Preseason NFL football can be boring, but there are still some terrific matchups on the schedule you won’t want to miss.
Whether it’s because a hyped rookie is expected to get extended playing time or because the two teams involved always manage to put on a good show, these upcoming games will be worth your time. Not surprisingly, Week 3 features more exciting matchups than any other week of games, given the fact starters will be playing most of the game for most teams.
Here are the best 2015 NFL preseason games on the schedule.
Week 1
Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers
This will be everyone’s first look at stud rookie running back Melvin Gordon, who should inject some needed life into San Diego’s offense. Another rookie to watch for is Dallas pass-rusher Randy Gregory, who fell in the draft after some off-field concerns surfaced.
Aside from the two exciting rookies, this game should just be fun to watch. Though the first-string offenses won’t likely play much, both teams feature top quarterbacks and outstanding passing attacks, which should lead to some big plays.
Indianapolis Colts at Philadelphia Eagles
There are two main reasons to watch this game.
First off, it’s going to be fascinating to see Andre Johnson and Frank Gore wearing the horseshoe on the side of their helmets. Both veterans signed free agent contracts to join the Colts and hopefully help Andrew Luck take the next big step in his development.
Secondly, this is the first chance we’ll have to witness the three-headed monster Chip Kelly has going for him at the quarterback spot. Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow all getting some action within a three-hour segment? Yes, please.
Week 2
New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints
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Jimmy Garapolo will certainly be seeing plenty of action in this game as he prepares to potentially start the season for the Patriots. That, in and of itself, will garner tons of national attention, and for diehard fans it’s a tremendous reason to watch this game.
Additionally of great interest to many will be the offense of the Saints, which will attempt to maintain its explosiveness without the benefit of Jimmy Graham. Look for a big dose of Brandin Cooks, the speedy wideout who is expected to be the next big playmaker for Drew Brees and Sean Payton.
St. Louis Rams at Tennessee Titans
This will be Marcus Mariota’s second start, and he’s going to be going up against a tremendous defensive front in this contest. The Rams will likely throw some exotic blitzes his way, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how the rookie quarterback responds.
On the others side, Rams fans are crossing their fingers that Nick Foles wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan superstar during the 2013 season when he threw 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions. St. Louis must get solid play from the quarterback this year to compete in the uber-competitive NFC West.
Week 3
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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There’s a solid chance we’ll get to see big snap counts from both Jameis Winston and Johnny Manziel in this contest.
Manziel is currently behind Josh McCown on Cleveland’s depth chart, but you know the Browns brass wants to see if he can rise to the occasion this year.
That Winston will play big-time snaps in this one is undeniable. The Bucs have already anointed him as the starting quarterback heading into the season, meaning the franchise must give him as much playing time during preseason as possible to prepare him for the real thing.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
The Steelers feature one of the league’s most dangerous offenses, which should make the matchup against Buffalo’s highly-ranked defense extremely interesting. Big Ben Roethlisberger and his explosive receiving corps will be tested by the staunch Bills secondary, which should look much different this year under the blitz-heavy scheme of Rex Ryan.
Buffalo’s offense is also quite intriguing. With Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Percy Harvin and tight end Charles Clay, the Bills feature a dangerous receiving corps. Throw in LeSean McCoy and this offense could be amazing, but the quarterback situation still appears bleak.
San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos
No longer under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick spent significant time training in Arizona this past winter to tune up his quirky mechanics. He and his offensive teammates have the potential to blast off some huge performances this year, but it all rests on his shoulders. A test in Denver should give us an idea about the viability of this offense.
Denver’s offense is also undergoing a transformation under new head coach Gary Kubiak, who will emphasize the running game. Can Eric Mangini orchestrate a successful plan of attack against Peyton Manning’s group, or will the Broncos stampede?
Week 4
Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys
It’s always a party when the two Texas franchises get together. Of particular note in this contest, however, is the quarterback battle between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett. Hoyer appears to have an early lead on Mallett, per Lance Zierlein of NFL Network, but this competition could drag out into the final week of the preseason.
On a different note, it’ll be interesting to see if J.J. Watt can get his big mitts on Tony Romo at some point in the early goings before both players are pulled from action—if they play at all.
Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks
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Michael Crabtree and Richard Sherman aren’t exactly best buddies, and any time they are on the field at the same time fireworks are likely to explode.
On a different note, second-year quarterback Derek Carr may end up playing more than most starting quarterbacks in the fourth week of preseason in order to tune his game up for Week 1. A test against the league’s best defense will surely help him in this endeavor.
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