The NFL preseason officially gets underway this weekend with the first full slate of games following a long offseason. While the Hall of Fame Game kicked things off last week, tonight’s matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts marks the start of the first full weekend of football.
The game will air live on NFL Network, so here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s coverage.
What Time Does NFL Network’s Coverage Begin?
The Ravens and Colts face off on Thursday, August 7, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. ET. NFL Network will begin its coverage at 6:00 p.m. ET with the NFL GameDay Kickoff pregame show.
While tonight’s specific cast hasn’t been confirmed, the Thursday edition of the show is typically hosted by Colleen Wolfe, with analysts Steve Smith Sr. and Michael Robinson, and insider Mike Garafolo. By the time the pregame show wraps up, coverage will shift to the game announcers for kickoff.
Who Are the Game Announcers for the Ravens vs. Colts?
Gerry Sandusky will lead the broadcast booth and handle play-by-play duties. Sandusky has been the voice of the Baltimore Ravens since 2006 and currently serves as the sports director for WBAL-TV, bringing decades of experience to the booth.
Fun moment to share. We put a camera in the broadcast booth to catch the end of the Ravens Wild Card game. I always look forward to putting the Hay in the Barn. My broadcast partner Femi Ayanbadejo and our spotter Dan Lundeen have as much fun with the moment as I do. pic.twitter.com/TGFpImqGFG
— Gerry Sandusky (@GerrySandusky) January 12, 2021
Joining him is former NFL cornerback Rod Woodson, a 17-year league veteran who spent four seasons with the Ravens. A six-time All-Pro and the 1993 Defensive Player of the Year, Woodson brings deep football knowledge to the broadcast. He has been working alongside Sandusky as a color commentator since 2022.
CBS Sports’ Evan Washburn will provide reports and updates on the sidelines. Washburn has been a seasoned sideline reporter with CBS since 2014 and has been part of the Ravens’ broadcast team with Sandusky and Woodson since 2022.
This trio is expected to deliver insightful analysis and in-depth coverage throughout the game.
Ravens vs. Colts Preview
The Ravens and Colts enter this preseason matchup in very different situations. Baltimore is coming off a Divisional Round loss and boasts a franchise quarterback in Lamar Jackson. At the same time, Indianapolis missed the playoffs in 2024 and is still trying to sort out its quarterback situation.
Lamar Jackson won’t suit up for this preseason game, with Josh Johnson expected to start under center for the Ravens.
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Meanwhile, the Colts will use this game to evaluate their quarterback competition, with both Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson expected to see playing time.
Indianapolis enters the night as a six-point favorite, with oddsmakers likely anticipating stronger performances from their quarterbacks compared to Baltimore’s backups. Still, the Ravens are no slouch in the preseason — from 2015 to 2023, the organization went on a 24-game win streak in preseason action.