NFL Preseason Schedule 2013: Breaking Down Top Games to Watch in Week 3

Traditionally, the third week of NFL preseason action is the most valuable. Starters on both sides of the ball tend to play into the second half as part of the most complete tune-up for the regular season before taking it easy in the exhibition finale.

Although many teams will still limit their game plans to avoid giving away any new wrinkles before the opener, it's still the closest thing fans get to the real deal before Week 1. Not to mention it's a sign the games that actually count are right around the corner.

With that in mind, let's examine the top matchups on tap for the best week of the preseason, which gets underway on Thursday night. For a complete list of Week 3 preseason contests, check out the league's official site.

New England Patriots at Detroit Lions (Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET)

The scoreboard operator should get quite a workout during this game. The Patriots offense has shown no signs of slowing down despite a revamped receiving corps, while the Lions aren't short on explosive playmakers, which should lead to a high-scoring contest.

New England's ability to make a seamless transition to a new batch of supporting cast members is a testament to Tom Brady's greatness. He's completing 90 percent of his passes while throwing to unheralded players like Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson and Zach Sudfeld.

The Lions already had a tremendous duo in Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, but the arrival of Reggie Bush should really take the offense to the next level. The vertical passing game is going to open up a lot of space underneath, and when he gets into open space, he's a huge weapon.

Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers (Friday at 8 p.m. ET)

Two top contenders in the NFC face off in what could easily be an extremely early preview of the conference championship game. The Seahawks are also starting to learn about the extra weight of expectations, something the Packers have gotten used to in recent years.

The biggest concern for Seattle surrounds the offense. More specifically, whether or not it can take another step forward behind Russell Wilson and get on the same level as its stout defense. The arrival of Percy Harvin was supposed to help that process, but because of his hip injury, other players must step up.

Green Bay knows its offense should be a well-oiled machine, so the questions for the Packers are on the defensive side. They made noticeable improvement last season, jumping from 32nd to 11th in yards allowed, but there's still work to do. The Seahawks should be a good test.

Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday at 8 p.m. ET)

Sunday night showcases another battle of NFC title hopefuls, including the defending conference champion 49ers. The Vikings actually upended the 49ers in a meeting early last season, which was one of the first signs they were a serious threat after being overlooked leading up to the season.

Minnesota isn't flying under the radar this time around. Once again, a lot will defend on how far Adrian Peterson can carry them. He was forced to handle an extraordinary amount of the offensive load last season. He could use some support from Christian Ponder and Co. in the passing game this season.

As for the 49ers, their weaknesses are few and far between. As long as Colin Kaepernick doesn't take a step back, Frank Gore maintains his workhorse tendencies and the defense, led by Patrick Willis, stays healthy, they are going to be a force once again.