Pro Football Hall of Fame Game 2015: TV Info and More for Vikings vs. Steelers

And so it begins.

While you may be titillated by the NHL playoffs and you may follow the NBA fairly closely, the main reason you are a sports fan is because of the magic you see on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. It's all about the NFL.

The Hall of Fame game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers is the first taste of football in the 2015 season.

It's a game that should hold some interest for fans because the Vikings appear to be an up-and-coming team with defensive-oriented Mike Zimmer as the head coach, second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater expected to show improvement and explosive Mike Wallace adding big-play potential at the wide receiver spot.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won 11 games last year and were noted for their explosive offense with Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The Steelers have the ability to score from anywhere on the field, and if they can show some improvement on defense, they will be able to make a run at the AFC North.

Where: Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio

When: Sunday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Betting Line (via Odds Shark): Vikings (-3.5)

Established stars are not likely to make more than a token appearance in the first preseason game of the year. However, draft picks, rookie free agents and some second- and third-year players will be competing to make an impression on their respective coaching staffs.

There are usually only a limited number of roster spots that are up for grabs during the summer, and while it's unlikely anyone can make the team based on their performance in the first preseason game of the year, a player can open his position coach's eyes with an impressive effort in this game.

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

What to Watch for with the Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have some momentum after winning five of their last nine games last season and finishing with a respectable 7-9 record. Looking beyond the record, the Vikings were competitive in all nine of those games, and three of their four losses in that span were by three points or less.

The Vikings are a reflection of Zimmer's feisty and energetic personality, and he wants to see his players fighting through the echo of the whistle on every snap. Zimmer is expecting to see significant improvement on defense. The Vikings gave up 344.7 yards per game and ranked 14th in that category in 2014. That's not good enough.

The Vikings face one of the most significant defensive challenges in the league because they are in the same division as quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are one of the most explosive offensive teams in the league, and no matter how much improvement Bridgewater makes this year, he can't be expected to come close to matching Rodgers' output.

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#Vikings rookie CB Waynes adjusting quickly to life in #NFL http://t.co/B7SDgkPZNO @vikings

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) August 4, 2015"

As a result, the Vikings have to show improvement on defense. They drafted cornerback Trae Waynes out of Michigan State, inside linebacker Eric Kendricks from UCLA and defensive end Danielle Hunter from LSU with their first three picks.

The Vikings defense will have its first opportunity to show that improvement in the Hall of Fame Game.

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

What to Watch for with the Pittsburgh Steelers

Head coach Mike Tomlin has to feel confident about his offense, and he is not likely to give his front-line players a lot of time in the first preseason game of the season.

The defense gave up an average of 353.4 yards per game and ranked 18th overall. While the Steelers won their last four regular-season games last season and ended up making the playoffs, their defense put them in a significant hole through the first 12 games of the season.

That defense is going through a facelift this year. Longtime defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau set the tone with his attacking style for years, but the Pittsburgh defense has struggled recently and Tomlin promoted linebackers coach Keith Butler to run the defense after LeBeau took a position with the Tennessee Titans.

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My @FOXSports story on new Pittsburgh DC Keith Butler trying to restore the 'legacy' of 'Steeler football' http://t.co/GELwLerDLd

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 6, 2015"

It was apparent that veteran Troy Polamalu had lost a step last season, and he retired in the offseason. Meanwhile, defensive end Brett Keisel was released.

The Steelers are trying to get younger and faster, and they are hoping to get a lift from their top draft pick. Rookie outside linebacker Bud Dupree has the speed and aggression to flash his talent, but he has to show Butler and Tomlin that he has the consistency to make the Steelers a better defensive team.

The Steelers were also hoping to get a lift from second-round draft pick Senquez Golson, but the cornerback from Mississippi may need season-ending shoulder surgery, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Ed Bouchette.

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Prediction

Winning the first preseason game is not a priority for either coach. It's just a matter of getting reps for players who may have a chance to help the team during the season.

If Zimmer and Tomlin can come out of this game without any injuries to their players, both men will be happy.

Both teams played fairly well at the end of 2014, and we see the Vikings building on that momentum. Look for the Vikings to push just a little bit harder in the second half and come away with this victory.

Prediction: Minnesota 23, Pittsburgh 17