NFL Preseason Schedule 2015: Full Week 4 Matchups and Key Storylines

The final week of the NFL preseason is often an excuse to waste time before the regular season begins, as most teams have decided on key position battles following the third game. 

However, there is still the intrigue of players who need to put forth a good effort to make the 53-man roster. Teams have until 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 5 to make those decisions, so finding those diamonds in the rough is still possible. 

With the hammer coming down on many notable players in the coming days, this week also offers a final chance for them to leave a lasting impression on another club seeking roster depth heading into Week 1 of the regular season. 

Even with many starters sitting out this week's batch of games, there are still reasons to pay attention this week. Before diving into them, here's the schedule for the final batch of preseason games:

Date	Matchup	Start Time (ET)
Thursday, Sept. 3	Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts	7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets	7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins	7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers	7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons	7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions	7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	New York Giants at New England Patriots	7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers	7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington	7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans	8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Kansas City Chiefs at St. Louis Rams	8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys	8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears	8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos	9 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers	10 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3	Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks	10 p.m.

The Tebow Experiment

After sitting out the previous two seasons, Tim Tebow's return to the NFL this preseason has been a lot like it was during his time with the Denver Broncos. 

With the Philadelphia Eagles, Tebow has completed 10 of his 19 passes for 97 yards and rushed for 50 yards on 10 carries. He's also taken three sacks and has two fumbles, though both were recovered by the offense.

This will be the biggest week of Tebow's stint in Philadelphia, as Martin Frank of USA Today noted the former Heisman winner will likely play the entire second half of Thursday's game against the New York Jets. 

Eagles head coach Chip Kelly spoke highly of Tebow's development as a passer in Frank's article. 

"I’ve seen Tim improve since he got here,” Kelly said. “I’ve seen him improve his throwing motion … I think he’s really worked very hard at that, sequencing his throwing motion. I think he’s been a lot more accurate with his passes. He’s had a good camp.”

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that Tebow has "a very good chance" to make Philadelphia's 53-man roster. 

One thing that could benefit Tebow is Philadelphia's starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, has been injury prone throughout his career, so depth at the position will be essential.

Kelly runs a system that utilizes the read-option, which certainly won't help Bradford stay healthy. (Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs will attest to that last point.)

Tebow's days of being a starting quarterback in the NFL likely ended when the Broncos signed Peyton Manning three years ago, but that doesn't mean his value in the league has completely diminished. 

If any head coach knows how to make use of Tebow, it's Kelly. 

Jarryd Hayne's Rise

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

In an offseason that's been brutal for the San Francisco 49ers, rugby-star-turned-NFL-running-back Jarryd Hayne has turned into a bright spot for the team so far this preseason. 

The 27-year-old racked up 117 yards on 13 carries in San Francisco's first two preseason games, including this run against Houston, via the NFL's official Twitter account:

Hayne has also provided spectacular highlights on special teams, including an over-the-shoulder punt return against Dallas that he returned almost 30 yards.

New 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula did take issue with an Australian media report claiming Hayne has already been named to the final roster, telling Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle that "the 53 is not set."

There is a scenario in which Hayne doesn't make the roster, simply because San Francisco has a lot of running backs to choose from. Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush are locks, veteran Kendall Hunter is returning from a torn ACL last year and Mike Davis did make the latest round of cuts. 

However, given what Hayne has shown in his brief looks, and the fact he looks like a valuable return option, there's no reason for the 49ers to cut him. 

Tomsula had to make his comments to Branch because the 49ers don't have to set anything in stone, and the team could take an extended look at Hayne against San Diego. 

Unless Hayne looks completely lost on the field for the first time, he's going to be playing in San Francisco's regular-season opener against Minnesota.

Buffalo's Great Divide

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Expectations are reasonably high in Buffalo for the first time in years. It's understandable since the Bills are coming off a nine-win season, their most since 2004, and are loaded on defense with a strong defensive-minded head coach in Rex Ryan. 

However, there are legitimate questions as to how the offense will fare. Tyrod Taylor, who has never started a game in four NFL seasons, won the quarterback job during the preseason. 

With that lingering question at quarterback, Matt Cassel would seem to be more valuable than ever as a backup option. 

However, Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 reported the Bills are having an "internal debate" about whether or not to cut Cassel. That would leave Taylor as the starter and former first-round pick EJ Manuel as the backup. 

The Bills do have plenty of playmakers to help Taylor, including wideouts Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin, but ESPN.com's Mike Rodak did note Ryan is "cautiously optimistic" about running back LeSean McCoy playing in Week 1 against Indianapolis. 

McCoy's status makes this report from the Buffalo News' Tim Graham about Fred Jackson and Bills general manager Doug Whaley more unusual:

None of this even takes into account that star defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is suspended for Week 1. There are a lot of questions in Buffalo right now, even before getting into final roster cuts. 

The best thing that can happen to the Bills is getting back on the field and letting all of the outside noise fade into the background.