What Bettors Need to Know: Thursday's NFL Preseason Action
By Covers.com
Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons (-4.5, 38)
The Bengals limp into Week 2 of the preseason after suffering some key injuries.
Left guard Travelle Wharton suffered a season-ending knee injury early into the Week 1 preseason win over the New York Jets and the team is looking to either second-year man Clint Boling or third-year practice squad player Otis Hudson to fill that spot.
Second-year quarterback Andy Dalton could be under fire if there are holes in the pass protection. Dalton went 4 for 9 for a total of 54 yards in the preseason opener while the Bengals offense mustered just 213 yards and a rushing touchdown.
"This game, we've got to go out, we've got to keep doing things, try to move the ball," Dalton told reporters of Thursday’s game plan. "When we have chances to make big plays, we've got to make them and capitalize on every opportunity we get."
Cincinnati will also be without linebacker Rey Maualuga, defensive end Carlos Dunlap, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and safety Taylor Mays, who all suffered injuries in Week 1 of the preseason.
The Falcons got rolled in their preseason opener, falling 31-17 as 1-point favorites to the Baltimore Ravens after jumping out to a 14-0 start.
Starting QB Matt Ryan got a good workout, throwing for 155 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 9-of-15 passing. However, once the starters hit the bench in the second half, Atlanta’s reserves coughed the ball up three times.
Julio Jones and Roddy White are quickly becoming the premier receiving tandem in the NFC and dynamic running back Jacquizz Rodgers showed his speed on offense and special teams. New offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is exploiting that speed with a regular three wide receiver set.
“That three-wide receiver set, one tight end and one back has been good for us in the past,” Ryan told reporters. “We’ve got talented guys to fill out those positions. It will probably be something that we use.”
The Falcons lost a big cog in their rushing game when rookie full back Bradie Ewing suffered a season-ending knee injury versus the Ravens. Atlanta signed veteran FB Lousaka Polite to take his place.
Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers (-3, 40.5)
The Browns opened their preseason slate with a 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions as 3-point underdogs in Week 1.
Cleveland is leaning towards a heavier work load for its starters this Thursday. This increase in action is because the Browns take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 of the preseason then turn around and face them in Week 1 of the regular season and don’t want to tip their hand.
Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, who passed for 62 yards with an interception and a fumble in the preseason opener, may be one of the few players not having their minutes extended. Head coach Pat Shurmur doesn’t want to mix up his first and second strings too much, claiming “the game gets a little sloppy at times.”
Cleveland will continue to take a solid look at its options in the backfield, with rookie running back and first-round pick Trent Richardson on the mend after knee surgery. Running backs Chris Ogbonnaya, Brandon Jackson and Adonis Thomas got the bulk of the carries in Week 1 of the preseason, with Cleveland marching for 120 rushing yards on 30 carries. Montario Hardesty is penciled in as the starter with Richardson out, but only ran four times for 16 yards Friday.
The Packers took one on the chin in their preseason debut, losing 21-13 to the San Diego Chargers as 2.5-point underdogs.
Green Bay got a scare from running back James Starks, who left Thursday’s game with a turf toe injury. He’ll miss only a week of action but didn’t look sharp before leaving the field, rushing for just 16 yards with a dropped pass and a fumble. That prompted the Packers to sign RB Cedric Benson to bolster the running game. Benson has had his share of off-field troubles but told the media he’s a changed man.
Bettor could see a lot of Benson and the running game with Aaron Rodgers’ top two threats on the sidelines. Receiver Greg Jennings is expected to miss Thursday’s game while recovering from a concussion and tight end Jermichael Finley is doubtful with a bruised quadriceps.
Randall Cobb was the top target against the Chargers, reeling in four catches for 58 yards and second-quarter touchdown from backup Graham Harrell. Harrell is expected to get another long stint under center Thursday.
"I think it’s very important to see as much of Graham Harrell as we possibly can," head coach Mike McCarthy told the media. "That’s where he is in his development. He doesn’t have a lot of playing time under his belt. Really last year is the most significant time he was able to have in a preseason.
"So I feel like he’s a little behind as far as opportunities based on his age and how long he’s been out of college but also No. 1 is Aaron. We have to make sure he gets his allotted work and make sure the No. 1 offense is where we feel we need to be up to the second preseason game."
Rodgers was ushered out quickly after going just 2 for 8 for 16 yards and an interception, caused by a hard hit, in Week 1 of the preseason. Problems on the offensive line have the Packers playing it safe with the face of the franchise. Rodgers may playing limited minutes Thursday.
