While the preseason football is some considerable distance away from the intensity typical of the 17 regular season weeks, it still represented a significant uptick in quality from the Hall of Fame razzmatazz.

The first week of preseason games provided numerous talking points, with the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield already looking in the groove, while Devin Bush and James Washington caught the eye of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mayfield played just one series for the Browns on Thursday night, but took Cleveland 89 yards down the field in just over two minutes. The second-year-quarterback completed five of six passes and threw a touchdown pass to Rashard Higgins.

On Friday night, meanwhile, Washington had 84 receiving yards as the Steelers won 30-28 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There was more positive news for Pittsburgh as Bush, a rookie linebacker, recorded eight tackles and looked extremely promising.

Bush wasn’t the only rookie to catch the eye on the opening week, with Kansas City Chiefs’ first-year wide receiver Mecole Hardman seizing his chance.

Hardman, the Chiefs’ top draft pick this year, showed remarkable speed in a 38-17 win against the Cincinnati Bengals which included him taking a shovel pass 17 yards for a touchdown.

Elsewhere, the Patriots made light work of the Detroit Lions in a 31-3 mauling, while the Los Angeles Rams also failed to score a touchdown in a 14-3 loss to the Oakland Raiders. As he did a year ago, Rams head coach Sean McVay kept all starters on the bench, opting to give fringe players a chance to impress.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Week 2.

TV coverage

Eight games will be broadcast nationally in Week 2 of preseason, with NFL Network and ESPN carrying four and two games respectively while FOX and CBS have one each.

It all begins on Thursday night when the Oakland Raiders play the Cardinals in Arizona, while Friday’s game features the Chicago Bears against the New York Giants.

On Saturday, three of the five games on the schedule will be nationally broadcast.

The Cleveland Browns take on the Colts in Indianapolis, before the Kansas City Chiefs face the Steelers in Pittsburgh and the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams square off in Honolulu, Hawaii.

All three games on the slate on Sunday will be broadcast nationally, beginning with the New Orleans Saints trip to Los Angeles to face the Chargers. The Seattle Seahawks then travel to Minneapolis to play the Vikings, while the Denver Broncos host the San Francisco 49ers.

Live stream

Live stream of the national games will be available via NFL Network, fuboTV and the digital platforms of the channel broadcasting the games.

TV schedule (all times ET)

Thursday, August 15

Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars—7 p. m. , WJAX, WCAUNew York Jets @ Atlanta Falcons—7:30 p. m. , WCBS, WUPAGreen Bay Packers @ Baltimore Ravens—7:30 p. m. , WBAL, WTMJCincinnati Bengals @ Washington Redskins—7:30 p. m. WKRC, WRCOakland Raiders @ Arizona Cardinals—8 p. m. ESPN

Friday, August 16

Buffalo Bills @ Carolina Panthers—7 p. m. WKBW, WSOCChicago Bears @ New York Giants—7:30 p. m. , NFL Network, WNBC, WFLDMiami Dolphins @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers—7:30 p. m. , WFOR, WTSP, WFTV

Saturday, August 17

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts—4 p. m. NFL Network, WEWSNew England Patriots @ Tennessee Titans—7 p. m. WBZ, WKRNKansas City Chiefs @ Pittsburgh Steelers—7:30 p. m. NFL Network, KCTV, KDKADetroit Lions @ Houston Texans—8 p. m. WJBK, KTRKDallas Cowboys vs Los Angeles Rams (In Honolulu, Hawaii)—10 p. m. NFL Network, KTVT, KCBS

Sunday, August 18

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers—4 p. m. CBSSeattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings—8 p. m. FOXSan Francisco 49ers @ Denver Broncos—ESPN