Football fans can breathe easily once again as the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023 is finally here. The Hall of Fame Game NFL exhibition kicks off the NFL season unofficially. It ensures that we will have NFL football for the vast majority of the next six months, welcome news for fans of the sport.
Heading into the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023, there will be a lot of focus on one team while the other has the potential to successfully fly under the radar. Let’s get into the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023 featuring the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns
NFL Hall of Fame Game Wiki
The Hall of Fame Game NFL exhibition is the unofficial start of football season. It isn’t technically even a pre-season game but gets things transitioning from OTA’s and training camp into the pre-season schedule. Here’s what you need to know about the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023.
- When: Thursday, August 3, 2023
- Time: 7:00 PM EST
- Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
- Who: New York Jets (O/U 31.5) vs Cleveland Browns (-2.5)
- How to watch: NBC/Peacock
- Who are the 2023 NFL Hall of Fame inductees? CB Darrelle Revis, CB/S Ronde Barber, OT Joe Thomas, LB Zach Thomas, LB/DE DeMarcus Ware, DT Joe Klecko, LB Chuck Howley, CB Ken Riley, and Coach Don Coryell will all be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
New York Jets vs Cleveland Browns preview
All eyes will be on the Hall of Fame Game NFL exhibition happening in Canton. Though the real stars of the weekend will be those getting enshrined into the hallowed halls of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, many are excited to see on-field action happening once again.
Everyone knows that the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023 is much like the others that have come before it in that it isn’t particularly important. The biggest names will see limited action and it will be an additional chance for each team to find out who can play and who may end up on the chopping block.
That said, there are a few things that will certainly bear watching. Here are three things to keep in mind heading into the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023.
The Debut of Aaron Rodgers
There is no question that the single biggest storyline of the Hall of Fame Game NFL exhibition is the debut of quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets. Since 2005, Rodgers has made his name with the Green Bay Packers, but an offseason trade sent him to the Big Apple.
The 39-year-old Rodgers is coming off of arguably his worst season as a pro. After years of dissension between himself and the Packers’ front office, a trade was finally executed, sending Rodgers to the Jets.
The Jets are loaded with talent and believe that Rodgers is the missing piece that can take them back to the Super Bowl for the first time since “Broadway” Joe Namath led the Jets to arguably the biggest upset in Super Bowl history back at Super Bowl III.
Which DeShaun Watson?
Sticking with quarterbacks, there are going to be a lot of eyes on the other quarterback. DeShaun Watson was the subject of much scrutiny last season and with good reason. He had been suspended 11 games in 2022 after nearly two years away (injury and being benched by the Texans).
Heading into the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023, there will be plenty of eyes on Watson. He didn’t look great in six games as a starter at the end of the year. That said, he will be totally in control of an offense for the first time in more than two years. The Browns have one of the more talented rosters in the NFL and a fully powered Watson has the ability to take them to the next level.
The NFL Hall of Fame Class
While the initial focus of the NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023 will be on the two teams it will eventually shift to those being honored this weekend. These are players who carved out incredible careers throughout the years, leaving an indelible mark on the history of football.
Defense is the name of the game with this induction class. Aside from coach Don Coryell and OT Joe Thomas (a Browns legend), the rest of the class comes from the defensive side of the ball. Darrelle Revis was one of the great lockdown corners. Ronde Barber was a dominant player at both corner and safety. Zach Thomas was a tackling machine, etc. These are players who meant a great deal to their teams and were among the best of their time.
There is a lot to love about NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023 weekend. We get to honor the players who left it all on the field while seeing NFL action for the first time since Super Bowl LVII.