkins will probably get plenty of snaps to prove that his lineup errors in minicamp are a thing of the past.

» Does Carson Wentz live up to the hype? He'll likely be playing against a third-string defense which is a fine way of feeling out the NFL. Wentz, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, is expected to enter after halftime and play through the final buzzer, so it will be one of the better matchups to hang with after the break.

» A re-debut for Nelson Agholor? Jordan Matthews isn't suiting up which means the Sam Bradford-Nelson Agholor connection (quite underwhelming last year) will be one to keep an eye on. The Eagles' presumptive starter at quarterback needs some dynamic playmakers to extend the offense -- something we thought Agholor could provide more of after a hit and miss preseason in 2015.

 

[Greenbacks]

THURSDAY (all times ET)

Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens (7:30 p.m.)

» How many reps is "limited" for Kelvin Benjamin? Panthers head coach Ron Rivera would love to get Benjamin in and out after the opening series with a catch on a ball that would allow Benjamin to easily sneak out of bounds unharmed. While best laid plans tend to crumble, this seems relatively fail safe. Still, it will be nice to see the dynamic first-round pick back on the field after missing all of last season.

» Ravens rookies on defense! A shameless plug for my most recent NFL.com column on the team's second and fourth-round picks Tavon Young, Willie Henry and Kamalei Correa -- all of whom could be in line for heavy snaps this year. With John Harbaugh limiting his unhealthy players (including Joe Flacco), he's already made clear that this game is more about experience for the youth movement.

» Will Terrance West get a blitz to swing at? The Ravens running back has, by all accounts, produced a stellar camp but that won't mean anything if he can't help Joe Flacco stay upright. West's blitz pickup was under a microscope during the early portion of training camp, according to the team's official site, but luckily for Flacco, Ryan Mallett will be the one who proves whether or not it has gotten better.

 

[Greenbacks]

THURSDAY (all times ET)

Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears (8 p.m.)

» This one is obvious. The Broncos are continuing to insist that Mark Sanchez might lose the quarterback competition, which means all eyes are on the former Jets star. He will start the preseason opener, but after that, nothing is guaranteed, especially for the man listed as co-No. 1 on the depth chart.

» Outside of the immediate quarterback competition madness, we'll also get an entire second half of Paxton Lynch. The team's first-round pick will likely take snaps for the Broncos at some point this season given how these things typically play out. Like Wentz, Lynch will provide a good reason to stick around after the starters bow out.

» The Bears, like the Panthers, will likely keep wide receiver Kevin White in bubble wrap, but last year's first-round pick is champing at the bit. Head coach John Fox plans on working the starters for an entire quarter which means that White could have two series to get his hands on the ball.

 

[Greenbacks]

THURSDAY (all times ET)

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets (7:30 p.m.)

» Another two-tiered quarterback question afoot here: Obviously, we all want to see how Ryan Fitzpatrick looks after his summer of growing hair, but the real curiosity lies at the bottom end of the depth chart. Geno Smith and Bryce Petty both might not be on the roster a year from now -- Smith because he's looking to get away from an organization that doesn't see him as a starter and Petty because he could be the odd man out if the Jets don't pick four quarterbacks.

» Chris Ivory will face his former team for the first time after the Jets let the running back walk in free agency. An underrated power back, Ivory probably won't remain in the game for long but he will have a little pop stored up. Ivory's playing time will also provide a helpful hint as to how, exactly, the Jaguars will deploy their backs this season.

» Dante Fowler is coming into his first preseason game with Jacksonville with more momentum than any other Jaguar on defense. His redshirt season did not show any signs of slowing him down early on this training camp, though Thursday will be the first genuine look at how Fowler will fare against a decent Jets offensive line.

 

[Greenbacks]

THURSDAY (all times ET)

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots (7:30 p.m., NFL Network)

» How will Jacoby Brissett look in his debut? The Patriots' third stringer is one injury away from playing in the season opener, which was no doubt on Bill Belichick's mind during the last few weeks. Jimmy Garoppolo is obviously the quarterback to watch, but we've also seen enough of Garoppolo against NFL talent to gauge his readiness. With Tom Brady planning to sit altogether vs. the Saints, Brissett has the most to gain from the open snaps.

» How does Sheldon Rankins look? After picking off Brady during joint Saints-Patriots practices, Rankins has been elevated to must-watch territory for Saints fans. The defensive tackle is quite possibly the best chance the Saints have of turning their defense around, and will hopefully give us a preview of his hybrid role on Thursday night.

