Close Calls - Preseason Week 2
By Joe Nelson
VegasInsider.com
Cincinnati Bengals (+1½) 30, Detroit Lions 14 (41½): A second quarter 60-yard interception return touchdown for the Bengals turned the tide in this game and Cincinnati also scored another touchdown with 12 seconds to go in the 1st half to pull away despite eventually being out-gained vs. Detroit. After 26 combined points in the 1st half a scoreless 3rd quarter put the game on pace to stay ‘under’ and a field goal early in the 4th quarter didn’t change that pace too significantly. A marginal punt handed the Bengals great field position inside of five minutes however and the Bengals added a touchdown to put the total at 36, within a touchdown of a rather high total by preseason standards. Behind preseason standout rookie Jake Rudock the Lions completed a 79-yard drive with under a minute to go to flip the over/under result.
New England Patriots (-3) 23, Chicago Bears 22 (41): The spread and the total result on this game flipped as time expired as a 23-11 New England lead heading into the fourth quarter was spoiled. Chicago added a field goal with about seven minutes to go in the game to cut the deficit to nine points and on the final play of the game two college quarterbacks connected for a 22-yard touchdown as Connor Shaw hit B.J. Daniels. The Bears had no chance to win outright but went for two anyway and converted to cost some Patriots backers a push and the touchdown was enough to send the game just ‘over’ the total. The yardage in the game was fairly close and New England benefitted from an interception late in the 1st quarter by former New England quarterback Brian Hoyer that handed the Patriots a 15-yard field to work with in what was the pivotal play of the game.
Minnesota Vikings (+2½) 18, Seattle Seahawks 11 (39): An 11-0 Minnesota lead through three quarters was matched by the Seahawks who scored 11 points early in the fourth quarter behind rookie Trevone Boykin as both teams succeeded on two-point conversions. Teams don’t like to go to overtime in the preseason and that looked like a serious possibility as the 4th quarter clock wound down but Marcus Sherels picked off Boykin and returned the interception 53 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute to go. After winning on a Hail Mary and a two-point conversion in Week 1 Seattle was in position to get another late win sitting with 1st and goal with 25 seconds to go but the Seahawks ran out of time. The spread and total results would not have changed with another late Seattle touchdown however as Seattle would have gone for two and either won or lost by a single point.
Washington Redskins (-3) 22, New York Jets 18 (38): This might wind up as the most memorable preseason game of the season from a betting perspective with a wild finish flipping the results and a high stakes two-point conversion at the end of the game. After a scoreless 1st quarter a safety gave the Jets a 2-0 lead despite Washington twice having the ball inside of the New York 10-yard line at that point in the game. Washington made amends with two touchdowns by the end of the first half to take a 14-2 lead and making those on the ‘under’ much less comfortable. New York added a touchdown and a field goal to climb within two points and sitting in position to cover early in the fourth quarter. Looking to take the lead the Jets squandered a 59-yard drive with a fumble in Washington territory with just over five minutes to go. New York’s defense forced a quick punt however and on 1st down Bryce Petty hit Robby Anderson for a long touchdown pass. The extra-point try was missed however and New York led by just four with less than four minutes to go in the game. Behind rookie Nate Sudfeld Washington went 84 yards to get the go-ahead touchdown with just 29 seconds left on the clock. Up by two Washington opted to go for two in a very unconventional move and a decision that would only be made in the preseason. The spread result and the total result for many ultimately hung on the balance of that play and Kendal Thompson caught a short pass from Sudfeld after having scored the touchdown as well to put Washington up by four and to put the total at or ‘over’ the total for most.
Carolina Panthers (-1) 26, Tennessee Titans 16 (39½): With 20 points at the half this game was on pace to finish right near the over/under number and that remained true after a Tennessee fumble handed the ball to Carolina inside the 10-yard line. Two plays later Carolina led 19-10, sitting in control heading into the fourth quarter. Down nine the Titans went for it on 4th and short outside of field goal range but in Carolina territory. That failure looked good for ‘under’ players but the Panthers completed a drive with seven points with six minutes to go in the game. Behind Alex Tanney the Titans converted a pair of big third downs on a final drive, eventually hitting the end zone on the first play after the two-minute warning to reach 42 points and slip just ‘over’ the number.
Baltimore Ravens (+2) 19, Indianapolis Colts 18 (39½): The Colts scored an early third quarter touchdown to trail 14-12 but the two-point conversion attempt failed. Baltimore extended the lead to 17-12 early in the fourth quarter with a field goal but inside of four minutes the Colts took the lead with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Stephen Morris. Up 18-17, the Colts opted to go for two as they would do in that situation in a regular season game as well. One of the more unique scoring plays in the game occurred next as Anthony Levine intercepted the pass and took it all the way down the field into the end zone, giving the Ravens two points and a one-point lead. Those on the spread and total still had to sweat out a 62-yard field goal attempt from Colts punter Pat McAfee as time expired but the kick was short.
San Francisco 49ers (+6) 31, Denver Broncos 24 (40): As the biggest underdog of the week the 49ers were in good shape leading 17-10 at the half but Denver tied the game late in the third quarter to leave both teams in the mix for the win and cover in the final frame. Led by recently signed quarterback Christian Ponder San Francisco had two touchdown drives to take a 31-17 lead, pushing the game ‘over’ in the process. Behind Paxton Lynch the Broncos would score to get back within seven in the final two minutes and getting the ball back the Broncos still had a shot before Lynch was intercepted with 36 seconds to go.
Los Angeles Rams (PK) 21, Kansas City Chiefs 20 (39½): The Chiefs took a 20-14 lead at the half with a pair of short field goals in the final minutes, leaving the late game Saturday on pace to fly ‘over’ the total. A scoreless third quarter kept the total scoring at 34 points but rookie Jared Goff delivered a touchdown drive for the Rams early in the fourth quarter, taking a 21-20 lead. The Chiefs would threaten late in the fourth quarter getting to the Los Angeles 11-yard line before being pushed back with a holding penalty and eventually fumbling as the Rams escaped with a one-point win for the second straight exciting finish in Los Angeles. The game also slipped just ‘over’ and those that backed the host late may have gotten a win with the spread falling from as high as -3 to a pick’em by game time.