Saturday’s slate of games features some of the league’s biggest questions. The third week of preseason is traditionally when teams really reveal their hand for the upcoming season, but there’s still a lot to be learned from Week 2, including these six games.
NFL preseason 2013, Week 2: What to watch in Saturday’s games
Six games are scheduled for Saturday, including a late-night marquee matchup between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.
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James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals (4:30 p.m. ET)
The Cowboys are entering their third preseason game, and even though there are plenty of reasons to watch them on Saturday, it's the play of Tyrann Mathieu that's the biggest story in this game. The former LSU cornerback slid in the draft due to his off-field issues, but a committed Mathieu has been the surprise of the rookie class. In the Cardinals' first preseason game, he amassed 4 tackles and 1 sack while returning 2 punts for an average of 13.0 yards. He's being used all over the field, and there's no telling where he could line up on Saturday.
Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals (7:00 p.m. ET)
Coming off a big win against the Atlanta Falcons, the Bengals look like they're in midseason form. This turns an early preseason game into an excellent test for the Titans' running game. Chris Johnson made a big impact in just two plays, taking a 58-yard carry to the end zone against the Washington Redskins. He'll get more opportunities to run this week, and it will be an excellent chance to test rookie offensive guard Chance Warmack, who had a mediocre debut against Washington.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets (7:30 p.m. ET)
This isn't the best matchup of the weekend, but it will be interesting to see how the quarterback position shapes up for both teams. Jacksonville will start Blaine Gabbert, while Mark Sanchez will hang onto his job for the moment -- though he is still battling Geno Smith. The Jaguars have a new coaching staff and front office, but lack a rookie quarterback, while the Jets elected to select Smith, but have a coaching staff who has connections to Sanchez. Typically you can write a game off when the backups come in, but for these teams their second quarterbacks could play a huge role in the 2013 season.
Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans (8:00 p.m. ET)
This game comes down to Ryan Tannehill and his ability to remove doubt that crept into fans following his abysmal preseason outing against the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame game. Tannehill looked good against Jacksonville, but there are still questions about whether he can take steps forward from his rookie year. The Dolphins' front office has supported the young quarterback with new weapons, and now he needs to show he's the right player to use them. Working against a talented Texans defense is the perfect test.
Green Bay Packers vs. St. Louis Rams (8:00 p.m. ET)
Aaron Rodgers could be in for the biggest test of his career in 2013, as the Packers try to manage an offensive line still reeling from the loss of left tackle Bryan Bulaga. Green Bay allowed three sacks last week, which is a huge cause for concern. This week, the Packers face the talented Rams defensive line that includes two 10-sack defensive ends. Blocking Robert Quinn and Chris Long will test the Packers' depth, and help show whether Green Bay can handle the pressure.
Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks (10:00 p.m. ET)
Last year, the Seahawks struck gold in the third round of the NFL draft when they selected quarterback Russell Wilson, and it looks like they might have found another gem. Second-round running back Christine Michael was a difference-maker against the San Diego Chargers, running for 89 yards on 16 carries. He's the player to watch this game, and if he can keep up the production, Michael could put serious pressure on Marshawn Lynch for more reps this season.
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