NFL Preseason: First Look at Manning, Luck vs. RGIII, and Other Highlights

The first game of a team's preseason schedule is usually a rather tepid, if not downright boring, affair. That may not be the case when Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos head to Chicago to take on the Bears the first week of the preseason.

While definitive dates have yet to be set for all but the primetime matchups, the NFL released its preseason schedule earlier this afternoon.

Along with the already-announced Hall of Fame Game (Sunday, August 5th) and the aforementioned inaugural Manning appearance, highlights include:

• The Packers traveling to San Diego on Thursday, August 9th, to take on the Chargers in a primetime showdown on ESPN.
• The New York Giants and Jets facing off in Week 2 of the preseason for their yearly Big Apple bragging rights. 
• Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III facing off the third week of the preseason in Washington, DC. 
• The Philadelphia Eagles heading to Foxboro to take on the New England Patriots for a preseason edition of Monday Night Football on August 20th. 
• The Super Bowl champion New York Giants hosting the Bears in a primetime matchup in the third week of the preseason (when teams traditionally give their starters the most playing time).

According to the rules laid out in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams are allowed to report 16 days before the preseason opener and have 15 days of practice, so look for the Cardinals and Saints to be the first teams to open camp on July 20th, with the rest of the league following suit during the ensuing weeks.