NFL Preseason Week 3 Preview: Green Bay at Cincinnati
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Green Bay at Cincinnati
Current line: Green Bay (-3/45)
Green Bay visits Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati looking for the first win on Thursday at 7pmET. The Packers have lost both preseason games including last week's 35-10 home loss against Cleveland. The Bengals are 2-0 after beating Atlanta, 24-19 last week.
Weather: 79% and 5% chance of rain.
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. 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 Green Bay Packers will try once again to get a derailed offense back on track when Aaron Rodgers and the Pack head to Paul Brown Stadium to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in a key preseason clash between 2011 playoff participants.
The Packers had one of the NFL's most proficient offenses in building a league-best 15-1 record a season ago, but the unit has been anything but in sync through the first two games of this year's exhibition schedule. Green Bay has turned the ball over an uncharacteristic eight times in losses to San Diego and Cleveland and managed a scant 228 total yards and 10 first downs in its mistake-filled 35-10 setback to the Browns last week at Lambeau Field.
Rodgers established a new NFL best for quarterback rating in a season en route to claiming the league's Most Valuable Player Award for 2011, but the normally pinpoint passer has been well off the mark thus far. He's completed just 8- of-19 throws for 75 yards in Green Bay's two defeats, though he did connect with wide receiver Jordy Nelson for a 20-yard touchdown on the Pack's opening drive of last Thursday's contest.
Green Bay's struggling offense will get an extended chance to correct itself in this week's matchup, with head coach Mike McCarthy planning to play his starters for at least the first half. The Packers are also expected to get a pair of key cogs back in the mix, with standout receiver Greg Jennings (concussion) and tight end Jermichael Finley (strained thigh) both ready to go after sitting out the first two warm-up tilts.
The group could also get a boost from the anticipated Green Bay debut of running back Cedric Benson, signed by the Packers less than two weeks ago. The veteran is certainly no stranger to Paul Brown Stadium, having spent the last four seasons with the Bengals, and he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for rushing yards in each of his final three years in Cincinnati.
Benson could be in line for plenty of work against his former team, with fellow back James Starks to sit out a second straight outing for Green Bay because of a turf toe injury.
The Packers' defense will be minus two notables in inside linebacker Desmond Bishop, likely out for the entire 2012 season after tearing a hamstring in the Aug. 9 opener at San Diego, and young cornerback Davon House (shoulder).
Cincinnati moved the ball somewhat better in its last game, with starting quarterback Andy Dalton and backup Bruce Gradkowski each firing touchdown passes to lead the way in a 24-19 victory at Atlanta last Thursday.
Dalton found second-year sensation A.J. Green for a 50-yard score early in the first quarter and finished his night 8-of-14 for 125 yards. Gradkowski was 4- of-16 for 17 yards, most of which came on a 12-yard touchdown strike to rookie receiver Mohamed Sanu, in a brief relief stint.
The Bengals prevailed despite a banged-up secondary permitting 391 net passing yards on the evening. Cincinnati was playing without rookie first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) as well as cornerbacks Adam Jones and Jason Allen (both injuries undisclosed), none of whom are slated to suit up for Thursday's game.
Defensive ends Carlos Dunlap and Robert Geathers also remain sidelined for the Bengals with knee issues, while middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (knee) is questionable after also sitting out the Atlanta game. On offense, expect tight end Jermaine Gresham (knee) and running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (foot) on the Cincinnati inactive list.
The Bengals own an 11-4-1 advantage in their all-time preseason series with Green Bay and have won the last five such meetings between the clubs, including a 20-17 triumph at Lambeau Field in 2008 that was best remembered as Rodgers' first-ever start in place of a just-traded Brett Favre. The Packers haven't bested Cincinnati in preseason play since a 41-27 decision in Milwaukee in 1982.
Cincinnati also came out on top in its most recent regular-season encounter with the Packers, a 31-24 verdict at Paul Brown Stadium in 2009.
Key Injuries: Green Bay: RB James Starks (toe) is out indef. LB Desmond Bishop (ham) was placed on the IR. Cincy: LB Rey Mauluga (rest), TE Jermaine Gresham (knee), RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (foot) are out. DE Carlos Dunlap (knee) is out 2-3 weeks. LB Vontaze Burflict (concuss) is ? CB Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) is dbtful.
Preseason Trends:
Green Bay is 31-12 Over as a favorite
Cincinnati is 1-6 ATS off a win by 6 points or less
Cincinnati is 6-1 OVER in Week 3.
