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After last weekend’s humiliation for the NFL, we can finally officially say football is back tonight.
There are six games in action. And while the NFL Network will carry the New Orleans Saints in Foxboro to take on the New England Patriots, the NFL is offering RedZone free all preseason. With half of the teams in action tonight on the Los Angeles Rams’ 2016 regular season schedule, there’s plenty of reason to tune in.
Washington at Atlanta Falcons - 7pm ET
The Rams face the Falcons in Week 14. The Falcons team the Rams face in December will likely barely resemble the one we see tonight.
Still, it’s a good look at some NFC foes, though Washington will be without rookie WR Josh Doctson who had quite the following among Rams fans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles - 7pm ET
The Rams get the Bucs in Week 3, so this one has some relevancy in its viewing argument. Tampa went big on defense in the 2016 NFL Draft with three cornerbacks in their first five picks headlined by Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III. Toss in a little Jameis Winston, and this one might be the best look among the early games.
New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots - 7:30pm ET
We’ve got the Saints in Week 12 and the Pats a week later. That’s plenty far off, but it might be worth tuning in just to see how James Laurinaitis looks gearing up for his first season in Nola. And since I mentioned Doctson, there was a TST contingency behind the other WR Michael Thomas (this one out of Ohio State) who has reportedly flashed in camp. He’ll get his first action as a Saint tonight.
Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens - 7:30pm ET
The Rams will host the Panthers in Week 9 after the bye. I’m probably passing on this one as I’m still recovering from last year’s Rams-Ravens game which might have been the worst NFL game I’ve ever seen.
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets - 7:30pm ET
The Rams travel to MetLife to take on the Jets the week after the Panthers game. I might skip this one tonight only because I know I’m gonna get some Jags and Jets football in this season. Both teams are really hard to get a grasp on right now, and I think one of them is going to the playoffs.
Just don’t ask me which.
Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears - 8pm ET
The only game tonight that doesn’t feature a 2016 Rams opponent. How bad do you want to see Paxton Lynch to measure his first preseason game up against Jared Goff’s when the Rams host the Cowboys on Saturday?
Let’s watch some football.