NFL Preseason Schedule 2015: Viewing Info and Top Matchups to Watch in Week 3

Week 3 of the preseason is a special time for all 32 NFL teams and their fanbases. This is the so-called dress rehearsal when the starters play the most and provide a clearer glimpse as to how the team might perform when the 2015 campaign really starts.

But there is also subtle, tactical deception afoot. Teams won't reveal their very best plays just yet and may not execute as well as their opponents, depending on personnel, experience on the roster and other factors.

Results in Week 3 can therefore often be deceptive compared to what happens down the road. At least there will be a number of juicy matchups to look forward to.

Regardless of how the teams involved perform, it's more about seeing how the individual players fare in their most important tests to date. Check out a complete list of the games on the Week 3 schedule below, along with a breakdown of the best contests on tap.

Friday, August 28	Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream
Saturday, August 29	Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream
Sunday, August 30	Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream
New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers	7:30 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Detroit Lions at Jacksonville Jaguars	8 p.m.	CBS	NFL Game Pass
Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs	8 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills	4 p.m.	NFL Network	NFL Game Pass
Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins	7 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	7 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys	7 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
New York Jets at New York Giants	7 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals	7:30 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens	7:30 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers	8 p.m.	CBS	NFL Game Pass
Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers	8 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Indianapolis Colts at St. Louis Rams	8 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos	9 p.m.	Local Affiliates	NFL Game Pass
Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints	4 p.m.	Fox	Fox Sports Go
Arizona Cardinals at Oakland Raiders	8 p.m.	NBC	NBC Sports Live

Top Week 3 Matchups

New York Jets at New York Giants

Peter Morgan/Associated Press

This will be Jets coach Todd Bowles' introduction to a wonderful rivalry between teams who share MetLife Stadium. The fact that the best players will play for extended time makes it even more of a treat.

The obvious, compelling matchup to watch will be the Giants receiving corps against a revamped Jets secondary led by superstar Darrelle Revis.

Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Odell Beckham Jr. will likely do battle with Revis. Victor Cruz figures to return from injury and be matched up with Buster Skrine in the slot. CBS Sports Radio's Chris Lopresti alluded to how banged up both teams are, though:

Eli Manning is in his second year operating coordinator Ben McAdoo's offense. With Cruz back in the fold, Manning only figures to be more dangerous and could well lead the G-Men to a huge bounce-back season. A test against the Jets should provide a good indicator of where that offense is.

Manning's counterpart, Ryan Fitzpatrick, has suddenly been thrust into the starter's role under center thanks to the sucker punch heard 'round NFL training camp that broke Geno Smith's jaw. Fitzpatrick is a journeyman who has familiarity with play-caller Chan Gailey's system from his days in Buffalo, and he's armed with two big targets in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker on the outside.

It's imperative for the Jets to get passable quarterback play to have any hope of contending for the playoffs in 2015. How Fitzpatrick fares Saturday may reveal how much hope the team's fans can realistically have about putting points on the board.

Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers

Don Wright/Associated Press

Eagles QB Sam Bradford completed three of five passes for 35 yards, took some hard hits and looked fine for someone coming off a twice-torn ACL in his preseason debut this week.

Running read-option plays certainly runs the risk of Bradford getting hit like a regular ball-carrier. Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network logged what Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs had to say about his controversial hit on Bradford from preseason Week 2:

Getting seriously injured in exhibition games is a sad story that's recurring every year. The latest high-profile victim is Packers No. 1 receiver Jordy Nelson, who has a torn ACL according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Superstar Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers wasn't too pleased with what happened, saying after Nelson's injury in Sunday's contest, "It's difficult to lose a guy like that in a meaningless game," per Around The NFL on Twitter.

Philadelphia has had an interesting offseason to say the least. Mad scientist coach and personnel chief Chip Kelly is certainly doing things his way. ESPN's Skip Bayless believes the immense alterations Kelly made to the Eagles' nucleus could pay big dividends:

Pro football spectators are about to see just how the revamped Philly roster looks on the field.

Perhaps the most notable aspect to watch in this marquee clash is which side can establish tempo. Rodgers is as lethal as quarterbacks come, but rhythm may be thrown off as Davante Adams tries to fill the immense void left by Nelson.

The Packers have a bruiser in Eddie Lacy to pound the rock and the presumptive edge at the most important position. Philadelphia has depth to turn to in the backfield between 2014 NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles.

Arizona Cardinals at Oakland Raiders

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Like Bradford, Carson Palmer is coming off a second career ACL tear. After playing exceptional football for Arizona in 2014, the veteran signal-caller must be eager to prove he's ready against an Oakland team he joined for a brief stint before heading to the desert.

NFL Network showed how sharp Palmer looked on a pay-dirt play against San Diego:

The Cardinals have been quite a surprise team out of the NFC West over the past two years, galvanized by coach Bruce Arians. Something similar could be in store for the Raiders in 2015 with the pieces they've assembled.

Oakland first-round pick Amari Cooper gives second-year QB Derek Carr a magnificent wideout who figures to be the instant go-to guy. Sunday's prime-time showdown will pit Cooper against Patrick Peterson in an individual matchup that may be the most compelling of Week 3.

Bowles was Arizona's defensive coordinator last season and was able to manufacture pressure on the opposing passer extremely well. Whether the Cardinals can still do that remains to be seen, and Carr has the arm talent and athleticism to beat the rush.

As for the Raiders' own ability to generate heat with their front seven, Khalil Mack figures to terrorize a suspect Cardinals offensive line that saw rookie first-round pick D.J. Humphries struggle in Week 2, per NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah:

Palmer will have to be wary of Mack getting into the backfield on a regular basis. Plus, Arizona doesn't really have a feature back to complement the passing attack at the moment.

Not only can Carr make plays with his legs, but Latavius Murray has the physical tools of a legitimate bell-cow running back. It's on the big men up front to set the tone and win the line of scrimmage in order for Oakland's intriguing skill players to shine.