The thrill and excitement of Super Bowl 51 isn’t over yet, but the preparations and announcement for the coming season of pro football are already echoing the media. As announced by the NFL this same week, the 2016 preseason will begin with the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers facing off in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. ET in Canton, Ohio. The game still months away, but judging by the early NFL odds by betting prediction sites for the 2016-17 regular season, the Packers are likely to enter this game as heavy favorites.
Although, the Colts will have a lot on the line and they will definitely try to play their best in this game. This year, the Colts will see former head coach Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dungy led the Colts to a Super Bowl win following the 2006 season and possesses a record as the winningest head coach in franchise history. He’s also a recognized sports figure and the first African-American head coach to ever win a Super Bowl. On the other hand, eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro wide receiver Marvin Harrison owns an impressive single season record of 143 catches and is widely considered as one of the greatest offensive players in NFL history.
The Packers will also have a reason to celebrate on game day, as legendary quarterback Brett Favre will also be inducted this year ceremony. Favre led the Packers to two Super Bowls, winning one, and was an 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro. He also received MVP honors in three consecutive seasons (1995, 1996 and 1997).
Packers and Colts have played the Hall of Fame Game four times, but this will mark the first time they play each other in this game. The Colts are 2-2 in Hall of Fame game appearances, while the Packers are 1-2-1, but two of the games played ended early due to weather conditions.
The annual Hall of Fame game airs nationwide, and while NBC usually carries the game, this year it will be broadcast on NFL Network due to NBC’s coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
The Hall of Fame Game is the first matchup of the NFL preseason each year and has become a landmark event for the league. The inaugural Hall of Fame Game was played on Aug. 11, 1962, and ended in a 21-21 tie between the New York Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. The last edition of the game was held at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday, Aug. 9. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 14-3.