The New England Patriots will play their first two exhibition games on national television, according to partial schedules released by the NFL today. The Pats will open their preseason on Friday, Aug. 11, at 8 p.m., in a game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. CBS will carry the game. On Saturday, Aug. 19, the NFL network will televise the Patriots' home game against the Arizona Cardinals. That game will also start at 8 p.m.

The Patriots will play their other exhibition games at home against the Washington Redskins and on the road against the New York Giants. The dates and times for those games have not yet been announced. The NFL is expected to release the regular-season schedule next month.