Preseason action kicks off for AFC West teams Thursday as the Denver Broncos take on the Chicago Bears. These next four games will help determine several position battles created during training camp, and officially marks the beginning of the season with some game action.
Here’s a look at these preseason Week 1 matchups.
Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears, Thursday 8 PM EST
All eyes are going to be on Mark Sanchez in this matchup. The new Bronco is looking to win the starting spot, but has yet to do so in camp. He is listed on the depth chart as the number one quarterback alongside Trevor Siemian.
Head Coach Gary Kubiak announced Sanchez would get the start for this game with Siemian taking over in the second quarter, and Paxton Lynch will play the entire second half.
The biggest test will be for Sanchez to see how he performs in his first game with Denver and the quarterback position is the one in need of some clarity for the Broncos.
With Peyton Manning gone, this offense will rely on the run game more so than in the past, and that will also be something to keep an eye on not only during Thursday’s game, but all preseason.
They will be facing an improved Chicago defense, which will be a nice early test for the Broncos offensive line and Michael Schofield who has shown improvement in camp from last season.
Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals, Friday 10 PM EST
The Raiders starters will get some playing time this Friday, but don’t expect them on the field for too long. Coach Del Rio has stated they will get no longer than one quarter of work in during Friday’s matchup.
This new look defense against a solid Cardinals offense is something to keep an eye on. The buffed up defensive line and revamped secondary are what is most exciting on this Raiders team as the season approaches. Led by Khalil Mack they expect a spike in stats and to get the opposing offense off the field rather quickly this year.
With it being Week 1 of preseason and not many position battles lingering, this will be a great first look matchup at the new and improved Raiders as they look to live up to the high expectations they have been given over the offseason.
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday 4:30 PM EST
KC has had bad luck when it comes to injuries, but somehow they seem to overcome that adversity and make the best of the short 16-game season. Last year after losing Jamaal Charles for the season, pretty much everyone counted them out, but they put some wins together and made the playoffs.
This offseason, they’ve already had a few key players go down due to injury and have been practicing without some of their biggest names, but newcomers are standing out and will have their opportunity to show what they can do in game action during these preseason games.
There are concerns with Eric Berry sitting out this season as the two sides cannot reach a contract agreement, but KC is confident the cornerback will end the holdout and be ready for the regular season. This is the first opportunity to see Rod Streater in action with his new team. He has performed well in camp and looks to get a lot of playing time on this offense as a reliable option for Smith.
The run game is also something to keep an eye on as the depth chart is being formed. With Charles’ injury, there is some competition within this position following their performances last year, especially when it comes to blocking and handling passes. They thrived last year after Charles’ injury and will look to improve in the run this season. Nick Foles will also get time with the second team offense during Saturday’s matchup.
Defensively, the possible loss of Justin Houston for the entire season has been an issue for the Chiefs as they are unsure when/if he will be back. He is a great asset to the pass rush and a dominant figure on the field. To see this defense and how they perform without him in preseason will be important.
San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans, Saturday 8 PM EST
The Chargers are a team with low expectations this season. With the AFC West becoming a powerhouse between the Broncos explosive defense, the resilient Chiefs, and the up and coming Raiders, San Diego’s moves have been falling short.
A big question for this team has been the offensive line and preseason is a great opportunity for them to work with Philip Rivers and get back in the groove of a game situation after missing time due to injuries.
Wide receiver Stevie Johnson will miss the entire season after suffering an injury in practice, but Saturday will be Bolts fans first opportunity to see James Jones with this offense. He's a solid receiver who has proved to be very reliable over the years.
Week 1 of preseason gives us a chance to take a look at some players and see how the younger ones have developed. As the regular season approaches, there is a better idea of who will make the squad and how the starting roster is shaping up.
But alas, let us rejoice at the fact that we will all be watching some football all weekend long.