Since the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game was called off before it was completed, the first official preseason game of the 2024 season will be played this weekend. All 32 teams will play between Thursday and Sunday, and it will be our first chance to look at the league’s top Super Bowl contenders, as well as the most anticipated rookies.

Thursday, August 8

Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots (-7)

The Drake Maye era in New England begins on Thursday night, with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft taking on the Carolina Panthers. Jacoby Brissett will get the start at quarterback for the Pats, but Maye will play.

New Carolina head coach Dave Canales says that last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Bryce Young, will not play on Thursday.

Detroit Lions at New York Giants (-3.5)

The main storylines in the Detroit Lions at New York Giants is the NFL debut of former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. He was drafted by the Lions in the third round in 2023, but an injury suffered his final year in college kept him sidelined for all of 2023. Thursday night he will finally play.

We’re not sure if Malik Nabors will play for the Giants, but if the No. 6 overall pick does line up at wide receiver, we will all be watching to see if Lions cornerback Kerby Joseph lines up against him. The two threw punches at a joint practice early this week, and both teams were fined $200,000 for the series of fights that took place.

Friday, August 9

Houston Texans (-3.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers

At least for the first week of the NFL preseason, Justin Fields will be the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Russell Wilson has missed much of camp with a calf injury and he will not play on Friday. We also won’t see T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Patrick Queen.

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans says last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud, will play, and we will see wide receiver Stefon Diggs make his Texans debut. Neither played last week in the shortened Hall of Fame Game.

In other games on Friday, the Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) are at the Miami Dolphins, and the Philadelphia Eagles (-1) are at the Baltimore Ravens. Defending MVP Lamar Jackson will not play.

Saturday, August 10

Washington Commanders (-3) at New York Jets

The Washington Commanders’ No. 2 overall pick, Jayden Daniels, will get his first NFL start on Saturday at the New York Jets. New head coach Dan Quinn made the announcement and said that Daniels has earned the role of QB1. Aaron Rodgers will not play for the Jets.

Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills (-1.5)

Last week, Caleb Williams did not suit up for the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame Game, but he will play this Saturday at the Buffalo Bills, at least for the first series or two. The Bills will start Josh Allen at quarterback, but he is also expected to play just the first or second series, and nothing beyond that.

Las Vegas Raiders (-4) at Minnesota Vikings

The quarterback competition for the Las Vegas Raiders is far from over, and Gardnew Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are expected to play a quarter each in their first preseason game of the year. For the Minnesota Vikings, Sam Darnold will get the start, but rookie J.J. McCarthy will also play.

There is a full schedule of games on Saturday, and elsewhere we have the Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns (-3.5), Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1), San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans (-4.5), Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals (-4.5), Seattle Seahawks (-3) at Los Angeles Chargers, and the New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals (-1). Quarterback Kyler Murray is not playing for the Cardinals in any preseason game this year, but head coach Jonathan Gannon is still not revealing his plans for rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr.

Sunday, August 11

Denver Broncos (-1) at Indianapolis Colts

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is listed third on the Denver Broncos depth chart, but each of the three men in the quarterback competition in Denver – Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson – will play against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Dallas Cowboys (-4) at Los Angeles Rams

The Dallas Cowboys officially removed CeeDee Lamb from their active roster ahead of their preseason opener at the Los Angeles Rams. Lamb continues his holdout for a new contract, and Cowboys COO Stephen Jones says the two sides are talking, and the dialogue is “cordial and upbeat.”