Thursday's Preseason Tips
August 9, 2016
By Kevin Rogers
Redskins at Falcons (-3, 37) – 7:00 PM EST
Washington
Head Coach: Jay Gruden (6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, Nate Sudfeld (Rookie)
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Rick Snider
The Redskins have succeeded in the preseason in Gruden’s two seasons at the helm by winning six of eight games. Washington limited all four opponents last exhibition season to 17 points or less, while winning both of its road games at Cleveland and Baltimore. Gruden is unbeaten in two exhibition openers, while the Redskins own a 6-2 mark to the ‘under’ in their last eight preseason contests.
Atlanta
Head Coach: Dan Quinn (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Sean Renfree, Matt Simms
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: D. Orlando Ledbetter
The Falcons split their four preseason games in Quinn’s first season, as both victories came at home against the Titans and Ravens. Since 2011, Atlanta has compiled a 3-7 SU and 2-8 ATS at the Georgia Dome in the preseason, while winning two straight exhibition openers since losing the first preseason game from 2011 through 2013. The Falcons last played the Redskins in the preseason back in 2004 as Washington grabbed a 24-0 shutout.
Buccaneers at Eagles (-3, 37) – 7:00 PM EST
Tampa Bay
Head Coach: Dirk Koetter (No preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Jameis Winston, Mike Glennon, Ryan Griffin
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Scott Smith
Tampa Bay posted a 2-2 SU/ATS record in Winston’s rookie exhibition season. The Buccaneers dropped their opener at Minnesota, 26-16 in 2015, their third straight Week 1 exhibition setback. Winston failed to throw a touchdown pass in three games, but did rush for two scores.
Philadelphia
Head Coach: Doug Pederson (No preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel, Carson Wentz (Rookie), McLeod Bethel-Thompson
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Jeff McLane
The Carson Wentz era begins in Philadelphia, although the second overall pick in May’s draft won’t be starting in the preseason opener. Chip Kelly’s final preseason with the Eagles ended with a solid 3-1 SU/ATS record, while scoring at least 36 points in all three victories. With Pederson at the helm, there is no early indication on how he will treat the preseason, but the Eagles have fared well at home in exhibition action by posting a 9-1 SU and 8-1-1 ATS since 2011 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Jaguars at Jets (-2 ½, 36 ½) – 7:30 PM EST
Jacksonville
Head Coach: Gus Bradley (4-8 SU, 6-6 ATS preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Blake Bortles, Chad Henne, Brandon Allen (Rookie), Max Wittek (Rookie)
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Ryan O’Halloran
The Jaguars won more than one preseason game for the first time in Bradley’s three seasons with a 2-2 SU/ATS record in 2015. Jacksonville is riding a two-game winning streak in preseason openers, including a 23-21 home victory over Pittsburgh last August to barely cash as one-point favorites. The Jags have been a terrific ‘under’ team in the last two preseasons by going 7-1 to the ‘under,’ including a 4-0 mark on the road.
New York
Head Coach: Todd Bowles (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg (Rookie)
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Rich Cimini
Following a 23-3 drubbing at Detroit in Bowles’ preseason debut in 2015, the Jets won their final three exhibition contests to close at 3-1 SU/ATS. New York won both home games against the Falcons and Eagles, while also picking up a “road” win against the rival Giants at Met Life Stadium. The Jets are riding a seven-game losing streak in preseason openers with their last victory in Week 1 coming back in 2008.
Panthers at Ravens (-1 ½, 36 ½) – 7:30 PM EST
Carolina
Head Coach: Ron Rivera (11-9 SU, 11-9 ATS preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Joe Webb
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Joe Person
The defending NFC champions started strong in the preseason prior to a 15-1 regular season by putting together a 3-1 SU/ATS mark in exhibition play. The Panthers won each of their two road contests, including the opener at Buffalo as three-point underdogs, 25-24. Carolina owns a solid 5-2 ATS record as a preseason road underdog since 2012, while sailing ‘over’ the total in four consecutive exhibition openers.
Baltimore
Head Coach: John Harbaugh (20-12 SU, 19-13 ATS preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Joe Flacco, Ryan Mallett, Josh Johnson, Jerrod Johnson
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Jamison Hensley
The Ravens posted a perfect 4-0 SU/ATS record in the 2014 preseason, but dropped to 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS in the 2015 preseason. Last season, Baltimore captured its exhibition opener against New Orleans, but the offense didn’t score more than 19 points in any of its final three losses. Under Harbaugh, the Ravens have won four straight preseason openers, while scoring at least 30 points or more three times.
Saints at Patriots (-3 ½, 39 ½) – 7:30 PM EST
New Orleans
Head Coach: Sean Payton (19-18 SU, 21-16 ATS preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Drew Brees, Luke McCown, Garrett Grayson
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Larry Holder
Since Payton took over as coach of the Saints in 2006, New Orleans never put together a winless preseason. Until 2015. The Saints slumped to an 0-4 SU/ATS mark last August, while the defense allowed at least 26 points in all four defeats. New Orleans had won four consecutive preseason openers prior to a 30-27 defeat at Baltimore last August, while the Saints are winless in their last two preseason matchups against the Patriots with the two losses coming by a combined three points.
New England
Head Coach: Bill Belichick (46-39 SU, 42-36-7 ATS preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Ben Volin
The Patriots haven’t put much stock in their last two preseason openers by scoring a combined 17 points in losses to the Redskins (’14) and Packers (’15). Brady played two series in last year’s opening loss to Green Bay, while the New England star will see action in the preseason prior to serving his four-game regular season suspension. The Patriots won all four home games from 2013-14, but dropped each of their two contests at Gillette Stadium last preseason.
Broncos at Bears (-1, 35) – 8:00 PM EST
Denver
Head Coach: Gary Kubiak (22-14 SU, 22-12-2 ATS preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Mark Sanchez, Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch (Rookie)
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Cameron Wolfe
The Broncos begin their title defense in the post-Peyton Manning era with questions at the quarterback position. Defending Super Bowl champions have struggled in their first preseason game the following season, owning a 1-4 SU/ATS record the last five seasons (Giants only winner in 2012). The Broncos won each of their two preseason road games in Kubiak’s first season as coach, beating the Seahawks and Texans last August. Since 2012, Denver has won seven of its past eight exhibition contests away from the Mile High City, which includes a 6-1 ATS mark as a road underdog.
Chicago
Head Coach: John Fox (31-25 SU, 27-28-1 ATS preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, David Fales, Connor Shaw
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Zach Zaidman
All three of Chicago’s wins last preseason came by double-digits, including a 27-10 rout of Miami in the opener. The Bears’ defense stepped up by allowing 11 points or less three times, while the ‘under’ went 3-0-1 in Fox’s first exhibition campaign. Chicago has won six of its previous seven home exhibition games, but were blown out the last time it faced Denver in the preseason, 31-3 in Manning’s Broncos’ debut in 2012.