QB Rotations:
Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers
Graham Harrell
B.J. Coleman
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’
2012 Results
NY Jets W -1' 17-6 u34
at Atlanta W +4' 24-19 o38
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
2012 Results
at San Diego L +2.5 13-21 u38'
Cleveland L -3 10-35 o40
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NFL Preseason Week 3 Preview: Jacksonville at Baltimore
Atssportsline.com
Jacksonville at Baltimore
Current line: Baltimore (-6'/41)
Jacksonville visits M& T Bank Stadium in Baltimore to take on the Ravens on Thursday at 7:30pmET. The Jags have won both preseason games, while Baltimore split both games, including a home loss to Detroit last week, 27-12. Last season, Jacksonville upset Baltimore at home in 12-7 in the regular season, getting 10.
Weather: 77 degrees and 14% chance of rain.
Jacksonville is coming off a 5-11 SU season, and they were 7-9 ATS and 5-11 Under. Last year, they went 0-1-3 ATS in the preseason. Mike Mularkey is 3-5 SU with Buffalo, 3-5 ATS and 5-3 Over. Baltimore is coming off a 12-4 season that ended with a dropped pass in the end zone against New England in the conference semifinals. They also went 8-7-1 ATS and were 9-7 Over. Last year, they went 2-2 in the preseason and John Harbaugh is 11-5 SU, 9-7 ATS and 5-11 Under in the preseason.
Outlook: The absence of Maurice Jones-Drew has yet to affect the Jacksonville Jaguars, who'll be shooting for a third straight win of this 2012 preseason when they visit the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Jones-Drew, the NFL's individual rushing champion last year, remains away from the Jaguars as the All-Pro running back continues to engage in a protracted contract dispute with the organization. Jacksonville has so far gotten along just fine without its star holdout, however, with capable understudy Rashad Jennings having spearheaded a new-look ground attack that's averaged a healthy 163 yards over the team's first two efforts.
Jennings amassed a game-high 62 yards on 11 carries and the Jaguars ran for 170 yards as a group in Friday's 27-24 victory at New Orleans, a game that also marked an impressive pro debut from Jacksonville wide receiver Justin Blackmon.
The fifth overall selection in this past draft, Blackmon missed the early stages of training camp and the Jaguars' preseason-opening win over the New York Giants after signing late, but the talented 22-year-old didn't look too behind in hauling in four Blaine Gabbert passes for 48 yards on the evening. The two first-round picks also connected on a 16-yard score to cap Jacksonville's initial drive.
Gabbert, the Jaguars' top choice in the 2011 draft who endured a trying rookie campaign, threw for another touchdown later on and went a very sharp 13-of-16 for 112 yards before exiting at halftime. The young triggerman has so far completed 69.2 percent (18-of-26) of his attempts for 174 yards and three scores with no interceptions over the preseason's first two weeks.
The 22-year-old's strong numbers on Friday came without the help of Jones-Drew as well as the starting left side of Jacksonville's offensive line, as tackle Eugene Monroe (concussion) and guard Will Rackley (ankle) were both declared inactive against the Saints. Neither is expected to suit up for Thursday's contest as well.
Rookie Andre Branch, the Jaguars' second-round pick in April's draft, continues to start in Lane's place and had a half-sack in the New Orleans game.
Baltimore's vaunted defense will be attempting to bounce back from an unusually poor display in front of the home crowd a week ago, when the Ravens were lit up for 507 total yards and 341 through the air in Friday's 27-12 setback to Detroit.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford piled up 184 yards and two touchdowns, including an 18-yard strike to game-changing wideout Calvin Johnson, before exiting midway through the second quarter. Johnson burned the Ravens for 111 yards on five catches in the All-Pro's shortened appearance as well.
Much of Detroit's damage did come after Baltimore pulled its starters shortly after the first quarter, however. The Ravens will be working their regulars for at least the opening half of Thursday's tilt, viewed as the primary "dress-rehearsal" for the regular season.
That list still won't include 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, sidelined until at least November with a torn Achilles tendon, or tight ends Ed Dickson (shoulder) and Dennis Pitta (broken hand). Speedy wide receiver Torrey Smith appears to be on track to play for Baltimore, though, after missing last week's bout with a sprained ankle.