» Malcolm Butler vs. Brandin Cooks Round 2? The pair battled it out during joint practices throughout the week and should highlight some of the early first-quarter battles we're able to see Thursday. Cooks is looking to prove that he can handle the workload of a true No. 1 wideout and hopes to gain some momentum heading into the regular season.

 

[Greenbacks]

FRIDAY (all times ET)

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers (8 p.m.)

» The Browns have a new quarterback, if you might not have heard. Robert Griffin III's re-debut is far different than that of say, Mark Sanchez, though. Griffin's slide was an amalgamation of so many things; regression, a lack of confidence, a change in scheme, a turning of the locker room. This is more than just a journeyman hoping for a Ryan Fitzpatrick moment. This is a player hoping to get born again when it comes to football.

» Does Jeff Janis end the skid? The Packers wideout hasn't had the best of camps and is currently buried on Green Bay's depth chart. Anything can happen in the preseason, though, and Janis is hoping for the type of performance that changes the minds of head coaches.

» The Terrelle Pryor experiment seems closer than ever to actually happening, depending on who you listen to. Pryor will get a chance to prove he belongs in a young rotation against a decent Packers secondary.

 

[Greenbacks]

FRIDAY (all times ET)

Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers (7 p.m., NFL Network)

» Are we ready for a backup tight end party? The departure of veteran Heath Miller and the injury to high-profile free agent acquisition of Ladarius Green putts Pittsburgh in a rough spot. We'll likely get a heavy dose of Jesse James and journeyman UDFA Xavier Grimble, both of whom could be key puzzle pieces as Pittsburgh puts together their 53-man roster.

» Taylor Decker wasn't the sexiest pick the Lions could have made in the first round, but they've liked him enough to stick him at left tackle. While Decker fared well against the Steelers during joint practices, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin could give him a dose of NFL-speed blitzing as a favor to Lions head coach Jim Caldwell.

» Marvin Jones has been on a hot streak in Detroit and, according to MLive.com, he's taken over the role of No. 1 wide receiver (at least in spirit). Will there be an easy way to tell on Friday against the Steelers?

 

[Greenbacks]

FRIDAY (all times ET)

Miami Dolphins at New York Giants (7 p.m.)

» How many lineup changes will we see on defense for the Giants? Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has trotted out some pretty enticing fronts in camp so far, including some obvious speed packages built around high priced free agent Olivier Vernon. While the preseason is intentionally bland, there is value in getting a live look at how the pieces fit.

» Laremy Tunsil is a backup on the depth chart but we all know that will change quickly. The Dolphins want the former Ole Miss star, believed by some to be the No. 1 prospect in the entire draft, to earn his reps. That will include out-playing the likes of Dallas Thomas on Friday.

» Who will emerge from the younger crowd? Darian Thompson could run away with a starting safety job for the Giants, while Dolphins receiver Leonte Carroo could earn himself some more playing time after having one of his best days of training camp on Wednesday.

 

[Greenbacks]

FRIDAY (all times ET)

Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals (7:30 p.m.)

» Will both sides remain hot after a few training camp scuffles? The Vikings and Bengals both have head coaches that love intense, physical play and their joint practices did not let us down with a brawl that featured Adam Jones on Wednesday. While Cincinnati players are no stranger to sticking their nose in the mix, Mike Zimmer isn't going to let the Vikings back down to anybody.

» Second-round pick Tyler Boyd has been the most-hyped player coming out of camp for the Bengals and for good reason. The playmaker out of Pittsburgh has shown a legitimate ability to plug into the offense right away and rack up catches. Bengals fans panicking about the losses of Marvin Jones and Mohammed Sanu could rest easier with a good performance this weekend.

» Laquon Treadwell was semi-buried on the team's first depth chart released earlier in the week, though that isn't necessarily surprising given how the Vikings have worked in rookies in the past. What it hopefully means is snaps into the second and third quarter for the first-round pick, thought by some to be the best wide receiver in this year's draft.

 

[Greenbacks]

FRIDAY (all times ET)

Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals (10 p.m., NFL Network)

» Bruce Arians made an A-plus move this week by announcing that offensive coordinator -- and future head coach -- Harold Goodwin will call the plays and handle the game planning process for three of their four preseason games. This could be great evidence for head coach needy teams to point toward if they think about making a change in 2017.

» DeAndre Washington could soon steal the show in Oakland. The shifty running back is still climbing the depth chart, but figures to soon be explosive, especially in Oakland's passing game. The later half of preseason games are an excellent time to see what kind of speed and talent truly stands out.

» Who will win the race to back up Derek Carr? Connor Cook is currently No. 2 to Matt McGloin, but nothing is set in stone. The Michigan State fourth-rounder is talented if raw, but will make a push to unseat the former undrafted free agent and cement his place on Oakland's roster.

 

[Greenbacks]

SATURDAY (all times ET)

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs (4:30 p.m., NFL Network)

» Is Trevone Boykin the backup for good? Much ado has been made about Boykin being Russell Wilson's primary backup, even if the Seahawks have raved about his ability. Now, we get to see it against a good defense not wearing the same colors.

» Could anyone emerge from the back end of Seattle's running back depth chart? Per ESPN.com, fifth-round pick Alex Collins had a memorable team scrimmage, especially as a pass catcher out of the backfield. With C.J. Prosise still battling back from a hamstring injury, the competition for playing time seems wide open.

» Was Nick Foles worth the speedy signing? The Chiefs were desperate for a No. 2 with veteran experience after Chase Daniel left town and jumped on the chance to sign former Eagles starter Nick Foles, reuniting him with the coaching staff that drafted him.

 

[Greenbacks]

SATURDAY (all times ET)

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams (8 p.m., ESPN)

» Will the crowd be as advertised? Word is, these teams are going to pack the L.A. Coliseum for the opener, a nice way to welcome the Rams back home.

» All eyes on Jared Goff: The No. 1 pick is still technically No. 2 on the depth chart behind Case Keenum, but will he be L.A.'s starting quarterback once the season starts? Jeff Fisher will be looking for a few simple traits: ball security, poise and footwork. How many out of those three does he actually get?

» Can Dak Prescott continue to fend off a veteran? So much of the preseason is about the 2s and 3s and Prescott has been making a push to back up Tony Romo for good. At the moment Jerry Jones seems content to wait out roster cut downs to sign a veteran, but Prescott could keep his spot for good by stringing together some capable performances.

 

[Greenbacks]

SATURDAY (all times ET)

Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (7 p.m.)

» Where is the Ryan defense at? An offseason of change and devastating injury has Buffalo looking to put all the pieces together. Rex Ryan has never been afraid to get exotic in the preseason, but does he have enough institutional knowledge to run what he wants?

» How careful will Chuck Pagano be with Andrew Luck? This has been an important season for the former No. 1 overall pick, and he will get to begin anew on Saturday. The Colts planned on playing Luck in the Hall of Fame game, so nothing should change but the opponent.

» Hassan Ridgeway has been seeing some first-string love following the suspension of Colts tackle Arthur Jones. While that might not be a permanent fixture once the lineup settles into order, Buffalo's offensive line will provide an adequate proving ground.

 

[Greenbacks]

SATURDAY (all times ET)

San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans (8 p.m.)

» The Titans are not going to look like Oregon, as head coach Mike Mularkey has insisted multiple times. So what exactly does exotic smashmouth look like? We're about to find out.

» Does James Jones still have some juice? A resurgent season in Green Bay earned Jones a one-year fling with the San Diego Chargers. After looking strong in Giants camp a year ago, Jones was cut. Will he have better fortunes with the Bolts?

» Do we learn anything new about the Joey Bosa situation? The Chargers are tired of hearing about their first-round pick, who is still unsigned. But player frustration tends to mount around game time -- perhaps some others echo Antonio Gates' words.

 

[Greenbacks]

SUNDAY (all times ET)

Houston Texans at San Francisco 49ers (7 p.m., NFL Network)

» Brock Osweiler has been the subject of all requisite preseason hype pieces for new NFL quarterbacks or new starters, and now the proving ground is finally here. This will not be a concrete evaluation, but it will provide a sense of how engrained Osweiler is in this offense.

» Who on Earth emerges at quarterback for the 49ers? Starters at this point are irrelevant since Chip Kelly will hopefully give both Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick a chance to prove their worth. While signs are pointing to Gabbert, it will be obvious early on how interested Kaepernick is at winning the competition.

» Will Will Fuller continue to run with the 1s? The Houston Chronicle noted that the team's No. 1 pick has been DeAndre Hopkins' running mate of late -- the lineup that all Texans fans were hoping for this spring.

 

[Greenbacks]

Weather looks okay for tonight.

I`m seeing some lite drizzle in Philly and Chicago

 

[boss415]

You had a great run last year in the pre season. Post em up and bol

 

[Greenbacks]

You had a great run last year in the pre season. Post em up and bol

Good memory boss....lol.....I was a little hot to start.

Good luck boss!

 

[indiana]

GB/2........enjoy the games tonight.........BOL with all your action tonight and a successful season (as expected)...........indy