NFL ON FOX PRESEASON ACTION KICKS OFF AUG. 16 IN PRIME TIME

Coverage Highlighted by Six Playoff Teams Competing in Three Matchups

New York - The 2012 NFL on FOX season kicks off with three exciting preseason games featuring six playoff teams, including the 2011 NFC West Champion San Francisco 49ers taking on Peyton Manning's new team - the Denver Broncos.

Action gets underway with back-to-back prime time coverage starting Thursday, August 16 (8:00 PM ET). Andy Dalton and A.J. Green look to build on their rookie success as the Cincinnati Bengals head to the Georgia Dome to take on Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and the Atlanta Falcons. That game is followed up the next night with the reigning AFC North Champion Baltimore Ravens hosting Matthew Stafford and Ndamukong Suh's Detroit Lions on Friday, August 17 (8:00 PM ET). FOX Sports' preseason coverage wraps up on Sunday, August 26 (4:00 PM ET) with the new-look Denver Broncos hosting Alex Smith and the 49ers.

Following its coverage of the NFL's prestigious NFC regular season schedule, FOX Sports presents exclusive live postseason coverage including an NFC Wild Card Game, the NFC Divisional Playoffs and the NFC Championship Game.

FOX SPORTS 2012 NFL PRESEASON BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Thursday, August 16 Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons 8:00 PM ET

Friday, August 17 Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens 8:00 PM ET

Sunday, August 26 San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos 4:00 PM ET

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the flagship network of the FOX Sports Media Group. As America's top-rated network for sports for 15 straight years (1997-2011), FOX Sports boasts rights agreements with each of the nation's highest-rated sports. FOX Sports is the exclusive national over-the-air television rights holder for Major League Baseball, including the All-Star Game, alternating League Championship Series and World Series (2007-2013); the National Football League's NFC package, including the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowls XLVIII, LI, LIV, LVII (through 2022 season); NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from February through May, including the Daytona 500 (2007-2014); Ultimate Fighting Championship (through 2018); the Big Ten Football Championship Games (2011-16); a minimum of eight regular- season Pac-12 football games (2012-22); the Pac-12 Football Championship Game (even years from 2012-22); the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and the UEFA Champions League Final. Since its inception in 1994, FOX Sports has earned 85 Emmy Awards for production excellence. Eric Shanks and John Entz are the Executive Producers of FOX Sports. For the latest sports news, opinion and video, log on to www.FOXSports.com.