Bengals finalize preseason dates and kickoff times

Last week the NFL released its preseason schedule with generic weekend dates concerning non-national games. On Friday, the Bengals released a finalized version of that schedule with dates and kickoff times.

The preseason will kickoff on Aug. 14 (Friday) against the New York Giants at Paul Brown Stadium -- this will be only the second time in the last nine years that the preseason opener was placed in Cincinnati.

Remaining in its Monday night slot (on ESPN) is the team's second preseason game in Tampa Bay on Aug. 24. Cincinnati's dress rehearsal takes place on August 29 (Saturday) against the Bears while the preseason finale will be held in Indianapolis on Thursday, Sept. 3.