5 Things We Learned from Thursday Night's NFL Preseason Games

The third week of the NFL preseason kicked off Thursday, with three games and six teams dotting the night's schedule. 

Week 3 is widely viewed as a "dress rehearsal" for the regular season, with extensive game plans and starters playing into the second half. It's as close as the real thing as you can get in the preseason.

Now let's break down the things we learned Thursday night. 

Packers' Offensive Revival

The demise of the Green Bay Packers offense has been greatly exaggerated. 

After the first-team offense was only able to generate seven points on six possessions through two preseason exhibitions, the Aaron Rodgers-led unit scored 17 first-half points and mostly had its way with the Cincinnati Bengals' No. 1 defense. 

Twice Rodgers scrambled for scores, but the offense also got a spark from recently-signed running back Cedric Benson, who rushed six times for 38 yards. He looks to have the Packers' starting RB job locked up for the season opener.

If Benson's legs are as fresh as they looked versus Cincy, this Packers offense will (somehow) be even more difficult to stop in 2012. Any worries about the unit from the first six possessions just vanished.

No-Huddle for the Ravens in 2012?

Rarely do you see a starting NFL quarterback attempt 36 passes in a preseason game, but that's exactly what Joe Flacco accomplished in less than three full quarters his latest outing. 

The Ravens were constantly on the move against Jacksonville, employing a high-tempo, no-huddle offense that had the Jaguars defense on its heels. By the time Flacco left the game in the third, the Ravens had built a 20-3 lead and Flacco had 27 completions, 266 yards and two scores. 

The performance has to make you wonder if the Ravens are looking to speed things up on offense in 2012. Flacco has never thrown for more than 3,700 yards or 25 touchdowns, but a higher-tempo emphasis could produce bigger numbers for the fifth-year QB.

Cardinals Offense Has Big Problems

If Week 3 in the preseason is truly a dress rehearsal for the real thing, the Arizona Cardinals have some big problems.

Both John Skelton and Kevin Kolb were under constant pressure from the Titans' defensive front, leaving question marks across the offensive line as the regular season approaches. The Cardinals could have the worst O-line in the leage this season. 

Neither Skelton or Kolb put their stamp on the quarterback position, either. Kolb threw two picks, including one for a touchdown, and Skelton also threw an interception and finished with a passer rating of 12.9. 

Ken Whisenhunt and the Cardinals have a lot of work to do on offense over the next two weeks in order to turn this thing around by the regular season.

The Pass Rush Has a Pulse in Green Bay

A season ago, the Packers defense had the lowest sack rate in the NFL and gave up more passing yards than any other team in the history of the league. 

A big reason for the collapse was the fall of the defensive pass rush. The Packers had very little outside Clay Matthews. 

Versus the Bengals, the Packers appeared to get some of their pass-rushing mojo back. First-round pick Nick Perry was an active rusher opposite Matthews, and the defensive line—featuring B.J. Raji, Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels—continually made the pocket uncomfortable for Andy Dalton. 

The Bengals totaled less than 100 first-half yards, and Green Bay's defense allowed just 1-of-12 third-down conversions. Dalton finished 5-of-17 for 40 yards. 

It is still the preseason, but defensive coordinator Dom Capers has to be happy right now.

Locker to Wright Shows Promise

Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker looked infinitely better in his second preseason, finishing with 134 yards on 11 completions and two touchdowns against Arizona.

Locker continually looked for first-round pick Kendall Wright against the Cardinals, and those decisions paid off. Wright caught four passes (on five targets) for 44 yards and a 10-yard score in the first half. 

Though perhaps premature to declare, the two look like a potentially explosive duo. Without Kenny Britt for the start of the season, the Titans will be leaning on Wright to be one of the go-to guys.