The last day of preseason football has arrived! By the end of this weekend, the next NFL kickoff you see will be real, live, regular season action.
But before we get there, six teams have exhibition football left to play. That means roster spots are up for grabs, and depth chart positioning is still on the table. Let’s break the NFL games today.
Are There Any NFL Games Today? Sunday TV Schedule
Week 3’s final slate of games features the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders.
Below is everything you need to know heading into each contest.
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
- Start time: Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, 2 p.m. ET
- Live stream options:
- Titans: Titans Mobile App (Nashville market only), TennesseeTitans.com (Nashville)
- Out-of-market: NFL+
- Radio stations: WGFX 104.5 FM-The Zone (Titans market); WWL-870 AM and 105.3 FM (Saints market)
- Announced starting QBs: Will Levis
- Bettings lines:
- Spread: TEN -3.5
- Total: 36.5
- Moneyline: TEN -192, NO +160
The Titans are expected to play their starters in this final preseason matchup.
“My intent is to play the starters for a significant amount of snaps for a preseason game,” head coach Brian Callahan told reporters earlier in the week.
Callahan indicated that the starting offense is likely to see about three series in the matchup, which means fans will get a final look at starting QB Will Levis and his cast of weapons before regular season play begins.
With DeAndre Hopkins still on the mend due to an ankle injury, Levis’ top targets will likely be WR Calvin Ridley, WR Tyler Boyd, who recently returned from an injury of his own, TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, RB Tony Pollard, and RB Tyjae Spears.
As for the Saints, head coach Dennis Allen told Kay Adams that he hasn’t yet determined whether his starters will play.
One New Orleans name to watch: second-year RB Kendre Miller.
Miller’s status with the Saints has been rippling through the Twitter-verse after Allen made some less-than-supportive remarks about the sophomore running back. Miller’s young NFL career has been severely hampered by injuries, so it’d be a big boon to his stock if he’s able to suit up for this contest and make an impact.
Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos
- Start time: Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, 4:30 p.m. ET
- Live stream options: NFL+
- Radio stations: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Cardinals market); KOA – 850 AM/94.1 FM (Broncos market)
- Announced starting QBs: Clayton Tune
- Bettings lines:
- Spread: DEN -2.5
- Total: 35.5
- Moneyline: DEN -190, ARI +160
The QB1 battle in Denver is over. Rookie first-round pick Bo Nix is Sean Payton’s guy, meaning Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham will be duking it out against Arizona for the backup job.
Payton made it clear that both QBs could make the 53-man roster, but if either is cut, they could make for popular waiver claims for teams in need of an upgrade at backup quarterback.
Arizona is also in the midst of a QB2 battle. Clayton Tune and Desmond Ridder are the men vying for the job, and Tune will get the start on Sunday against Denver. That said, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said that development is not necessarily an indication of which passer is the leader in the clubhouse to back up Kyler Murray.
Tune has had a far more productive preseason, though his counterpart has had fewer opportunities. With Murray now a full season removed from his 2022 ACL tear, the Cardinals are surely hoping that the result of this battle amounts to which insurance policy the team prefers and nothing more.
On the defensive side of the ball, keep an eye out for rookie safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson. The young DB made an incredible play on the ball with a second-quarter interception last week and is pushing for playing time following an impressive preseason.
New England Patriots at Washington Commanders
- Start time: Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, 8 p.m. ET
- Live stream options: NFL+
- Radio stations: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Patriots market); BIG 100 (WBIG-FM) (Commanders market)
- Announced starting QBs: Jacoby Brissett
- Bettings lines:
- Spread: NE -4
- Total: 33.5
- Moneyline: NE -200, CIN +165
All of the QB intrigue in this one rests on the Patriots’ sideline.
As of this writing, New England has yet to announce the team’s Week 1 starting quarterback. That said, I’d be shocked if it’s not veteran Jacoby Brissett.
Rookie Drake Maye may have been the biggest project QB of the six first-round picks at the position, and there’s little chance that changed in the few months since April.
That said, fans and the coaching staff will get one final look at where the position stands heading into the regular season, with both Brissett and Maye set to play in this contest.
For the Commanders, one of the biggest question marks is what the WR corps will look like now that 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson has been shipped to Philly. Dyami Brown has been getting plenty of run with the starters on the outside, and Olamide Zaccheaus has been talked up by the coaching staff.
The team also has third-round pick Luke McCaffrey working his way up the depth chart, so plenty of options are on the table.
Don’t sleep on offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury choosing to run two-TE sets early and often this season. Veteran Zach Ertz is as reliable as they come at the position (when healthy), and rookie second-round pick Ben Sinnott has flashed his pass-catching upside already this preseason.
With rookie Jayden Daniels set to start Week 1, giving him several security blankets to target could be the answer if none of the WRs not named Terry McLaurin appear ready for a heavy workload.