NFL Preseason Week 2 Preview: Cincinnati at Atlanta
Atssportsline.com
Cincinnati at Atlanta
Current line: Atlanta (-4.5/38)
The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals meet on Friday from Georgia Dome at 7:30pmET. The Bengals (-1.5/34) defeated the Jets in their opener, 17-6, while Atlanta (-1/35) fell at home to Baltimore, 31-17 last week.
Weather: Dome
Cincinnati is coming off a 9-7 SU season, and they were 8-6-2 ATS and 10-6 Over. Last year, they went 1-3 ATS in the preseason. Marvin Lewis is 18-19 SU, 17-20 ATS and 19-18 Over in preseason. Atlanta is coming off a 10-6 SU season and were 8-8 ATS and 7-9 Under. Last year, they went 1-3 ATS in the preseason while Mike Smith is 9-7 ATS, 6-10 SU and 6-10 Under in preseason.
The Bengals have most of the pieces of the puzzle. QB Andy Dalton showed he can thrive as a starter in his first year and WR A.J. Green looks like a perennial Pro Bowler. The running game adds BenJarvus Green-Ellis, though he might not be as effective without a Tom Brady and the threat of a high-powered passing offense.
Atlanta was sixth against the run (97ypg) and will have a new defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan. He needs to improve a pass defense that has been ranked in the 20s the last four seasons.The addition of CB Asante Samuel should be a big boost.
Outlook: The Bengals come into this game limping with starting RBs Bernard Scott and BenJarvus Green-Ellis both out due to injuries. The O-line is also beat up as well with LG Travelle Wharton (knee) out for the year. Atlanta is coming off a strong first half performance against the Ravens, where they put up 14 points on Baltimore's first-team defense. QB Matt Ryan and company is expected to go 20-25 plays.
Atlanta's offense was rolling early on in last Thursday's opener against the Baltimore Ravens, with quarterback Matt Ryan engineering touchdown drives of 80 and 85 yards that gave the Falcons a 14-point lead less than a minute into the second quarter. The second half was a different result, however, as the Ravens forced three Atlanta turnovers and scored 24 unanswered points to come away with a 31-17 victory.
Cincinnati has some injury issues as well (look below). Rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, the Bengals' first pick in this past April's draft, is also presently on the shelf due to a reported fractured bone in his knee.
Cincinnati's defense was still effective despite the depletions, limiting the Jets to a mere 173 total yards and 11 first downs while recording five sacks, with reserve linebacker Dontay Moch coming up with 1 1/2 sacks and forcing a fumble on the evening.
Injuries: Cincinnati: RB B. Green-Ellis (foot) is out. RB Bernard Scott (hamstring) is out for the preseason. DE Robert Geathers (knee) is out for preseason. Starting LB Rey Maualuga (knee) is also out along with back up DE Carlos Dunlap. Atlanta:
FB Bradie Ewing (knee) is out for the year. MLB Akeem Dent (concussion) is out
Preseason Trends:
Atlanta is 9-1 ATS as faves off DD ATS loss.
Cincinnati is 2-7 ATS as dogs vs. opponent off DD SU loss
Cincinnati is 9-21 ATS off an ATS win.
