(My Sportsbook) - The NFL preseason kicks off on Sunday night in Canton, Ohio, as the Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles do battle in the 44th installment of the league's annual Hall of Fame Game.

Both the Raiders and Eagles are looking to begin anew while finally turning the page on 2005 seasons that ended in disappointing fashion.

Oakland stumbled to a 4-12 mark and a third consecutive last-place finish in the AFC West during 2005. The Silver and Black's performance prompted the firing of head coach Norv Turner and excising of starting quarterback Kerry Collins, among other personnel moves. Sunday will mark a return to the sideline for head coach Art Shell, who served as Raiders coach from 1989 to 1994 and led the franchise to three postseason appearances, as well as the Raider debut for quarterback Aaron Brooks, formerly the Saints' starter for the better part of six seasons.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, will be seeking to recover from an '05 campaign that saw the former NFC East power finish 6-10, including eight losses in its final 10 games. The Eagles played nearly the entire second half of the season without Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb, who battled injuries for much of the year. Now healthy, and free from the drama surrounding his relationship with since-jettisoned wide receiver Terrell Owens, McNabb is looking to regain the form that saw him lead the Birds to four consecutive NFC Championship appearances between 2001 and 2004.

Key starters on both squads, including Brooks and McNabb, are expected to see only limited action in the preseason opener.

The Raiders and Eagles have split their all-time preseason series, 2-2, with the last such matchup coming prior to the 1980 season, when Oakland prevailed, 24-23. The teams would go on to meet in Super Bowl XV in New Orleans at the conclusion of that campaign, a matchup the Raiders also took, 27-10. Philadelphia leads the all-time regular season series, 5-4, breaking a deadlock with a 23-20 win at Lincoln Financial Field in 2005.

The annual Hall of Fame game is played at Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium, a Canton city high school facility which seats 22,375 and can accommodate up to 1,500 in standing room. It is located directly across the street from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The first game of the series was played in 1962, a year before the Hall was opened. Except for 1966, there has been a Hall of Fame game in Canton every year since.

Both the Raiders and Eagles are appearing in the Hall of Fame Game for the third time. Oakland defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the 1979 game, and (as the L.A. Raiders) downed Green Bay in the 1993 contest. Philadelphia has split its Hall of Fame Game results, defeating Miami in the 1978 tilt and falling to the Jets in the 1992 edition of the game.