NFL Preseason Schedule 2012: Previewing the Best Games Remaining in Week 3

As any good NFL fan knows, football's preseason is largely a meaningless series of exhibitions in place, so coaches can trim their massive training-camp rosters down to 55 players.

Except for Week 3.

The third preseason game often denotes the opening up of the playbook from the vanilla packages of the first two games and the extension of starter playing time through the first half.

For NFL fans, it's the first opportunity of the season to see your team's full starting lineup (barring injury) in action for two quarters of football. It may not seem like much, but for the insatiable football fan, it's enough to whet the appetite until most teams open on Sept. 9.

After a huge slate of games Friday, there are still seven games still remaining on the Week 3 schedule for the rest of the weekend.

With that in mind, here's a preview of the best matchups remaining in this vital preseason week.

Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins (Saturday, Aug. 25, 4 p.m. EDT)

For NFL draft nuts (and Redskins fans like me), this will be the game that has everyone glued to their television sets on Saturday.

In the first of what the Colts and Redskins hope to be many battles between the quarterbacks, No. 1 pick Andrew Luck and No. 2 pick Robert Griffin III square off in a matchup that will surely have everyone talking.

Through two preseason games, it's been a bit of a mixed bag for both young signal-callers.

Luck has gotten the lion's share of the work, thus far, with Indianapolis, going 26-of-41 for 363 yards and two touchdowns against two interceptions. The former Stanford Cardinal has looked poised in the pocket and throws the ball with the confidence of someone with five years of experience.

But, he caught the turnover bug a bit against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week and will look to correct those mistakes against Washington.

On the other hand, Mike Shanahan and the Redskins coaching staff have seemingly put kid gloves on Griffin. The 2011 Heisman trophy winner has not seen extended action in either game, so far, throwing just 14 passes in two games.

That will undoubtedly change against the Colts as this will be the rookie's only significant playing time of the preseason.

Nothing job-related will be on the line for either Luck or Griffin as both will head into Week 1 as a starting quarterback. It will just be interesting to see how the two compare at this stage in development.

Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints (Saturday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m. EDT)

For fans of good NFL football, the Saints-Texans matchup tonight will be an opportunity to see at least two quarters worth of playoff football.

Before quarterback Matt Schaub went down with an injury in Week 10 last season, the Texans were a trendy Super Bowl sleeper, and this year's squad returns much of the same talent from last year.

Not returning, however, are long-time Houston stars defensive end Mario Williams and right tackle Eric Winston. Despite Williams' status as a superstar, it will be Winston's absence that hurts most.

Houston's biggest strength in 2011 was in the running game, and head coach Gary Kubiak's system is predicated on a strong offensive line. The team has been unable to fully decide on a new right tackle and will need some level of comfort before the regular season begins.

On the Saints side, the cast of characters also remains largely unchanged as well, except for, you know, the whole load of people suspended due to Bountygate.

Tonight marks the debut of Aaron Kromer as interim, interim coach. And, if you're unfamiliar with the situation, that's not a typo. Kromer is taking over for actual interim coach Joe Vitt , who is suspended for the first six games of the 2012 season.

Though it's only six games, how Kromer performs early in the season will likely be the difference between a playoff appearance and sitting at home in January. Tonight is our first opportunity to see him in action.

San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos (Sunday, Aug. 26, 4 p.m. EDT)

Things remain rather uneventful in the 49ers camp, and barring injury, should stay that way going forward for head coach Jim Harbaugh.

This extended look at starters in Denver will mainly be about getting reps and answering a few questions on the offensive line for the 49ers.

The same cannot be said for the Broncos.

While everyone is sticking to the positivist script in Denver, there has to be at least a little concern about the state of quarterback Peyton Manning. Both ESPN.com's Bill Williamson and our own Christopher Hansen have noted the 36-year-old's struggles throwing to the right and unwillingness to take the ball deep, so far.

With Manning admittedly not back to 100 percent in his recovery from neck surgery, it's bound to take time.

Unfortunately, the regular season is just two weeks away, and there isn't much time left to be had.

Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy will need to open his playbook wide on Sunday, so that they see where things break down against live action. If Manning sticks to the dink-and-dunk offense, we'll likely have to wait until Week 1 to know what No. 18 has left in that right arm.