NFL Preseason Sunday: What Bettors Need to Know
Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets (-6, 35.5)
Starter report
Cincinnati: The Bengals were stomped 34-3 by the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of the preseason, with the offense providing little pop. Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, and probable No. 1, was 11 of 15 for 69 yards and an interception while first-year receiver A.J. Green reeled in five catches for 29 yards.
Green, who missed time in camp with a leg injury, told reporters he will be 100 percent for Sunday’s showdown with New York. The standout WR from Georgia is anxious to test his mettle versus Jets shutdown corner Darrelle Revis. Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis will play his starters for the majority of the first half, turning QB duties over to Bruce Gradkowski and Jordan Palmer in the third and fourth quarters.
New York: All the buzz in the Big Apple is about the return of WR Plaxico Burress. The former Giant will take the field for the first time in two years since shooting himself in the leg at a nightclub and serving jail time for the incident.
"I think we're going to leave him in there. Let him play a bunch," head coach Rex Ryan told the media about Burress. "We've been working him real good these last couple of days. He looks fine."
Also returning to the Jets is center Nick Mangold, who missed the preseason opener with a stinger he suffered in training camp. New York will, however, be without running back Shonn Greene, who is still nursing a foot infection, and WR Derrick Mason is questionable with a knee injury. Ryan told reporters he will play his starters into the second quarter.
Thing to note: With veteran backup QB Mark Brunell still on the mend, expect Greg McElroy to get a lot of snaps for New York. He was solid in the loss to Houston in Week 1, going 23 for 39 for 208 yards and a touchdown… The Jets are 7-2 O/U under Ryan in the preseason... The forecast in New York is for thunderstorms and winds as high as 16 mph.
San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys (-1, 38)
Starter report
San Diego: The Chargers fell 24-17 to the Seattle Seahawks, allowing 14 points in the fourth quarter of their preseason opener last Thursday. Philip Rivers went 5 for 6 for 87 yards and a touchdown in his abbreviated appearance.
San Diego head coach Norv Turner will give his starters a little more playing time Sunday, and is especially focused on ramping up the running game, which only totaled 51 yards on 18 carries versus Seattle. All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates had a good week of practice and is expected to make his preseason debut against the Cowboys.
Dallas: The Cowboys snuck out a 24-23 victory over the Denver Broncos on a last-second score and two-point conversion last Thursday. Third=stringer Stephen McGee connected on both plays and finished the game with 208 passing yards, three touchdown throws and an interception.
Head coach Jason Garrett told the media that his starters will get a longer run this week, expecting them to play most of the first half. Dallas will likely be without No. 1 WR Miles Austin, who injured his hamstring in camp this week. This gives rookie Dwayne Harris some extra reps after the East Carolina product wowed in Week 1 with 127 yards and two scores on five catches.
Things to note: The Chargers and Cowboys conducted practices and scrimmages together all week, so these teams know each other very well…Turner was the offensive coordinator for Dallas between 1991-1993, working closely with Garrett, who was the Cowboys' backup QB. Garrett actually uses Turner’s old system as the base for his offense.
Texans, Cowboys Host NFL Preseason Betting Games
By: Michael Robinson
There are a couple of NFL Preseason Week 2 primetime showdowns in the Lone Star State when New Orleans visits Houston on Saturday and Dallas hosts San Diego on Sunday.
Home teams went 11-5 against the spread in Week 1. The second week kicked off Thursday with hosts going 1-1 straight up and ATS. Pittsburgh beat visiting Philadelphia 24-14, while New England did a number on its opponent for the second week in a row, 31-14 at Tampa Bay.
San Diego at Dallas – Sunday 5:00 p.m. (PT) NBC
Dallas is a one-point favorite with a total of 37-points. These teams are practicing against each Thursday through Saturday this week.
The Cowboys are coming off a 24-23 victory over Denver as 2½-point home favorites. Third-string quarterback Stephen McGee had his second touchdown pass of the game with 15 seconds left and then threw the game-winning, 2-point conversion.
Quarterback Tony Romo played just one series, going 3-of-5 for 33 yards. He’s reportedly been throwing the ball great in practice as he comes back from his broken collarbone suffered last October.
San Diego opened with a 24-17 home loss to Seattle as 3-point favorites. Quarterback Philip Rivers was 5-of-6 for 87 yards and a touchdown in his only series and San Diego led 10-0 at halftime. Seattle scored two touchdowns in the final 4:02 of the fourth to win the game.
Both Romo and Rivers are sure to see significantly more time this game, likely well into the second quarter. It will be a good test for both defenses, which have new coordinators (Rob Ryan for Dallas and Greg Manusky for San Diego).
The Cowboys’ other big question is the offensive line, which has several new starters. The last thing they want to do is get Romo hurt in a preseason game.
Dallas will be missing running backs DeMarco Murray (hamstring) and Tashard Choice (calf), with Felix Jones out to prove he should be a workhorse back this year. San Diego will be without cornerback Antoine Cason (finger).