Key Injuries: Jacksonville: CB Derek Cox (calf), Clint Session (concus), OLB Daryl Smith (groin), G Will Rackley (ankle), DE Austen Lane (ankle) and TE Zach Miller (pectorals) among those out for this week's game. RB Maurice Jones-Drew (hldout) is out. OT Eugene Monroe (cocus) is dbtful. .Baltimore: WR Torrey Smith (ankle) is ? TE Ed Dickson (shldr) and TE Dennis Pitta (hand) are out for preseason. OLB Terrell Suggs (Achilles) is out until November.
Preseason Trends:
Jacksonville is 13-3 ATS away with a total of 35.5 to 42 points
Jacksonville is 11-2 ATS away off an ATS win
Jacksonville is 5-0-1 ATS in Week 3
Baltimore is 8-15 Under off an ATS loss
Baltimore is 0-4 Under in Week 3
QB Rotations:
Jacksonville
Blaine Gabbert
Chad Henne
Jordan Palmer
Nathan Enderle
Baltimore
Joe Flacco
Tyrod Taylor
Curtis Painter
Chester Stewart (R)
NFL Preseason Logs Last 6 Years
Jacksonville
2006 Results
at Miami W +1 31-26 o33
Carolina L -2’ 10-17 u34’
Tampa Bay W -3 29-18 o33’
at Atlanta W +4’ 20-17 o38
2007 Results
at Miami L -1’ 17-18 o34
Tampa Bay W -4’ 31-19 o35
at Green Bay W -3 21-13 u37
Washington W -3’ 31-14 o35
2008 Results
ATLANTA L -4 20-17 o34
MIAMI L -3' 14-19 u35
at Tampa Bay W -3 23-17 o35
at Washington W +3 24-3 u34
2009 Results
at Miami T +3 9-12 u33
TAMPA BAY L -3 23-24 o34
at Philadelphia W +7’ 32-33 o37’
WASHINGTON W -6’ 24-17 o35
2010 Results
at Philadelphia W +3 27-28 o33
MIAMI L -1’ 26-27 o35’
at Tampa Bay W -3 19-13 u37
ATLANTA W -3 13-9 u37’
2011 Results
at New England L +3’ 12-47 o35
ATLANTA L -3 15-13 u37
at Buffalo T +3 32-35 o35’
ST. LOUIS L -3 17-24 o37’
2012 Results
NY Giants L -2 32-31 o35
at New Orleans W +6' 27-24 o39'
BALTIMORE (AT)
2006 Results
NY GIANTS L -3 16-17 u34
PHIL. W -3 20-10 u34
at Minnesota L +2' 7-30 o35'
at Washington W -1 17-10 u33
2007 Results
PHIL. W -3' 29-3 o31'
NY GIANTS L -3' 12-13 u33'
at Wash. Cancelld 3Q 7-13
at Atlanta L -3' 10-13 u34
2008 Results
at New England W +4 16-15 u34
MINN. L -1' 15-23 o34'
at St. Louis L +1 10-24 u34'
ATLANTA L -2' 9-10 u33'
2009 Results
WASHINGTON W -3 23-0 u31’
NY JETS L +3 24-23 o33
at Carolina W +3 17-13 u36
at Atlanta W +3 20-3 u35’
2010 Results
CAROLINA W -4’ 17-12 u34
at Washington W +3 23-3 u37’
NY GIANTS W -3’ 24-10 u38’
at St. Louis L +3 21-27 o38
2011 Results
at Philadelphia L +3 6-13 u34
KANSAS CITY W -7 31-13 o32’
WASHINGTON L -6 34-31 o33’
at Atlanta W +3 21-7 u38
2012 Results
at Atlanta W +3 31-17 o35
Detroit L -2' 12-27 u40
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NFL Preseason Week 3 Preview: Arizona at Tennessee
Atssportsline.com
Arizona at Tennessee
Current Line: Tennessee (-3/42')
Arizona takes on Tennessee takes on Thursday at 8pmET from LP Field in Nashville. Arizona has lost all three of their preseason games against the spread, but did win last week's game over Oakland, 31-27 (giving 6). Tennessee split their first two games, but did win last week's game at Tampa Bay, 30-7 getting 2.
Weather: 78 degrees and clear.
Arizona was 8-8 SU, 7-7-2 ATS and 7-9 Under last year. They also went 2-1-1 ATS last year in preseason. Ken Whisenhunt is 7-13 SU, 8-11-1 ATS and 10-7 Over in preseason. The Titans are coming off a 9-7 SU season, they were 7-9 ATS and 6-10 Under. Last year, they went 2-2 ATS in the preseason. Mike Munchak, in his second season, is 3-1 SU, 1-3 ATS and 1-3 Under in preseason.
