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It's preseason with a tinge of the playoffs.
That will be one of the highlights of a 13-game national television preseason schedule that was announced today by the NFL, along with the complete list of 2008 preseason matchups. All 12 of the 2007 NFL playoff teams will be featured in the national TV games.
It all starts where the NFL started - in Canton, Ohio, site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Sunday night, August 3 on NBC (8:00 PM ET), the Indianapolis Colts will take on the Washington Redskins in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. It will be an eventful weekend for the Redskins as two of the greatest players in their history - cornerback DARRELL GREEN and wide receiver ART MONK - will join the class of 2008 at the Hall induction ceremonies on Saturday. The game also will mark the NFL head-coaching debut of Washington's JIM ZORN.
That game is just the start of the preseason national TV excitement:
WEEK 1: Two of the top-10 receivers of last season in both catches and yards square off as New Orleans (MARQUES COLSTON) visits Arizona (LARRY FITZGERALD) (Thursday, August 7, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET)......and NFL fans will see the debut as a starter of Packers QB AARON RODGERS, who this year takes over for the retired BRETT FAVRE, when Cincinnati travels to Green Bay (Monday, August 11, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET).
WEEK 2: Panthers QB JAKE DELHOMME will continue his comeback from elbow surgery as he is tested by new Eagles (and former Patriots) CB ASANTE SAMUEL when Philadelphia hosts Carolina (Thursday, August 14, FOX, 8:00 PM ET)......two recent first-round quarterbacks meet for the first time as Oakland (JA MARCUS RUSSELL) visits Tennessee (VINCE YOUNG) (Saturday, August 16, FOX, 8:00 PM ET)......two division winners go at it as New England (preparing to duplicate its undefeated '07 season) travels to Tampa Bay (Sunday, August 17, NFL Network, 8:00 PM ET)......and the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants debut at home against Cleveland (Monday, August 18, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET).
WEEK 3: Two quarterbacks seeking to re-establish themselves as starters go at it as San Francisco (ALEX SMITH) travels to Chicago (REX GROSSMAN) (Thursday, August 21, FOX, 8:00 PM ET)......the Battle for Texas takes place when Houston visits Dallas (the preseason series is tied 2-2) (Friday, August 22, CBS, 8:00 PM ET)......Pittsburgh's No. 3 NFL rush defense of '07 can judge where it stands for '08 when it faces Minnesota RB ADRIAN PETERSON, the NFL '07 Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl MVP (Saturday, August 23, CBS, 8:00 PM ET)......Buffalo helps Indianapolis open its new 63,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium (Sunday, August 24, NFL Network, 8:00 PM ET)......and two more division winners meet when Seattle travels to San Diego. The Seahawks will be priming new RB JULIUS JONES (Monday, August 25, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET).
WEEK 4: The national TV schedule concludes with another matchup of playoff teams as Washington's Zorn prepares to kick off the season and new Jacksonville WR JERRY PORTER gets his final tune-up (Thursday, August 28, NBC, 7:00 PM ET).
2008 NFL PRESEASON NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)
Sunday, August 3
Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, OH
Indianapolis vs. Washington
NBC (8:00 PM)
**
Preseason Week 1 (August 7-11)
Thursday, August 7
New Orleans at Arizona
ESPN (8:00 PM)
Monday, August 11
Cincinnati at Green Bay
ESPN (8:00 PM)
**
Preseason Week 2 (August 14-18)
Thursday, August 14
Carolina at Philadelphia
FOX (8:00 PM)
Saturday, August 16
Oakland at Tennessee
FOX (8:00 PM)
Sunday, August 17
New England at Tampa Bay
NFLN (8:00 PM)
Monday, August 18
Cleveland at NY Giants
ESPN (8:00 PM)
**
Preseason Week 3 (August 21-25)
Thursday, August 21
San Francisco at Chicago
FOX (8:00 PM)
Friday, August 22
Houston at Dallas
CBS (8:00 PM)
Saturday, August 23
Pittsburgh at Minnesota
CBS (8:00 PM)
Sunday, August 24
Buffalo at Indianapolis
NFLN (8:00 PM)
Monday, August 25
Seattle at San Diego
ESPN (8:00 PM)
**
Preseason Week 4 (August 28-29)
Thursday, August 28
Jacksonville at Washington
NBC (7:00 PM)