NFL Preseason Outlook
By Bodog.com
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Brett Favre and Michael Vick are back in the NFL, signing two-year deals this week with the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s big news for both clubs – but only one of these two men will have much of an impact in Week 2 of the NFL preseason.
Where Eagles Dare
Vick won’t be eligible to play until Week 3, so the Eagles don’t get an immediate bump as three-point road faves (-125) this Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts. Vick isn’t the only one who will miss that game. Incumbent No. 2 QB Kevin Kolb (knee) is out of action, as are RB Brian Westbrook (still working his way back from offseason knee surgery) and a host of other first-unit players.
The Eagles still have third-stringer A.J. Feeley (69.6 career QB rating) to lean on Thursday night. Feeley was 18-for-24 for 211 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions against the New England Patriots in Week 1, although it wasn’t enough to cash in as the Pats won 27-25 as three-point road ‘dogs. So why are the talented Colts getting points at home? It appears coach Jim Caldwell is carrying on Tony Dungy’s preseason tradition of ignoring the scoreboard. After going 3-15 SU and 5-12-1 ATS over the past four exhibition seasons, the Colts came out as casually as ever in Week 1, dropping a 13-3 decision at home to the Vikings (-2.5).
Favrergnügen
It’ll be two years of driving enjoyment for the Vikings, and it’ll start this Friday when Favre lines up under center as Minnesota hosts the Kansas City Chiefs (keep checking Bodog Sports for the latest odds). It’s debatable whether Favre is really that much of an improvement over Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, but we’ll save that debate for another day. What matters for Friday is that the very competent Rosenfels (10-for 13 for 91 yards against the Pats) figures to get plenty of snaps against Kansas City’s second-string defense.
Minnesota’s chances will be even better if Jackson (7-for-15 for 39 yards last week) gets to suit up with the third unit. That remains to be seen; the buzz at press time was that the Vikings would try to move Jackson to another team now that Favre is in camp. We’ll probably see more of John David Booty (4-for-7, 23 yards) against the Chiefs if that’s the case.
Breaking Bulger
The St. Louis Rams are crossing their fingers that Marc Bulger will be all right for the regular season after he broke his pinky finger during Monday morning practice. He’ll miss the next two weeks, which means that Baltimore Ravens castoff Kyle Boller is penciled in as the starter for Friday night’s matchup with the visiting Atlanta Falcons. Boller was 3-for-9 for 25 yards last week against the New York Jets’ third unit in a 23-20 win as three-point home dogs. Rookie Keith Null (2-for-2, 16 yards and a TD) will probably get some extra burn as well after Brock Berlin (6-for-8, 27 yards) picked up a mild knee sprain versus the Jets.
Catch the Ball
Terrell Owens made his return to the practice field for the Buffalo Bills on Monday. He sat our their 27-20 victory over the Chicago Bears (+3) in Week 1 after spraining his toe in the Hall of Fame Game against the Tennessee Titans. Owens was sharp early in that game with two catches for 27 yards before giving way to the second unit; Buffalo and Tennessee (-3) eventually played to a push with the Titans winning 21-18.
We’re still not sure whether Calvin Johnson (thumb) will be able to play for the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Saturday’s Week 2 contest with the Cleveland Browns. Johnson missed Detroit’s exhibition opener, a 27-26 victory over the Atlanta Falcons (+3), also at Ford Field. Jason Hanson drilled the winning field goal from 47 yards out with no time left on the clock; Hanson reportedly had a “fairly minor” procedure done on his knee Tuesday morning and could be replaced against the Browns by rookie Swayze Waters. He’s a former Lou Groza Award finalist with UAB who went undrafted this year and was originally cut by the Lions last week.
Orton Update
Fans in Denver were fed up with Kyle Orton even before he suited up for the Broncos. Then he threw three interceptions in Week 1’s 17-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers (-1.5). But Jay Cutler was also cold with a 5-for-10 performance and a pick against the Bills. Expect better results from both gentlemen in Week 2 as they get familiar with their new surroundings. Chicago hosts the Giants on Saturday night, then it’s Denver at the Seattle Seahawks in a late start on the West Coast.