NFL Preseason Schedule: Week 1 Dates, Top Matchups Breakdown

Football is back. After a taste of action in Sunday's Hall of Fame Game between Minnesota and Pittsburgh, Thursday kicks off Week 1 of the NFL preseason schedule.

Fans will have to wait until Week 3 to see starters in truly extended time on the gridiron, but the renewed optimism for all 32 teams at this time of year and the novelty of live games make the preseason great throughout.

Bearing in mind that starters won't be on the field long—save perhaps for the rookies who need the competitive reps—check out a breakdown of the top Week 1 matchups below. The analyzed contests are preceded by the complete preseason schedule.

Date	Time (ET)	Road	Home
Thursday, Aug. 13	7:30 p.m.	Saints	Ravens
Thursday, Aug. 13	7:30 p.m.	Jets	Lions
Thursday, Aug. 13	7:30 p.m.	Packers	Patriots
Thursday, Aug. 13	8 p.m.	Redskins	Browns
Thursday, Aug. 13	8 p.m.	Dolphins	Bears
Thursday, Aug. 13	10 p.m.	Cowboys	Chargers
Friday, Aug. 14	7 p.m.	Titans	Falcons
Friday, Aug. 14	7 p.m.	Panthers	Bills
Friday, Aug. 14	7:30 p.m.	Giants	Bengals
Friday, Aug. 14	7:30 p.m.	Steelers	Jaguars
Friday, Aug. 14	10 p.m.	Rams	Raiders
Friday, Aug. 14	10 p.m.	Broncos	Seahawks
Saturday, Aug. 15	8 p.m.	Buccaneers	Vikings
Saturday, Aug. 15	8 p.m.	49ers	Texans
Saturday, Aug. 15	9 p.m.	Chiefs	Cardinals
Sunday, Aug. 16	1 p.m.	Colts	Eagles

Top Week 1 NFL Preseason Matchups

Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons

The first-round picks in this contest are reason alone to tune in. Vic Beasley will look to apply pressure on new Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota in what should be a sensational display of athleticism between those two.

Mariota's offense will be matching wits with what should be a revamped Atlanta defense—and not just due to Beasley's presence.

New Falcons coach Dan Quinn was Seattle's defensive coordinator before taking over for Mike Smith. Atlanta managed just 22 sacks last season and gave up the most yards in the league. Quinn has to help in that regard for the Falcons to have any hope of quick turnaround.

The Titans are also stocked with numerous intriguing receivers to challenge Atlanta's secondary. Rookie Dorial Green-Beckham will be playing in a real game for the first time since 2013, and Tennessee also has Justin Hunter, Kendall Wright and a former Falcon in Harry Douglas as well.

The MMQB's Robert Klemko logged some convincing testimony to suggest opponents will need to account for all the capable pass-catchers Tennessee has, thanks to Mariota's football savvy:

One has to wonder how Mariota's mobility will impact the Titans scheme—and whether it'll open up holes for second-year running back Bishop Sankey.

Another big issue that's beset Atlanta recently is a lackluster rushing attack. New play-caller Kyle Shanahan has a zone-blocking scheme and three rather explosive backs in Devonta Freeman, rookie Tevin Coleman and Antone Smith to trot onto the field.

This may not be the most hyped-up preseason contest, but there's plenty of reason to tune in, even after the starters leave the field. Since Mariota is transitioning from a spread system at Oregon, it stands to reason he'll be out there just a bit longer than might be anticipated.

Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks

The quarterback situation in Denver is a bit murky—even with Peyton Manning still under center. Not a much better test to see where the Broncos are than taking on Seattle's Legion of Boom.

But it won't be Manning leading Denver on Saturday, per 9News' Mike Klis. Instead Brock Osweiler, the presumptive successor, will take on one of the NFL's premier defensive backfields for at least the start of the contest.

The strapping Osweiler has big shoes to fill whenever Manning is finished. Absent any extended game action, the jury is still out as to whether Osweiler can thrive. ESPN Denver's Cecil Lammey notes how modest of a training camp Osweiler has had to date:

At least Osweiler will have the chance to continue gaining reps with the likes of Demaryius Thomas and the first-team offense. It's important for him to capitalize on these preseason opportunities, because he's thrown just 30 regular-season passes in three years.

Another subplot to monitor is who will step up to help the Seahawks maintain their offensive identity down the road.

Signal-caller Russell Wilson is secured in Seattle with a long-term contract, but the backfield is a different story because Marshawn Lynch's heyday can't last too much longer. It's therefore up to Christine Michael and Robert Turbin to make the most of their touches.

Oh, and don't forget the amazing new weapon at Wilson's disposal in superstar tight end Jimmy Graham. Even a series or two featuring Graham will be surreal to see.

Indianapolis Colts at Philadelphia Eagles

Both of these teams had rather active, exciting offseasons. Thanks to the enigmatic mystique that surrounds Eagles coach and personnel chief Chip Kelly, Philadelphia got the majority of attention.

Now the new-look Eagles will put their revamped product out for the public to see. Most are eager to check out how Sam Bradford fares with his new team after being traded from St. Louis. Bradford missed the 2014 season with a torn ACL but could be in for a career renaissance under Kelly.

Apparently Bradford is feeling fine so far, as he told the MMQB's Peter King:

A little further down the depth chart is Tim Tebow, who is battling Matt Barkley for Philly's No. 3 QB job. Based on the diverse set of skills Tebow has—not so much his passing ability—it will be interesting to see how he's utilized.

How about those Colts, though? They signed Andre Johnson, who was the face of the franchise for AFC South rival Houston. Indy also added Duron Carter, son of Hall of Famer Cris Carter and drafted Phillip Dorsett in the first round.

Playmakers galore for Andrew Luck entering his fourth year. If Luck can cut down on some of the gunslinger throws that led to 16 interceptions last season, it's hard to envision how this Colts passing game will be stopped.

There may not be enough room for all these Colts receivers to see the field as consistently as they'd like, with the grand exception of T.Y. Hilton. The presumption is that Johnson and Hilton will be out with Luck to start, but Carter and Dorsett, respectively, should emulate what those stars do in their roles.

While we won't see Luck for long, the depth of Indy's receiving corps ought to be something to behold. A bit of a longer look at Mariota on Friday will provide a glimpse into whether it's realistic to expect anyone to challenge the Colts for the AFC South crown.