What To Watch Ahead of Tonight's NFL Preseason Game

Football season is fast approaching, and with the NFL preseason fully underway this evening, we are ready to get in the spirit early this year.

Though the regular season doesn't kick off until September 7, when the Lions and Chiefs go head-to-head in Kansas City, it's time to ease back into what's expected to be a year full of exciting narratives.

There are plenty of excellent documentaries and series out there packed with great stories from the beloved sport, so here are five you can stream this weekend in preparation for football season.

HBO's Hard Knocks

• Where to watch: HBO and Max

Now in its 20th season, this year's Hard Knocks will follow the New York Jets, who now have veteran QB and Super Bowl winner Aaron Rodgers at the helm. After a 17-year career in Green Bay, Rodgers is searching for new opportunities, and all eyes are certainly on how the story will unfold this season. The Jets haven't been to the playoffs since 2010, so after a 13-year drought, will Rodgers be the guy to turn the tide in New York?

Hard Knocks will be on HBO and Max Tuesdays at 10 pm, with the season finale set to air September 5.

Quarterback

• Where to watch: Netflix

Debuting in July on Netflix, Quarterback aims to get behind what it means to play in the NFL at the prime position. In a league led by star QBs, it is rare to see much more than what you get on the field. Quarterback takes us into the lives of Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota to get an intimate look at the NFL. For the first time, the NFL allowed these three QBs to be mic'd up for every game of the season, and Quarterback follows them from the beginning of the 2022 season to its conclusion.

The series consists of eight episodes, which are all available to watch now on Netflix.

The Bullies of Baltimore

• Where to watch: ESPN+

Part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, The Bullies of Baltimore is a 100-minute deep dive into what is widely considered the greatest defense to play the game, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. With big-ticket names from Ray Lewis to Tony Siragusa, the documentary is an excellent and compelling behind-the-scenes look into the locker room during the Ravens' run to the Super Bowl. Switching between archival footage and present-day interviews, the doc gets to the heart of what made the team so special.

Audible

• Where to watch: Netflix

Nominated at last year's Oscars, Audible is about Amaree McKenstry-Hall and his Maryland School for the Deaf teammates as they attempt to defend their winning streak while coming to terms with the tragic loss of a close friend. With stunning cinematography and a powerful message at the heart, Audible is a great 39-minute doc to watch ahead of kick-off tonight. Also, if you double-bill it with Bullies of Baltimore, you might spot some familiar dance moves.

Undefeated

• Where to watch: Netflix

Sticking with high school football, we throw it back to 2011 with Undefeated. Featuring three students from inner-city Memphis and their volunteer coach, who tries to help them beat the odds on and off the field, the documentary went on to win the Oscar at the 2012 Academy Awards.