Fantasy fans, sharpen your pencils. The 2009 preseason is here, and all the action is on NFL Network. For the first time, all 65 games can be seen on NFL Network in high definition.
The live coverage kicks off with a doubleheader on Friday, August 14 at 7 p.m. ET, when the St. Louis Rams face the New York Jets in a game that marks the debut of Jets first-round draft pick Mark Sanchez and new head coaches Rex Ryan (Jets) and Steve Spagnuolo (Rams). At 10 p.m. ET, Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels begins his tenure with a new QB in a battle against the San Francisco 49ers.
Saturday, August 15 will feature the first-ever live tripleheader with the Atlanta Falcons against the Detroit Lions beginning at 4 p.m. ET. Lions QB Matthew Stafford begins his rookie season after he was selected with the top pick in the draft. Immediately following at 7 p.m. ET, the Chicago Bears face the Buffalo Bills. The Bears unveil their new QB, Jay Cutler, while WR Terrell Owens makes his debut in front of the Bills' home crowd. Finally, at 10 p.m. ET, the Seattle Seahawks take on the San Diego Chargers in a matchup of teams that have each won their division title four of the past five seasons.
During the 2009 NFL preseason, NFL Network will televise a record 65 games –- up from the 54 shown in 2008. The preseason schedule, which is entirely in HD for the first time, also includes a record 12 live games and 97 encore telecasts so that no one will miss a game.
NFL Network air times for 2009 Week 1 preseason games
Thursday, August 13 (All times eastern; All games in high definition)
12:30 a.m. -- Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans -- encore
11 p.m. -- New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, August 14
2 a.m. -- Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders
3 p.m. -- Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens
9 a.m. -- New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles -- encore
Noon -- Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders -- encore
7 p.m. -- St. Louis Rams at New York Jets -– LIVE
10 p.m. -- Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers -- LIVE
Saturday, August 15
1 a.m. -– Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts
7 a.m. -- Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints
10 a.m. -- Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens -- encore
1 p.m. -- Arizona Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers
4 p.m. -- Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions -– LIVE
7 p.m. -- Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills -– LIVE
10 p.m. -- Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers -– LIVE
Sunday, August 16
1 a.m. -- Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers
4 a.m. -- Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints -- encore
7 a.m. -- St. Louis Rams at New York Jets -- encore
10 a.m. -- Houston Texans at Kansas City
1 p.m. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans
4 p.m. -- New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles -- encore
7 p.m. -- Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders -- encore
10 p.m. -- Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts -– encore
Monday, August 17
1 a.m. -- Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers -– encore
4 a.m. -- Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers -– encore
7 a.m. -- Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs -– encore
10 a.m. -– Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions -– encore
1 p.m. -- Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills -- encore
4 p.m. -- Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers -- encore
11 p.m. -– Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins
NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.