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The New England Patriots begin their defense of Super Bowl LI–sort of–on Thursday night, as they open preseason play against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who officially begin the Doug Marrone Era.
Here’s a look at everything you need to know to watch the preseason Week 1 matchup:
Date: Thursday, August 10, 2017
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel, Jaguars Markets:
WJAX (CBS/47 – Jacksonville)
WRDQ (27 – Orlando)
WCTV (My/6.2 – Tallahassee)
WJHG (CW/7.2 – Panama City)
WCJB (ABC/20 – Gainesville)
WTVM (ABC/9 – Columbus GA)
WSAV (NBC/3 – Savannah GA)
WJTC (44 – Mobile AL)
WTVY (My/4.2 – Dothan AL)
WTAT (FOX/24 – Charleston SC)
TV Channel, Patriots Markets:
WBZ (CBS/4 – Boston)
WNAC (My/64.2 – Providence)
WCTX (My/9 – New Haven CT)
WWLP (NBC/22 – Springfield MA)
WMUR (ABC/9 – Manchester NH)
WMTW (ABC/8 – Portland ME)
WFVX (FOX/22 – Bangor ME)
WCAX (CBS/3 – Burlington VT)
Live Stream: Sling TV (select markets), DirecTV Now (select markets), Fubo TV (select markets) or NFL Game Pass (if the game isn’t in your market). You can read here for more info
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Preview
Preseason football may not always be the most exciting thing, and it may not always give a real accurate preview of what’s to come this season, but it’s live 11-on-11 football nonetheless. And when that’s the case, there are always intriguing players to watch.
In this game, that starts with Jags rookie RB Leonard Fournette.
Becoming just the fourth running back in the last decade to be drafted inside the Top 5, the former LSU standout enters the league with high expectations, especially after what Ezekiel Elliott did last year with the Dallas Cowboys. So far, so good on that front, as he has consistently impressed during camp.
“He’s real good, especially being defensive line, playing with the blocks, I have the happy job of taking a lot of double teams,” nose tackle Abry Jones said. “I can see him running through the double teams and stuff like that. One thing I really notice is his vision. His vision when he’s running is never on the same path, you can see his eyes shifting while he’s on the move, so I thought that was pretty cool to show how his vision is so early.”
Of course, he’s also had his “Welcome to the NFL” moment, too:
Sheldon Day blows up Leonard Fournette in the backfield #Jaguars
(🎥: @GaryCriswell)
Fournette, a downhill bruiser with rare speed for a player his size, has all the makings of being a special player in this league. How he fares in his first live game action won’t determine who he is as a player, and he may not receive much more than a series or two, but his debut will certainly be worth watching.