QB Rotations:
Atlanta
Matt Ryan
Chris Redman
John Parker-Wilson
Dominique Davis (R)
Cincinnati
Andy Dalton
Bruce Gradkowski
Zac Robinson
Tyler Hansen (R)
NFL Preseason Logs Last 6 Years
CINCINNATI (AT)
2006 Results
WASH. W +1 19-3 u35'
at Buffalo W +3' 44-31 o34'
G. BAY W -5' 48-17 o42
at Indianapolis W -3 20-3 u40
2007 Results
at Detroit W +3 26-27 o34'
NEW ORL. L -3' 19-27 o38
at Atlanta L -3 19-24 o38'
INDY W -4' 14-6 u40
2008 Results
at Green Bay W +3 20-17 o36
DETROIT L -3' 10-27 o36
NEW ORL. L +2' 0-13 u42
at Indianapolis W +3 27-7 u34'
2009 Results
at New Orleans L +3 7-17 u37
at New England W +6’ 7-6 u36
ST. LOUIS L -2’ 21-24 o34
INDIANAPOLIS W -3’ 38-7 o36’
2010 Results
Dallas L -3 7-16 u33’
at Canton, Ohio
DENVER W -3’ 33-24 o33
PHILADLEPHIA W -2’ 22-9 u39
at Buffalo L -3 20-35 o35’
at Indianapolis L -6’ 30-28 o36’
2011 Results
at Detroit L +3’ 3-34 o35
at NY Jets L -6’ 7-27 u36
CAROLINA W -3 24-13 o34
INDIANAPOLIS L -3’ 13-17 u35’
ATLANTA (AT)
2006 Results
NEW ENG. N -3 26-23 o35'
at Green Bay L +3 10-38 o36
at Tennessee W P 20-6 u38
J'VILLE L -4' 17-20 o36
2007 Results
at NY Jets L +3' 16-31 o32'
at Buffalo W +3 13-10 u34
CINCY W +3 24-19 o38'
BALT. W +3' 13-10 u34
2008 Results
at Jacksonville W +4 17-20 o34
INDY L -3 9-16 u38
TENN. W -3 17-3 u35
at Baltimore W +2' 10-9 u33'
2009 Results
at Detroit W +3’ 26-27 o34’
at St. Louis W -2’ 20-13 u36
SAN DIEGO W -2’ 27-24 o42’
BALTIMORE L -3 3-20 u35’
2010 Results
KANSAS CITY W -2’ 20-10 u34
NEW ENGLAND L -3 10-28 o37’
at Miami W +2’ 16-6 u38’
at Jacksonville L +3 9-13 u37’
2011 Results
MiIAMII L -2 23-28 o33’
at Jacksonville W +3 13-15 u37’
at Pittsburgh L +3 16-34 o35’
BALTIMORE L -3 7-21 u38
NFL Preseason Week 2 Preview: Cleveland at Green Bay
Atssportsline.com
Cleveland at Green Bay
Current line: Green Bay (-3/40)
Cleveland is at Green Bay at 8pmET from Lambeau Field on Thursday night. The Browns are coming off beating Detroit, 19-17, getting 3. Green Bay is is coming a 21-13 loss at San Diego getting 2. Cleveland defeated Green Bay in the first game of the 2011 preseason, 27-24 getting 3.
Weather: 65 degrees, partly cloudy
The Browns are coming off another disappointing 5-11 SU season, they were 7-7-2 ATS and 5-11 Under. Last year, they went 1-3 ATS in the preseason. Pat Shurmur is in his second season as head coach and went 1-3 ATS, 1-3 SU and 3-1 Over his first year. Green Bay is coming off a 15-1 season that ended against the New York Giants in the playoffs (37-20) at home. They also went 11-5 ATS and were 11-5 Over. Last year, they went 1-2-1 ATS in the preseason and Mike McCarthy is 12-12 SU, 12-11-1 ATS and 19-5 Over in preseason.
Outlook: The Cleveland Browns drafted Trent Richardson out of Alabama to be their franchise back. Unfortunately, Richardson has already had two "scopes" and will miss most of preseason. QB Brandon Weeden was a later first-round pick and will play more than he did last week. He has a big arm and turns 29 in October. CB Joe Haden is one of the top corners in the AFC but might miss the first four games due to a suspension.
Green Bay will be without many key starters in this game including Greg Jennings (head) and CB Charles Woodson. The Packers allowed 299.8ypg in the air last year, which was last in the NFL. They didn't do much in free agency and drafted CB Casey Hayward (Vanderbilt) and SS Jerron McMillan (Maine) to help the secondary
The Packers averaged a league-best 35 points per game and ranked third overall in both total offense and passing yards during last year's banner 15-1 regular season, with Rodgers the runaway winner of the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award after throwing for 4,643 yards and a franchise-record 45 touchdowns. He and the unit were mostly out of sync in last week's 21-13 loss at San Diego, however, with the first team turning the ball over twice in its three possessions and going three-and-out on the other.
Rodgers completed just 2-of-8 passes for 16 yards and was intercepted once while also losing a fumble. As a team, Green Bay had four giveaways for the game.
The Packers were able to bolster the running back corps by signing three-time 1,000-yard rusher Cedric Benson on Sunday, though the seven-year veteran probably won't be ready to contribute this week.
Graham Harrell, elevated to the primary backup quarterback role following Matt Flynn's free-agent departure in the offseason, had a decent performance in relief of Rodgers, hitting on 15-of-27 throws for 135 yards and hooking up with Randall Cobb for a three-yard touchdown pass late in the first half.
