Preseason Week 4 Preview

The final week of the exhibition season is generally a bigger snorefest than the rest of the preseason schedule simply because most of the regular starting players play one quarter of action at the most and then stand around talking about quantum physics or something along those lines the rest of the game. Some marquee players don't play at all. There are a couple points of interest, however, related to this week's games even if the regular cast of characters aren't involved for long.

• The highlight, by far, of this week's games comes Thursday night when last season's Super Bowl participants, the New York Giants and New England Patriots, square off. Obviously this contest has much, much less at stake than the game back in February, but don't tell that to the handful of fringe players who are still trying to secure roster spots.
• On Friday night, the Arizona Cardinals have more at stake than most clubs when they take on the Denver Broncos simply because their starting quarterback position is still unsettled. A week ago the job seemed to be Matt Leinart's to lose, but that just may be what he did by completing seven passes. Four to his team and three to the Oakland Raiders defense.
• The Atlanta Falcons face off against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday night as well, with the contest featuring two teams who could start rookies at quarterback when the season begins. Matt Ryan, the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, has already been named the Falcons' starter. And with Troy Smith sidelined recently with a viral illness, Joe Flacco has a chance to steal the Ravens' starting job from him with a solid performance.