NFL Weekend Schedule and Preview:10 Games Football Fans Must Watch
Okay, so it's only the NFL preseason and the games technically "don't count."
But for football fans, August is a beautiful month. The return of football season, after a six-month hiatus. The offseason was fun, and it had its thrills, but nothing beats watching the game.
A lot of new players will be with different teams this season, so the preseason is very important. Preseason is the best time for players to get used to their new teams and systems before the regular season begins in September.
Friday and Saturday have a combined 10 games for NFL games to view:
Friday
Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons 7 p.m. EST
Both teams are coming off a disappointing 2013 campaign in which they watched the playoffs from home. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was the most sacked quarterback last season, and he will most likely play at least two drives. Matt Ryan, on the other hand, may not play at all. Coach Mike Smith needs to find out who the backup is going to be. Look for new running back Knowshon Moreno to get a lot of carries.
Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers 7:30 p.m. EST
The Bills have a second year quarterback in E.J. Manuel, and they just drafted wide receiver Sammy Watkins No. 4 overall. These two will see a lot of reps against the Panthers defense, which was ranked No. 2 overall last season. Even though Cam Newton is an established quarterback, he is expected to play an entire quarter of football. The Panthers are now without Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, and Ted Ginn Jr. Newton has a lot of work to do.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars 7:30 p.m EST
We have a little "battle for Florida" here. The Buccaneers have to take preseason games seriously because they have a new head coach (Lovie Smith) and a new quarterback, Josh McCown.
McCown played great last season filling in for Jay Cutler, but can he repeat that magic? The Jaguars drafted quarterback Blake Bortles No. 3 overall in the draft. Unfortunately, we won't see him throwing to starters, as he will be the backup this season.
Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings 8 p.m. EST
This probably won't be the most entertaining game of the ten. Neither of these teams show any promise this season; however, Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to get first team throws. Unfortunately for Bridgewater and the fans attending the game, Adrian Peterson will not be playing.
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears 8 p.m. EST
The Eagles will be playing without DeSean Jackson this season for the first time since 2007, so it's very important Nick Foles learns to play without him. The Bears offense was fine last season, but their defense let them down. Adding Jared Allen should help get to the quarterback.
New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams 8 p.m. EST
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees has missed the last two days of practice, so there is a chance he may not even play. There's no reason for him to risk it, especially when he's thrown for 5,000 yards the last three seasons. It will be interesting see how safety Jairus Byrd fits in with their defensive system. For the Rams, a lot of eyes will be on rookie defensive end Michael Sam.
Saturday
Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions 7:30 p.m. EST
Here is the big game that everyone wants to see. Johnny Manziel will take the field in his first ever preseason game, with the second team. Will he "Johnny Football" run wild and create amazing plays, or will he play it safe? It's going to be tough without Josh Gordon. The Lions are set for the most part with their roster; they just need to execute it in the regular season.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants 7:30 p.m. EST
This should be a very interesting matchup. Both teams have their offensive issues, and both teams misses last year's postseason. The Giants have a new offensive coordinator, and Manning led the league in interceptions last season. The Steelers will be without Emmanuel Sanders, who is now with the Denver Broncos. Most likely, both quarterbacks will play most of the first quarter.
Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans 8 p.m. EST
It's still not one hundred percent clear yet of Aaron Rodgers will play Saturday night. He did miss nearly half of last season, but this elite quarterback doesn't have to risk playing the first preseason game of the year. The Titans will be without star running back Chris Johnson, and Jake Locker is under a lot of pressure this season.
Houston Texans at Arizona Cardinals 8:30 p.m. EST
The Texans decided to move on from the Matt Schaub era, and they will go with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Andre Johnson has been very displeased with many of the Texans offseason decisions, but he finally reported to camp. Johnson and Arian Foster will not be playing against the Cardinals. Carson Palmer is expected to start against the Texans, and he's looking to improve from last year's disappointing season.
All times listed are Eastern Standard Time zone
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