Green Bay has been mentioned as a potential suitor for Colt McCoy, now the No. 2 signal-caller in Cleveland after the Browns' first-round selection of Brandon Weeden in April's draft. The possible trade candidate was a sharp 6- of-8 for 88 yards while adding a 20-yard scramble after following Weeden in Friday's 19-17 victory at Detroit.
Seneca Wallace threw a 12-yard touchdown strike to rookie fullback Brad Smelley midway through the third quarter to help Cleveland rally from a 14-3 deficit, while fourth-stringer Thaddeus Lewis directed a pair of late scoring drives that accounted for the game's last 10 points.
Weeden completed only 3-of-9 passes for 62 yards with an interception and a lost fumble while operating the first three possessions. Weeden is expected to play the entire half on Thursday.
Wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi may not suit up on Thursday after being concussed against the Lions, with 2012 second-round supplemental choice Josh Gordon moving into the starting lineup if he can't go.
Key Injuries: Cleveland: RB T.Richardson (knee) is out. WR Mohammed Massquoi (concus) is dbtful. LB D'Qwell Jackson (shldr) is ? LB Chris Gocong (Achilles) is out for the season. DT Phil Taylor (pec) is expected to miss the first two months. Green Bay: ILB Desmond Bishop (torn hamstring, sprained knee) and CB Davon House (dislocated shoulder) are out indef. WR Greg Jennings (concussion) is out indef. TE Jermichael Finley (quad), RB James Starks (turf toe) are dbtful.
Preseason Trends:
Green Bay is 5-1 ATS in Week 2
Green Bay is 19-4 Over in Week 2
Green Bay is 30-12 Over as a favorite
Cleveland is 1-5 ATS off a non-conference game
Cleveland is 9-2 ATS as dogs vs. opponent off SU/ATS loss.
QB Rotations:
Cleveland
Brandon Weeden
Colt McCoy
Seneca Wallace
Thaddeus Lewis
Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers
Graham Harrell
B.J. Coleman
NFL Preseason Logs Last 6 Years
CLEVELAND
2006 Results
at Philadelphia L +3' 7-20 u33
DETROIT W -2' 20-16 o34
at Buffalo W +3' 20-17 o34'
CHICAGO L -3 7-20 u33'
2007 Results
K. CITY W -3 16-12 u34'
DETROIT L -2' 20-23 o35'
at Denver W +6 17-16 u37
at Chicago W +4 19-9 u37
2008 Results
NY JETS L -4 20-24 o35
at NY Giants L +2 34-37 o36
at Detroit L +2' 6-26 u41
CHICAGO L -2' 10-16 u38
2009 Results
at Green Bay L +3 0-17 u35
DETROIT W -3 27-10 u38’
TENNESSEE W -1 23-17 o37’
at Chicago L +2’ 23-26 o36
2010 Results
at Green Bay W +3 27-24 o34
ST. LOUIS L -4 17-19 o35’
at Detroit L +3 27-35 o41
CHICAGO W +1’ 13-10 u37
2011 Results
GREEN BAY W +3 27-24 o34
DETROIT L -2’ 28-30 o38
at Philadelphia L +6’ 14-24 u39
at Chicago L pk 14-24 o36
GREEN BAY
2006 Results
at San Diego L +3’ 3-17 u35
Atlanta W -3 38-10 o36
at Cincinnati L +5’ 17-48 o42
Tennessee L p 21-35 o36
2007 Results
at Pittsburgh W +6’ 13-9 u34’
Seattle W -3 48-13 o35’
Jacksonville L +3 13-21 u37
at Tennessee L +7 14-30 o37
2008 Results
CINCINNATI L -3 17-20 o36
at San Fran. L -1 6-34 o35
at Denver W +3 27-24 o38
TENN. W +6' 21-23 o36
2009 Results
CLEVELAND W -3 17-0 u35
BUFFALO W -3 31-21 o38
at Arizona W +3’ 44-37 o41’
at Tennessee L +3’ 13-27 o36’
2010 Results
CLEVELAND L -3 24-27 o34
at Seattle W +2’ 27-24 o40’
INDIANAPOLIS W -4 59-24 o44’
at Kansas City P +4 13-17 u40’
2011 Results
at Cleveland L +2’ 17-27 o35
ARIZONA W -5 28-20 o39
at Indianapolis L -9’ 24-21 o38’
KANSAS CITY T -1 20-19 o37