Outlook: The Tennessee Titans solved their quarterback woes. Head coach Mike Munchak chose upside over experience when the Titans' second-year head coach announced on Monday that youngster Jake Locker would be the starter under center for the team's Sept. 9 regular-season opener against New England. The 2011 first-round draft choice, who attempted only 66 passes as a rookie reserve, is getting the nod over grizzled vet Matt Hasselbeck, the owner of 147 career starts and who opened all 16 games for Tennessee last season.
Locker was tabbed in spite of a rough outing in the Titans' 30-7 rout of Tampa Bay this past Friday. The athletic 24-year-old completed just four of his 11 throws for a mere 21 yards and was intercepted once while directing the offense for nearly all of the first half.
Hasselbeck went 4-for-5 for 29 yards after relieving Locker late in the second quarter, albeit against a Tampa defense comprised mostly of second-stringers.
Locker and Tennessee's starters are set to work into the third quarter of Thursday's matchup, though the up-and-coming gunslinger still won't have the services of top wide receiver Kenny Britt, who remains on the mend from a series of offseason knee surgeries.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt has yet to officially declare a No. 1 quarterback for his team's Week 1 bout with Seattle, though indications suggest that John Skelton has the clear inside track on pre-camp favorite Kevin Kolb for that post.
Kolb delivered a third straight bland outing in Friday's 27-17 victory over Oakland, mustering a meager 22 yards on 3-of-6 passing and taking three sacks, one of which resulted in a safety. The 2011 trade acquisition has produced a 15.1 quarterback rating in Arizona's three preseason efforts, having hit on only 5-of-15 attempts for 47 yards with an interception.
Skelton, on the other hand, went 3-for-3 for 23 yards in his lone possession of the night and capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown toss to fullback Anthony Sherman. He'll be drawing the starting assignment on Thursday and is slated to play into the third quarter, perhaps a strong clue as to what direction Whisenhunt is leaning in the race.
While Arizona may be feeling a bit better about the quarterback position following Skelton's short but solid showing against the Raiders, the offensive line looms as a major concern after starting left tackle Levi Brown tore his triceps tendon in Friday's win. The injury will keep the former first-round pick out for a minimum of three months, if not the entire regular season.
D.J. Young, an undrafted rookie in 2011 who spent virtually all of last season on the practice squad, will get the first crack at filling Brown's spot, with journeyman D'Anthony Batiste also a candidate to take over.
Ryan Williams, expected to split carries with Beainie Wells in the team's backfield this season, returned from a long absence last week and contributed five rushes for 25 years. The 2011 second-round pick sat out his entire rookie campaign after tearing his patella tendon last summer.
Tennessee has won three of its five all-time preseason meetings with the Cardinals, breaking a deadlock in the set by virtue of a 24-10 triumph in Nashville in 2010.
Key Injuries: Arizona: OT Levi Brown (tricep) is out indef. LB Paris Lenon (ankle) is ? Tennessee: C Eugene Amato (tricep) is on the IR. WR Kenny Britt (knee) is out indef. LB Gerald McRath (knee) is out for the season. DE Dave Ball (concus) is ? S Jordan Babineaux (shldr) is ?
Preseason Trends:
Arizona is 1-6 Under after scoring 30+ points
Tennessee is 5-1 ATS off BB road games
QB Rotations:
Arizona
John Skelton
Kevin Kolb
Ryan Lindley
Richard Bartel
Tennessee
Jake Locker
Matt Hasselbeck
Rusty Smith
Nick Stephens (R)
NFL Preseason Logs Last 6 Years
Arizona
2006 Results
PITT W -3' 21-13 u35'
at New England L +3' 3-30 u37
at Chicago W +3' 23-16 o34
DENVER L -3' 23-29 o36'
2007 Results
at Oakland L +1' 23-27 o35
HOUSTON L -3 20-33 o35'
SAN DIEGO W +2' 31-33 o40'
at Denver L +4 3-21 u39'
2008 Results
NEW ORL. L -2' 10-24 u35
at Kansas City W +2 27-17 o36
at Oakland W +3 24-0 u38
DENVER L -3 14-28 o37
2009 Results
at Pittsburgh L +3 10-20 u33
SAN DIEGO L -2’ 6-17 u40
GREEN BAY L -3’ 37-44 o41’
at Denver L -3’ 0-19 u36
2010 Results
HOUSTON W +2’ 19-16 o33
at Tennessee L +3’ 10-24 u37’
at Chicago W +3’ 14-9 u38
WASHINGTON W -4 20-19 u37
2011 Results
at Oakland W +3 24-18 o32’
at Green Bay L +5 20-28 o39
SAN DIEGO T +3 31-34 o41
DENVER W -3 26-7 u40’
2012 Results
#vs. New Orleans L +3 7-16 u34
at Kansas City L +1' 17-27 o34
Oakland L -6' 31-27 o37
#-Hall of Fame game, Canton, Oh.
