by Ray Glier

Filed under: Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Panthers, Saints, NFC South

If there is such a thing as a meaningful exhibition game, this is it. The starters will play a half, then take a knee. Next week, for the really meaningless preseason game, give those tickets to the baby-sitter because no one is going to play in that one and risk an injury.

Here are some storylines, team by team:

The Falcons play at Miami 7 p.m. ET on Friday:

You have to look at the shiny new corner, Dunta Robinson. This is his first preseason game because he had a hamstring issue for the first few weeks of camp. The Falcons defense has been spotty this preseason, so let’s see what Robinson adds to the mix that says to everybody, “We’re playing for keeps now. This is the real us.”