Saints travel to face Texans live on NFL Network on Saturday
Vikings-Seahawks joined live in progress
on Saturday following Saints-Texans
'Around the League: Preseason 2011' provides live look-ins of Cam Newton's first NFL start, Cardinals-Packers and more on Friday
Saturday's live games on NFL Network kick off at 8 p.m. ET, when the New Orleans Saints travel to take on the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Two high-powered offenses are on display as quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints face off against quarterback Matt Schaub, wide receiver Andre Johnson, running back Arian Foster and the Texans.
NFL Network's Saturday live games continue at approximately 11 p.m. ET, joining the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks live in progress. New quarterback Donovan McNabb leads Minnesota against former Vikings players quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and wide receiver Sidney Rice at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Last Saturday's game between the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns averaged 1.7 million viewers on NFL Network, ranking as the third most-watched preseason game ever on the network.
On Friday, Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET, "Around the League: Preseason 2011" provides live look-ins of Week 2 preseason games, beginning with the opening kickoffs. Host Rich Eisen and analyst Michael Lombardi take viewers around the league, delivering live game action and highlights of Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton's first NFL start, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers taking on new Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb and more.
Coverage of Week 2 of the preseason continues with seven games on Saturday, Aug. 20 beginning at 7 a.m. ET with Michael Vick and the Eagles taking on the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers. At 10:00 AM ET, the Kansas City Chiefs play the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of last season's AFC wild-card matchup, followed by the Panthers taking on the Dolphins in Newton's first NFL start at 1 p.m. ET. At 4 p.m. ET, Kolb and the Cardinals travel to Lambeau Field to play the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
In total, NFL Network's Week 2 preseason game coverage consists of 39 games (including re-airs), highlighted by seven contests on Saturday, Aug. 20 and six on Sunday, Aug. 21 beginning at 7 a.m. ET. Week 1 matchups continue Monday, Aug. 22 through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 7 a.m. ET, with six games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and four games on Thursday.
For the second year, NFL.com's NFL Preseason Live offers live preseason games where available (games only available out of market) with full DVR controls allowing fans to pause, rewind and replay both live and archived game action. Additional viewing options include picture-in-picture -- dual and quad views -- providing the ability to watch multiple games on the same screen. To access NFL Preseason Live, visit: www.nfl.com/preseasonlive.
NFL Network air times for preseason Week 2 games
Thursday, Aug. 18
11 p.m. ET - New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Friday, Aug. 19
1 p.m. ET - New York Jets at Houston Texans (Week 1)
4 p.m. ET - New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11 p.m. ET - Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
2 a.m. ET - Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
Saturday, Aug. 20
7 a.m. ET - Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
10 a.m. ET - Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
1 p.m. ET - Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins
4 p.m. ET - Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
8 p.m. ET - New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans (Live on NFL Network)
11 p.m. ET - Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (Joined live in progress by NFL Network)
1 a.m. ET - Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins
Sunday, Aug. 21
7 a.m. ET - New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10 a.m. ET - Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns
1 p.m. ET - Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
4 p.m. ET - Washington Redskins at Indianapolis Colts
11 p.m. ET - Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers
2 a.m. ET - Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars
Monday, Aug. 22
7 a.m. ET - Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
10 a.m. ET - Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins
1 p.m. ET - Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
4 p.m. ET - Tennessee Titans at St. Louis Rams
11 p.m. ET - San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys
2 a.m. ET - Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
Tuesday, Aug. 23
7 a.m. ET - Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars
10 a.m. ET - Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
1 p.m. ET - Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns
4 p.m. ET - New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8 p.m. ET - Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets
12 a.m. ET - Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks
Wednesday, Aug. 24
7 a.m. ET - Tennessee Titans at St. Louis Rams
10 a.m. ET - Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers
1 p.m. ET - Chicago Bears at New York Giants
4 p.m. ET - San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys
8 p.m. ET - Washington Redskins at Indianapolis Colts
12 a.m. ET - Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
Thursday, Aug. 25
7 a.m. ET - New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans
10 a.m. ET - Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
1 p.m. ET - Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks
4 p.m. ET - Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins