The first full week of NFL preseason football is upon us, with every team hitting the field. The Buffalo Bills and New York Giants kicked the season off on Sunday night in the Hall of Fame Game, with the Giants earning a 17-13 win.
NFL preseason 2014: Schedule and storylines including Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney
The first week of preseason football features plenty of stars and storylines.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Below is this week’s schedule and a quick guide on what to watch each evening (all times Eastern):
Thursday, Aug. 7
Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets - 7 p.m.
New England Patriots at Washington - 7:30 p.m.
San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens - 7:30 p.m. (NFL Network)
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - 8 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos - 9 p.m.
Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers - 10 p.m. (NFL Network)
Who/what to watch: The Broncos and Seahawks will put on a Super Bowl rematch that doubles as a Week 3 preview. Most preseason games lack intensity when the starters are playing, but this could certainly be an exception.
It will also be interesting to see how Ray Rice is received by the home fans after his suspension for domestic violence. Rice will miss the first two games of the season but is eligible to play in the preseason.
Friday, Aug. 8
Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons - 7 p.m.
Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers - 7:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars - 7:30 p.m.
Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings - 8 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears - 8 p.m.
New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams - 8 p.m. (NFL Network)
Who/what to watch: Two of the most exciting offenses last year were the Bears and Eagles. This will be our first glimpse into year two for both Marc Trestman and Chip Kelly. On defense, Chicago has a shiny new toy in Lamarr Houston who is hoping to replace the production of Julius Peppers.
Friday is also a night for rookies. Derek Carr and Blake Bortles will get their first snaps in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively. Neither is expected to start at the beginning of the season, but could push the incumbents with solid showings in the preseason.
Saturday, Aug. 9
Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions - 7:30 p.m. (NFL Network)
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants - 7:30 p.m.
Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans - 8 p.m.
Houston Texans at Arizona Cardinals - 8:30 p.m.
Who/what to watch: It goes without saying that the world will stop and stare at Johnny Manziel against the Lions. Manziel is now taking first-team snaps and appears to have moved into a virtual tie with Brian Hoyer. If Manziel plays well, he could really solidify himself as the starter. But what happens if Manziel struggles? Does head coach Mike Pettine stick with him or go back to Hoyer?
We also get our first look at top pick Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney will pair with J.J. Watt in Houston's front seven with the expectation of havoc.
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