NFL Preseason Preview, Bills Vs. Eagles (Aug. 17): Game Time Start, How To Watch

The Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles will face off at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, the second preseason game for each team.

Bills vs. Eagles Preseason 2017 preview

Both teams lost their preseason opener last week, with the Bills falling to the Minnesota Vikings 17-10 at home on Aug. 10, and the Eagles suffering a 24-9 road defeat to the Green Bay Packers that same day.

Thursday’s game will begin at 7 pm EST and will air on local Philadelphia station NBC10, but can also be live-streamed via an NFL Game Pass subscription on NFL.com.

Here is all the info for Thursday’s preseason matchup in Philadelphia:

Who: Buffalo Bills vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Date: Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.

Time: 7 p.m. Eastern

Channel: NBC 10 (Local Philadelphia)

Announcers: Mike Mayock, Scott Graham

Radio: SportsRadio WIP (94.1 FM)

Live Stream: NFL GamePass (subscription)

Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery — a former Chicago Bears star who was out for the preseason-opening loss to the Packers — said on Monday that he hopes to play for the team’s first home game of the preseason on Thursday.  Jeffery, who signed with Philadelphia as a free agent in March, has seen limited action during training camp this season due to a sprained shoulder.

Philadelphia has been led by quarterback Carson Wentz, who delivered a stellar rookie season last year after being drafted as the No. 2 overall pick out of North Dakota State. Last week in Green Bay, Wentz finished with a perfect 4-for-4 passing for 56 yards and a touchdown to earn a quarterback rating of 158.3.

According to bleedinggreennation.com, however, Eagles coach Doug Pederson said he’s leaning towards playing the Eagles’ starters, including Carson Wentz, for only a drive or two. Matt McGloin will take over at QB after Wentz throws a few passes given that Nick Foles is still recovering from an elbow injury.

On the Bills’ side, former Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews (who is suffering a “week-to-week” chest injury) and running back LeSean McCoy are unlikely to play against their former team, according to NJ.com.

The Eagles traded Matthews and a third-round draft pick to the Bills for cornerback Ronald Darby this offseason. Darby will likely play on Thursday. The Bills also sent wide receiver Sammy Watkins and a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams on Friday in exchange for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a 2018 second-round draft pick.

Thursday’s game will mark the Eagles’ first home game since they defeated the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field in the final game of the 2016 regular season on New Year’s Day.

The Eagles are 7-6 in 13 all-time appearances against the Bills. These two teams last played during the 2015 season, when Philadelphia beat Buffalo. It was the final win of the Chip Kelly era in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia also recently released running back Ryan Mathews, a seven-year veteran, after two seasons. The Eagles saved about $4 million by cutting Mathews, a former first-round pick who played his first five NFL seasons with the then-San Diego Chargers.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 13: Mychal Kendricks #95 and Walter Thurmond #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles tackle Chris Hogan #15 of the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on December 13, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)