NFL Preseason Schedule: Highlights
The NFL preseason is treated one of two ways by football bettors. Some fans ignore these tuneup games and believe they hold nothing of value for wagering the regular season.
Others are hungry for NFL action after a long summer and analyze every preseason tilt looking for an edge.
The NFL schedule makers have done a great job lining up intriguing matchups this August that, no matter how you view the preseason, beg to be watched – and wagered . . .
Hall of Fame Game:
Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans The preseason kicks off with Hall of Fame weekend. Buffalo Bills fans will get their first look at Terrell Owens, if only for a few plays. Owens and fellow wideout Lee Evans are a great tandem on the wing, but will only be as effective as QB Trent Edwards. Edwards is an accurate passer but has never put up big numbers and has also been tagged as injury prone.
Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers
This rematch of Super Bowl XLIII won’t have the same hoopla as the previous meeting between the reigning conference champions, but does carry some juicy storylines. The Cardinals have their fingers crossed that Kurt Warner can continue to dodge Father Time, but just in case they’ll get a solid look at backup Matt Leinart. The former Heisman winner will get the majority of the snaps in this preseason contest.
Week 2: Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns
On paper this game isn’t nearly as sexy as some of the other Week 2 matchups, but football fans will get a look at two of the NFL’s top prospects behind center. Lions rookie Matthew Stafford will be adjusting to life in the pros, while Browns third-year QB Brady Quinn will be trying to solidify his role as the team’s starter. This is also a meeting between last year’s best preseason squad (Detroit 4-0) and the worst (Cleveland 0-4).
Week 3: Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos
The boo birds will be out in flocks when Jay Cutler returns to the Mile High City. The former Broncos QB put up a fuss this offseason and was dealt to the Chicago Bears. Being Week 3, Cutler should play at least two quarters. He’s never been much for trash talk, and has shown a weakness for it in the past. Cutler’s arch rival, Chargers QB Philip Rivers, was infamous for getting inside Cutler’s head during meetings with the Broncos. Anything Rivers said will seem like pillow talk when compared to the verbal lashings Cutler will face in Denver.
Week 4: New York Giants at New England Patriots
Another Super Bowl rematch scheduled for the preseason should have a regular season feel. In the final weeks of warmups, the Giants will have hopefully weeded out a No. 1 receiver. After releasing Plaxico Burress, New York has a ton of average wideouts on the depth chart and are hoping guys like Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, or rookie Hakeem Nicks step up. On the other side of the field, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady should have most of the rust off after missing all of last season with a Week 1 knee injury. Brady will have his timing back with favorite target Randy Moss and No. 2 option Wes Welker. Moss had just over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2008 and is hoping the return of Brady will spark another 23-touchdown performance like two seasons ago.
5 replies on “Big NFL PreSeason Games”
Can’t wait for this one. Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos.
The NFL schedule makers have done a great job lining up intriguing matchups this year.
thanks
Detroit and Cleveland will also be interesting from the standpoint of seeing who actually wins.
While I know it is preseason and the games do not count, it is still important to build a winning mentality on teams that are used to losing all the time
I’ve been a life long Bronco fan and I believe that you are wrong in your statements about Cutler getting boo’d in Denver I think that McDaniels and Orton will be boo’d when Jay shows us first hand how much of an asset he is on the field. I for one will be cheering Jay on against the team that I have always loved. Too bad we’re now the laughing stock of the league.
Hey at least you’ve still got the Raiders and Chiefs in your division