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COACHES VALUE PRESEASON

“Preseason games are the best way to get ready for opening day,” says new Chicago Bears head coach LOVIE SMITH.  “Veterans and rookies both need preseason to prepare mentally and physically for the speed and intensity of the regular season.  We keep the intensity level high in practice, but you can never truly simulate game conditions.  The games are critical in the evaluation process of our players, especially the draft picks.  We need to see how players raise their level of play in the competitive atmosphere of a game.”

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FINAL WEEK, FINAL TUNE-UPS, FINAL TIME TO IMPRESS
 

Finals are here!

The final week of NFL preseason comes this Thursday and Friday.  Teams have one more game to work on their game.  Veterans get in that final tune-up.  Rookies and free agents have one last chance to impress and survive.

Plus, everybody wants to go into the regular season with a win.  Last year, the two Super Bowl teams – the champion New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers – did just that.  In fact, they were undefeated (8-0) in preseason. 

To illustrate the impact of preseason, consider that the past 10 Super Bowl champions had a 30-12 (.714) preseason record: 

Veterans this week will ratchet up their preparation.  Last summer, Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY led the NFL in preseason passer rating (116.7).  He finished the season as the Super Bowl XXXVIII MVP.

“I like to play as many preseason games as I can,” says Brady.  “The more I play, the better I feel.  It’s a fun time of year because you’re out there playing a lot of football.”

For players “on the bubble,” this week is showdown time – a final chance to influence coaches.  This Sunday, rosters will be reduced to a maximum of 53 players.  “My theory,” says Indianapolis Colts head coach TONY DUNGY, “is you just let everybody play and make the decisions as they pan out.”

On top of all this, there are interesting games this week:

• JACKSONVILLE at NEW ENGLAND (Thursday, NFL Network, 6:45 PM ET):  Brady and the champs get their final tune-up, while QB BYRON LEFTWICH and the Jags play their last game before signing off from NFL Network’s Inside Training Camp: Jaguars Summer. 
   
• ST. LOUIS at OAKLAND (Thursday, NFL Network, 10:00 PM ET):  Rams impressive rookie running back STEVEN JACKSON (125 yards on 25 carries for one TD last week) will see more time.  For the Raiders, it’s a final preseason look at their QBs -- incumbent RICH GANNON and newcomer KERRY COLLINS.
   

• ARIZONA at DENVER (Thursday, 9:00 PM ET):  The first appearance of Broncos quarterback JAKE PLUMMER against his old mates (1997-02).  He led the Cardinals to 21 career comeback victories.      

LAST WEEK’S NFL RESULTS (AUGUST 26-30)
(Home team in CAPS)

Thursday, August 26
Pittsburgh 27, PHILADELPHIA 21

Friday, August 27

NY JETS 17, NY Giants 10
JACKSONVILLE 9, Green Bay 7
MINNESOTA 23, San Francisco 10
ST. LOUIS 28, Washington 3
New Orleans 17, CHICAGO 13
DENVER 31, Houston 17
Seattle 26, SAN DIEGO 20

Saturday, August 28
TAMPA BAY 17, Miami 10
ATLANTA 37, Cincinnati 10
BALTIMORE 17, Detroit 6
CAROLINA 20, New England 17
INDIANAPOLIS 30, Buffalo 17
Cleveland 21, KANSAS CITY 19
Oakland 17, ARIZONA 16

Monday, August 30
DALLAS 20, Tennessee 17