The preseason kicks off tonight in the NFL with three games. Here is a quick preview of what to look for in the first week of the preseason.

Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010
Panthers at Ravens live on ESPN at 8pm ET. Get your first look at the revamped Ravens defense and Panthers QB Matt Moore getting the reins to the Panthers offense. On the West Coast, KTLA will be showing the Raiders at Cowboys live at 9pm ET. The Cowboys play their second game in five days and will try to get in the end zone, something they failed to do in the Hall of Fame game versus the Bengals. While the Raiders begin their post-JaMarcus Russell era, with Jason Campbell at QB. Finally, the defending Super Bowl champion Saints and Drew Brees will be in New England to face a Patriots team they embarrassed back in Week 12 last year, 38-17. NFL Network will air a tape delay of this game at 11pm ET.

Friday, Aug. 13, 2010
There are another three games on the schedule for Friday night. In the first game, everyone will get their first glimpse of QB Donovan McNabb in a Redskins uniform when the Bills visit the Redskins at 7:30pm ET, shown live on NFL Network. McNabb’s former team, the Eagles host the Jaguars at 7:30pm ET. The Eagles will unveil their future in QB Kevin Kolb. NFL Network will air this game on tape delay at 10:30pm ET. And to close out the evening, the Chiefs head to the Georgia Dome to face the Falcons. Catch this game on tape delay on NFL Network at 1:30am ET.

Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010
Most of the games in the Preseason Week 1 will be played on Saturday. The biggest thing to watch on Saturday will be QB Ben Roethlisberger taking snaps at Heinz Field when the Steelers host the Lions. How will the home field fans react to Big Ben after what he has gone through this off season? Plus how long will he play since he is suspended for the first four games, the other QBs will need to get reps with the first string offense as well.

Other games to watch include the return of head coach Pete Carroll to the NFL when the Seahawks host the Titans and a Favre-less Vikings team will travel to St. Louis to play the Rams. The rest of the games on Saturday are Buccaneers @ Dolphins (7:00 PM), Browns @ Packers (8:00 PM), Texans @ Cardinals (8:00 PM), and Bears at Chargers (9:00 PM)

Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010
There are two more games on Sunday. The 49ers travel to Indianapolis and will try to stop QB Peyton Manning and the Colts at 1:00 PM ET and the injury plagued Broncos head to Cincinnati to face the Bengals.

Monday, Aug. 16, 2010
To close out the schedule, ESPN will air, “The Battle for New York” as the Jets host the Giants in the two teams brand new stadium at 8:00 PM ET.