The NFL preseason is an awful tease. You shake hands like strangers with Week 1 football, exchange small talk, but learn little beyond some familiarity before Week 2. Then you and football become like chums. You don’t know much about each other still, but it feels more personal, and so you get REALLY excited for Week 3. That’s when it starts to feel like the real thing -- starters in extended minutes, a concerted effort by everyone -- and maybe you can see why you ever fell in love with football in the first place.
NFL preseason 2014: Saturday’s schedule featuring Peyton Manning against Jadeveon Clowney
Many stars will be on the field Saturday, with a matchup of perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time against the top overall pick stealing the show.
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And it will all be ripped away from you in Week 4, though only to blossom gloriously for the season opener. Still, that’s two weeks away. Savor the taste now and know that the real stuff will be here soon enough.
4:30 p.m. ET (National: NFL Network, Home: WKBW 7, Away: WFLA 8)
The Bucs have the potential to be a good team on the strength of their Lovie Smith-coached defense that just absorbed an influx of talent. Whether they can be great will depend on young playmakers stepping up on offense, which means that Mike Glennon and Josh McCown will have to be excellent. Through a couple of preseason outings, it’s still hard to tell what the Bucs will be getting out of the quarterback position. The Bills’ defense has been excellent this preseason, and could give the dueling quarterbacks fits.
As for the Bills’ offense, it needs to figure out a working offensive line combination quickly. Buffalo’s line is anchored by center Eric Wood but has questions in a bevy of other spots. The group will need to be solid in front of EJ Manuel, who enters his second season. Manuel struggled at times in 2013, throwing 11 touchdowns but surrendering 15 turnovers.
7 p.m. ET (Home: WFOR CBS 4, Away: KTVT 11)
The Cowboys will get another look at the revamped Tony Romo, who is coming off a pair of back surgeries this offseason. Romo played well against the Baltimore Ravens, throwing a touchdown pass to Dez Bryant and generally moving around the pocket with ease. The other massive question is on defense. Dallas had the worst statistical defense in NFL history last season, and lost DeMarcus Ware due to salary cap issues. Sean Lee went down in OTAs and is lost for the season, giving fourth-round pick Anthony Hitchens a chance to start at middle linebacker.
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Miami's main concern centers around the offensive line. With Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey dealing with a hip injury that will sideline him at least through September, Miami's wall is in flux. The Dolphins brought in Branden Albert to man the left tackle spot via free agency, and have rookie Ja'Wuan James starting at right tackle. On the inside, Shelley Smith and Dallas Thomas are at left and right guard, with Sam Brenner replacing Pouncey. This unit will have to improve on the 58 sacks allowed last year, the most in the NFL, if the Dolphins want to make the playoffs.
7 p.m. ET (Home: CW69, Away: WKRN 2)
The Titans come into the season with plenty of moving parts. Tennessee replaced head coach Mike Munchak with Ken Whisenhunt and declined the fifth-year option on Jake Locker, making him a free agent after this season. The team also released longtime back Chris Johnson and drafted his replacement, Bishop Sankey. On defense, new coordinator Ray Horton is switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 front, which is why the Titans signed outside linebacker Shaun Phillips and inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard away from the Broncos.
Last week, the Falcons were dealt a tough blow when starting left tackle Sam Baker tore his ACL, putting him out for the season. Rookie Jake Matthews will slide into that position, vacating the right tackle spot for Lamar Holmes. Atlanta has been bitten badly by the injury bug, having already lost outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon for the season with an Achilles injury during OTAs.
Washington vs. Baltimore Ravens
7:30 p.m. ET (Home: WBAL 11, Away: WRC-TV NBC 4)
Washington is settling in with new head coach Jay Gruden, who replaces Mike Shanahan after four years on the job. Gruden has plenty of weapons at his disposal offensively, led by quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin had a tough sophomore season while he returned from a torn ACL, but he has looked good in preseason. Against the Browns, Griffin was 6 of 8 for 112 yards and a pick. Griffin will be pushed, with fellow third-year man Kirk Cousins playing excellent ball. Cousins threw for 145 yards along with a touchdown and interception against Cleveland.
Baltimore has plenty of moving parts offensively. Joe Flacco will be without running back Ray Rice the first two games of the season, after Rice was half-heartedly suspended for knocking out his then-fiancee Janay Palmer. With that in mind, Flacco will be relying heavily on newcomers Steve Smith and Owen Daniels. Smith will provide another deep threat to go with youngster Torrey Smith on the outside, while Daniels will be replacing Ed Dickson as Dennis Pitta's backup.
8 p.m. ET (National: CBS, Home: WISH 8, Away: WWL-TV)
The theme thus far has generally been this: a lot of teams have a lot of changes that we’ll probably get to see in action on Saturday. One team that’s changed little, though, is the New Orleans Saints. Offensively, the team looks a lot like it did last season, returning all three of its top receiving options in Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston and Kenny Stills. There is one difference on offense, though: Darren Sproles is gone. Sproles fit into this team so nicely when he joined in 2011, it was somewhat surprising to see him go.
Indianapolis also returns most of its weapons on offense, though there is a significant addition with Hakeem Nicks. The veteran receiver has had a tough training camp and preseason thus far, with some suggesting he might not even make the team. He’s expected to get plenty of looks on Saturday as he fights to show the Colts he can be the player he was just a couple of seasons ago.
St. Louis Rams vs. Cleveland Browns
8 p.m. ET (Home: WKYC, Away: KTVI)
The Cleveland Browns' top storyline: the quarterback competition between Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel. Actually, it's not much of a competition anymore since the Browns have announced that Hoyer will start Week 1 of the regular season. That likely means Hoyer will play through the first half in this one, and Manziel will take the bulk of the snaps once he's out. Hoyer won't lose his starting gig over a preseason game, but it would certainly make the fans feel better about things if he looks good.
St. Louis is probably just hoping that quarterback Sam Bradford won’t get injured during extended playing time. St. Louis has already given up 11 sacks this preseason, and smart money is on the team trying to do new things when it comes to pass protection. Offensive tackle Jake Long is expected back for this game, which would be his first action of the offseason since ACL surgery in January.
8 p.m. ET (Home: KCTV, Away: KARE 11)
Like the Browns, the Minnesota Vikings were dealing with a quarterback competition throughout training camp, but have settled on Matt Cassel as the starter for now. Cassel, the veteran, will start this game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and will likely see most or all of the time with the starters. Cassel hasn't actually been named the starter for the regular season, but given the importance of the third preseason game, it seems likely he's beaten out rookie Teddy Bridgewater for the time being.
The Chiefs were a surprise contender last season, and they're looking just as good this season. The receivers don't look like they'll inspire a whole lot of confidence, but one player to watch on Saturday will be tight end Travis Kelce. He's been very solid through two preseason games, with huge catches in both games. Smart money is on Alex Smith looking to find Kelce early and often on Saturday.
Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos
9 p.m. ET (Home: KTVD, Away: KTRK)
The Broncos fielded the most potent offense in the league last season, and though they've lost some solid players in Eric Decker and Knowshon Moreno, they retain the nucleus of that team's success: Peyton Manning. He also returns receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is a player to watch if he's healthy and playing.
Manning should get extended playing time, and so should Texans rookie Jadeveon Clowney. Manning's chief task will be making sure he doesn't get brought down by the first overall pick in 2014, who has looked explosive through the first two preseason games. Obviously, the Texans have their issues offensively, starting with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fan confidence won't decide a season or anything, but it would be nice for Fitzpatrick to show something that could give them promise for that offense going forward.
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