The NFL released its 2019 preseason schedule on Tuesday, including all of the games that will be aired on national television, giving fans a small taste of what’s to come in a matter of months.
While most preseason games can be thrown out with the bath water, there are several worthy of your eyes.
After an offseason of change, there will be plenty of preseason storylines worthy of note, and many will play out on the field itself. So with that in mind, here are 11 preseason games actually worth watching.
11. Hall of Fame Game: Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons
There’s nothing particularly exciting about a preseason game between the Broncos and Falcons except for the fact that it’ll be the very first game of the new season. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love the first taste of football after a long and drawn-out break? We did briefly have the AAF to satisfy our thirst, but we all know how that ended. Plus, we’ll get to see Joe Flacco in a Broncos uniform, so that will be a little something different to feast on.
10. Week 2: Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals
The Raiders will be worth watching in Week 1 of the preseason for a variety of reasons, but their Week 2 game against the Cardinals not only comes on national television, but will also see the starters play a bit longer than the week prior. That’s significant because each of these teams will feature heavily modified rosters, including Oakland trotting out wide receiver Antonio Brown. The Raiders may also have three first-round rookies on the field, while the Cardinals could very well have Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray under center.
9. Week 2: New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers
For the third consecutive year, the Saints will head out to the West Coast for a battle with the Chargers, who you may remember, were Drew Brees’ first NFL team. Additionally, like several other games on this list, New Orleans and Los Angeles will conduct joint practice leading up to the game. However, unlike the other joint practices mentioned on this list, the Saints and Chargers are intimately familiar with each other having held inter-squad practices in each of the previous two seasons. And while they’ve avoided fights to this point, the practices have gotten progressively more lively. Expect that to continue and then carry over into the game itself.
8. Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers
The preseason will conclude in Week 4 with a game between the Chiefs and Packers. And while the starters are unlikely to play for more than a series, both Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers will likely be on the field early. That is interesting in and of itself, but considering the gloves will probably be off, viewers can expect a dueling series of big plays and deep shots. Plus, when it’s all said and done, it means games that count are just a week away.
7. Week 1: New York Giants vs. New York Jets
The Giants and Jets meet annually in The MetLife Bowl (previously named The Snoopy Bowl — seriously), which typically takes place in Week 3 of the preseason. However, because the Giants and Jets also play in the regular season, the NFL moved this in-city showdown to Week 1 of the preseason, so we’ll all get to sit back, relax and enjoy what has become a power struggle for the back page in New York and New Jersey. And might the Giants have a rookie quarterback under center to go up against the man whom they passed on in 2018, Sam Darnold? Plenty of potential storylines in this one.
6. Week 1: New England Patriots at Detroit Lions
The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots open their preseason on the road against the Detroit Lions. Ho-hum, right? Not so fast. While this game is not likely to see the starters go very long, the sidebar is Bill Belichick squaring off against his friend and former defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia. And while there is tremendous respect reaching across the table in both directions, both Belichick and Patricia are competitors who will want to begin their preseason with a victory and a notch in their belt over the other. It’ll be even more interesting if they hammer out some joint practices beforehand.
5. Week 2 Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Why in the world would a Week 2 preseason game between the Cowboys and Rams be of interest to NFL fans as a whole? Simple. . . Because the game is being played at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii. It will be the first exhibition game held in Hawaii in 43 long years and the stadium will not only be packed, but it will be loud. The local residents are thrilled to have the NFL return in a non-Pro Bowl setting, so out of the entire 2019 preseason slate, this game might have the closest thing to a regular season atmosphere.
4. Week 1: Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns
How can this game not be on the list? The Browns enter the preseason as the league’s most exciting and interesting team, so naturally the football world will want to tune in for their first game and Odell Beckham Jr.’s likely debut. And while the starters may play for just a series or two, it will provide the first look at the new-look and wildly explosive Cleveland offense. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the ball, the Redskins could very well have a rookie quarterback under center. If not, it’s another opportunity for Case Keenum to prove he belongs.
3. Week 2: New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans
Similar to the Week 1 preseason game between the Patriots and Lions, this matchup will feature two familiar faces going head-to-head. Now in his second year as Titans head coach, former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel requested a game against his former coach, Bill Belichick, and it was granted. In addition to that, the Patriots and Titans are in talks about holding joint practices leading up to the game, which will only add to the potential chippiness. Meanwhile, on the field, Ryan Tannehill will get an opportunity to show his stuff on a new team, while Marcus Mariota will aim to take the next step in his development.
2. Week 2: Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars
How can this game be anything but interesting? After doing right by Nick Foles and letting him walk out the door unimpeded after he brought the organization their first ever Super Bowl title, the Eagles will travel to Jacksonville for an early look at Nick Foles in a Jaguars uniform. The game itself will be sentimental for both sides, but will also be key in getting each team ready for the regular season. Starters may play a full half, so we will all have the luxury of witnessing Foles taking on his former mates in what’s sure to be an emotionally-charged few quarters of football.
1. Week 3: Cleveland Browns vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Browns already appeared on this list for the very same reason they take the top spot: Everyone wants to put eyes on their potentially explosive offense that now features a combination of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. However, unlike the Week 1 game in which starters will see the field for only a brief amount of time, it’s possible they will play a full half or more in Week 3. Needless to say, we’ll get a full course of whatever it is the Browns will be serving in 2019, so who wouldn’t want to dive in and watch this game? Plus, we’ll also get to see what Bruce Arians is creating this season as he returns to the sidelines after a brief retirement.
