More playing time for NFL starters means more points
By Lee Kostroski
The NFL preseason is kind of like a build up to opening night for a Broadway show. Week 1 is like a run-through: There’s not a lot of detail, it’s more about getting familiar with the script, or in this case the playbook.
The first-string unit doesn’t see much action until second week. Let’s call it a cue to cue dry run. The third week of preseason, which we’re now entering, is the full dress rehearsal. Coaches normally leave their starters on the field for the first three quarters which is normally the last action the starters will see until the regular season.
Points are usually hard to come by in the first two weeks of preseason.
The average total of Week 1 games was just 34.3 points per game and increased to 36 points per game in Week 2. Oddly enough, the scores traditionally haven’t continued to increase in Week 3 despite more playing time for the starting offenses. The average third-week totals have decreased from 39.4 points per game in 2003, to 33.1 points in 2006, and back up slightly to 34 points in 2008.
There are some NFL starters who may not be able to participate in this week’s dress rehearsal:
• Carson Palmer again missed practice on Sunday, still recovering from a high ankle sprain that he suffered in a Week 1 loss to the Saints. It is looking more and more likely that he will miss Thursday’s game against St. Louis.
• The Eagles have a whole flock of injuries that they are dealing with. Trent Cole, Stacy and Shawn Andrews, Brian Westbrook, Sheldon Brown, Omar Gaither and Jason Peters are all battling injuries and could miss Thursday night’s matchup with the Jaguars. Michael Vick will overshadow any injury news surrounding the Eagles with the troubled QB making his first appearance.
• The Green Bay Packers have been one of the most impressive teams this preseason. But head coach Mike McCarthy has a history of going against the norm and not playing his starters the usual three quarters. Keep that in mind before placing your wager in the Green Bay-Arizona game this weekend.
• Brett Favre (fits the role of a Broadway diva, doesn’t he?) had an uneventful debut for the Vikings. He was 1-4 for 4 yards in very limited action. Coach Brad Childress expects Favre to play the entire first half this week.
• Ben Roethlisberger didn’t play against the Redskins and remains questionable for the upcoming game against the Bills. Charlie Batch started against the Redskins with Dennis Dixon and Mike Reilly backing the veteran up.
• The Panthers defense took another hit last weekend after starting MLB Jon Beason went down with a knee injury. Carolina is already without regular starters Thomas Davis and Ma’ake Kemoeatu.