Tennessee
2006 Results
New Orleans L -3 16-19 n35
at Denver L +5’ 10-35 o36
Atlanta L P 6-20 u38
at Green Bay W P 35-21 o36
2007 Results
Washington L -3 6-14 u35
at New England W +5’ 27-24 o35
at Buffalo W +1’ 28-17 o36
Green Bay W -7 30-14 o37
2008 Results
ST. LOUIS W -3 34-13 o33
OAKLAND L -4 17-16 u35
at Atlanta L +3 3-17 u35
at Green Bay L -6' 23-21 o36
2009 Results
Buffalo T -3 21-18 o32
(at Canton, OH)
TAMPA BAY W -4 27-20 o35
at Dallas L +3 10-30 o38’
at Cleveland L +1 17-23 u37’
GREEN BAY W -3’ 27-13 o36’
2010 Results
at Seattle W +3’ 18-20 o35
ARIZONA W -3’ 24-10 u37’
at Carolina L +3 7-15 u37
NEW ORLEANS OL -7’ 27-24 o41
2011 Results
MINNESOTA W -3 14-3 u34
at St. Louis L -3’ 16-17 u37
CHICAGO L -3 14-13 u37
at New Orleans W -1 32-9 o36
2012 Results
at Seattle L +3 17-27 o36'
at Tampa Bay W +2 30-7 u38
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What Bettors Need to Know: NFL Week 3 Preseason
By Jon Campbell
Covers.com
There are three preseason games Thursday night in the NFL and we give you a quick breakdown on the essentials for each one. This should be a big week for a lot of teams as they look to trim their rosters to 75 by Monday.
Green Bay at Cincinnati (+3, 45)
Green Bay has lost straight up and failed to cover the spread in its first two preseason games. The good news is they enter Week 3 the healthiest they’ve been all preseason and they’d like to come away with a win from Cincinnati. Head coach Mike McCarthy says his first stringers will play the first half and then he’ll give other guys a chance to make their mark in the second half.
The Bengals say they’re not approaching this week as a ‘dress rehearsal’ just like last week when the first team was in for 29 plays. Cincy is saying it will keep the first teamers on the field into the third quarter. The Bengals have won and covered in their first two preseason games.
It’s worth noting the total opened at 42.5 for this game and has since shot to 45 points, the highest total of any NFL preseason game this week.
Baltimore at Jacksonville ( -7, 41)
Jacksonville has moved into regular season mode in their practice habits. The Jags have put up two scoreboards at opposite ends of the field with 40 second clocks and they are pumping in crowd noise to their scrimmage sessions. Coach Mike Mularky says Chad Henne will remain the backup QB despite the fact Jordan Palmer has led the team to fourth-quarter, game-winning drives in the last two preseason games. Off the field, the Maurice Jones-Drew holdout issue remains a distraction and his fines totaled $840,000 as of Wednesday.
Baltimore coach John Harbaugh says his starters will play into the second half Thursday. The Ravens still have some spots up for grabs though at left guard, cornerback, nose tackle and a couple of other spots.
Arizona at Tennessee (-3, 42.5)
The Cardinals are the only team with three losses against the spread in the preseason so far. (The Saints are the only other team to have played three games.) The Cards are going to play their starters into the second half on Thursday and we’ll also get another chance to see the least appealing quarterback battle in the NFL unfold again. John Skelton will get the start but head coach Ken Whisenhunt says Kevin Kolb will also see some time with the first string.
The big news this week for Tennessee was the team announced rookie Jake Locker out of Washington would be its starting quarterback. Locker brings a versatile threat in the backfield but he has accuracy issues, converting just 45 percent of his passes so far. He wasn’t much better in college at just over 50 percent so you can bet the Titans will be working on passing. Locker didn’t look too sharp in his first NFL start last week when he went 4-of-11 for 21 yards. Tennessee is facing several injuries on defense for this game so that could effect their game plan on that side of the ball.
