Which games to watch in the final week of NFL Preseason:
There is just one week of preseason games left before teams cut down their rosters and begin to zero in on the first weekend of the NFL’s regular season.
Kickoff to Week 1 is right around the corner, but we have to get through one more week of tune up games. There will be a lot on the line for over the next few days as a players around the league fight for roster spots or starting jobs.
Coaches, players and fans will be on high alert heading into the final week of preseason games. Coaches know they will have to trim their roster down to 53 men on Tuesday of next week. Players on the fringe know that they have one more week and one more game to impress their coaches and try to make that 53-man roster. Fans will be watching in attentively knowing hoping to get one last glimpse of their starters, even if its just for a few snaps in the final exhibition match.
Bears vs. Chiefs , Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET
The two-time defending Super Bowl Champions taking on the No. 1 over draft pick. What else do you need to know about this game? We have seen a little of Patrick Mahomes this preseason, most notably his behind the back pass to Travis Kelce this weekend against the Jaguars. We might see a bit more of him this weekend against a rookie QB many people are comparing to the three time Super Bowl Champion. Caleb Williams is coming off his best outing, and we will be hoping to see him progress more in the final preseason before Week 1.
Vikings vs. Eagles , Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET
We have yet to see the Eagles starters debut this preseason. Maybe Nick Sirianni puts Hurts and the rest of the first stringers in, maybe he doesn’t, but one thing is for sure. Eagles fans have to be desperate to know what the offense and defense is looking like under new coordinators on both sides of the ball. The Vikings have a bit more urgent priorities. It seems like Sam Darnold is going to be the QB1 for Minnesota to start the season after the injury to J.J. McCarthy, but he sat this past weekend and threw just 8 passes in the preseason opener against the Raiders. The Vikings let Kirk Cousins go in free agency, so how much of a look are they going to give us on Darnold against the Eagles.
Steelers vs. Lions, Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET
The Lions have yet to put any of their starters on the field during this preseason, and with the way Dan Campbell has turned this franchise around I don’t think there’s anyone that would question his decisions before the season starts. The Lions are going to be a good team this year, we already know that. The Steelers are a bit more draped in mystery. They have two veteran quarterbacks fighting for the starting job. Justin Fields got the start in the first game as Russell Wilson sat that game with a calf injury. Fields went 5/6 for 67 yards, but fumbled two snaps and got sacked in two drives. Wilson started against the Bills this past weekend and went 8/10 for 47 yards while Fields played the second half and went 11/17 for 92 yards and ran for another 42 yards. Pittsburgh scored just three points against the Bills, so this game on Saturday might be what makes Mike Tomlin make up his mind on who starts in Week 1.
Giants vs. Jets, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET
Any time we get even the slightest possibility of an Aaron Rodgers sighting, NFL fans start foaming at the mouth. We haven’t seen much of him in preseason over his long career. The four time MVP picks and chooses when he wants to play, and the Jets are obviously going to exercise extreme caution after seeing their QB1 miss all but four snaps last season. “You never know,” Rogers said during Saturday’s 15-12 win over the Carolina Panthers. “I’m not sure. I mean, I feel like Saleh already ruled me out a few weeks ago, but if I beg him, maybe I’ll get to be out there.” The Giants have a bit more to worry about. Daniel Jones made his return for injury, and the newly resigned QB looked far from his best. Jones went 11/18 but threw two picks including an ill advised pick six from his own end zone. He’s going to try have to look a bit more comfortable under center, or it could be a rough start to the season for Jones and the Giants.
Patriots vs. Commanders
Could we ask for anything else in the preseason finale from Washington? Two of the first three draft picks taken this spring will be going head to head in the final tune up before Week 1. Drake Maye continues to make his case for the starting job right from the beginning of the season while Jayden Daniels was just named the regular season starter early this week. This will be one last chance for a tune up and for Maye to convince his coaches he is just as ready to start in Foxborough as Daniels is in Landover.