NFL Preview – Week 1 – September 9, 2009
This time, it counts.
Not that we can’t enjoy spending the money we’ve already made off the NFL preseason. But the people around the water cooler probably weren’t all that keen about starting their office pool until this week – the start of the 2009 regular season.
It is what it is. Those of us who have been working the preseason will have the jump on the rest of the market when the inevitable injuries happen and those anonymous reserve players are pressed into service.Which brings us to the Denver Broncos, the first stop on our Week 1 betting preview.
The Brandstater Blues
It looked for a while like the Broncos would have to start rookie third-string QB Tom Brandstater on Sunday (1:00 p.m. Eastern, CBS) against the Cincinnati Bengals. But Kyle Orton practiced Tuesday for the first time in over a week and didn’t seem to be affected by the cut he suffered on his right index finger. All signs point toward Orton getting the start; if for some reason he can’t play, back-up Chris Simms (high ankle sprain) returned to duty this past Sunday and is reportedly good to go.
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The Broncos will also have top WR Brandon Marshall back in the fold after he was suspended for the last two games of the preseason. Both Orton (79.6 passer rating last year with the Chicago Bears) and Marshall (104 catches) are being treated with a disdain that masks their accomplishments on the field – good news for Broncos supporters with their team getting four points at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cassel’s Made of Sand
It appears the Kansas City Chiefs will have Matt Cassel (knee) under center when they kick off the 2009 campaign against the Baltimore Ravens. Cassel was a godsend last year for the New England Patriots, posting an 89.4 passer rating and guiding the Pats to an 11-5 record (9-7 ATS), although that wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs. It remains to be seen whether that will translate to the Chiefs system; new head coach Todd Haley was the offensive co-ordinator for the Arizona Cardinals in their march to the Super Bowl, so hopes are high in K.C.
It might take a while. The Chiefs were one of three teams to go 0-4 SU and ATS in the 2009 preseason – the Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers were the others. And the Chiefs have to travel to M&T Bank Stadium to play a Ravens juggernaut that went 4-0 (3-1 ATS). The Miami Dolphins (4-0 SU, 3-0-1 ATS) and Seattle Seahawks (4-0 SU and ATS) were the only other teams to go undefeated in exhibition play. Baltimore is a 13-point chalk with a total of 36.
Game of the Week: Washington Redskins at New York Giants
The NFC East is the center of the football universe, and Sunday afternoon’s marquee matchup (4:15 p.m. Eastern, FOX) has the Redskins laying 6.5 points to the Giants at Giants Stadium. Both teams are relatively healthy going into this contest. New York has owned this battle over the past three years, going 5-1 SU and ATS and driving the under to a 5-1 record with stifling defense.
Even with former defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo now in charge of the St. Louis Rams, it’ll be the Giants offense with something to prove this Sunday. Whatever you might think of Plaxico Burress the person, the wide receiver was a major part of their 2007 Super Bowl season, and his production has yet to be replaced. Not only that, Washington signed QB Andre’ Woodson to the practice squad after the Giants cut him over the weekend. Woodson is a valuable source of information on the Giants playbook – and the ‘Skins need all the help they can get after going 2-6 (1-5-2 ATS) in the second half of 2008.
Two-minute Drill
– Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini had yet to reveal his starting QB for Week 1 as we went to press, and he says he won’t tell anyone until kick-off against the Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1:00 p.m., FOX). For what it’s worth, the conventional media is leading us by referring to the two QBs in question as “Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.”
– The Buffalo Bills released starting left tackle Langston Walker on Tuesday. This was after firing offensive co-ordinator Turk Schonert on Friday. Suffice to say QB Trent Edwards will have his head on a swivel Monday night (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) against the Patriots, who are favored by 11 points at home. We’ll have live betting available on this game as well as the Redskins-Giants and many others. Check Bodog Sports for all the latest.