NFL: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Green Bay at Cincinnati
The Bengals 2-0 SU/ATS defeating 'Fly-Boys' 17-6 in week-one followed by a 24-19 victory over Falcons look to keep the momentum going when they host Green Bay Packers beaten up 21-13 by Chargers to open preseason then taken behind the woodshed by Browns whipped 35-10 in it's second practice session. Tough spot for Bengals, Packers will certainly play with a lot more urgency and it's offense should be able to correct itself against Bengals banged-up secondary that gave up a whopping 391 passing yards in last weeks victory. Consider laying the points, Pack are on a 3-1 ATS run after scoring <12 points in preseason, 4-0 (3-1 ATS) stretch during dress rehearsal week, Bengals are on a 2-9 SU/ATS skid in week three of preseason.
Thursday Preseason Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The third week of the NFL preseason begins on Thursday with three contests on the card. Each team has different motives coming into this week, as some squads will play their starters through the first half, while others will try not to overdo it with its stars. We'll begin in Cincinnati with two teams that have put up significantly different results in the preseason.
Packers at Bengals
Green Bay is winless through two exhibition contests, as the Packers try to grab a victory as short road favorites at Cincinnati. Mike McCarthy's club followed up an opening week loss at San Diego with an ugly home defeat to Cleveland, 35-10 last Thursday. The Packers took an early 7-0 lead on an Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson, but the Browns outscored Green Bay, 35-3 the rest of the way to cash outright as three-point underdogs (+150 on the moneyline).
The Bengals return home after knocking off the Falcons, 24-19 as four-point road underdogs. Cincinnati overcame a 13-10 halftime deficit with a pair of touchdowns in the second half, including the go-ahead score from Bruce Gradkowski to rookie Mohamed Sanu. The most impressive connection of the game went to Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, as the two second-year standouts were part of a 50-yard touchdown strike early in the second quarter. Cincinnati's defense overcame 391 yards passing by Atlanta, one week after limiting the Jets to just 57 yards through the air.
Green Bay is nearly an automatic 'over' team in the preseason the last few years, cashing eight of 10 times. The Packers own a 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS record the previous four games played in the third week of the preseason, while three of those victories came away from Lambeau Field. The Bengals are 2-0 ATS this preseason following a 1-5 ATS run from 2010-11, but Cincinnati has cashed four of the last five exhibition games at Paul Brown Stadium.
Jaguars at Ravens
Jacksonville has turned into the biggest surprise this preseason with wins over the Giants and Saints, in spite of Maurice Jones-Drew sitting out due to a contract dispute. The Jaguars go for their third straight victory against a Ravens' club that dropped a 27-12 home decision to the Lions last week, as Baltimore didn't manage a single touchdown in the loss.
The Ravens entered last Friday's contest on a four-game preseason winning streak dating back to last August, but Matthew Stafford torched the Baltimore defense for a pair of touchdown passes. Baltimore scored less than 12 points for just the second time in the last 14 exhibition games, while moving to 9-5 to the 'under' in this stretch. John Harbaugh is expected to play his starters into the third quarter, while Jacksonville's starters will likely play the first three quarters.
The Jaguars are going against the grain from a historical standpoint as far as their performance this preseason. Jacksonville finished 2011 with an 0-4 ATS exhibition season, while failing to cover in this season's opener as 2 ½-point 'chalk' over the Giants.
Cardinals at Titans
The nationally televised game on ESPN takes place in Nashville as both Arizona and Tennessee are coming off victories last week. The Cards held off the Raiders as 4 ½-point home favorites, 31-27, while failing to cover in spite of owning a seven-point lead or more for most of the game. Arizona has failed to cash through three preseason contests, as Ken Whisenhunt's team is 2-4-1 ATS the last seven games in the exhibition season.
The Titans rebounded from a 27-17 defeat at Seattle in the preseason opener, as Tennessee knocked off Tampa Bay, 30-7 last Friday night. Mike Munchak's club cashed as three-point road underdogs, but Jake Locker did not impress in his first preseason start by going 4-for-11 for 21 yards and an interception. Locker is set to start against the Cardinals, while being slated to be under center in the season opener against New England. The Titans did receive plenty of help on the ground last Friday by rushing for 216 yards, including a pair of scores from Chris Johnson.
In Munchak's short tenure, the Titans are 4-2 SU/ATS in the preseason, while cashing the 'over' in four of six exhibition contests. The most impressive number for the Titans is the nine-game winning streak they are riding in the preseason at LP Field since 2007, the longest in the league.