The bum's 2016 nfl preseason schedule along with picks and news !!

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Thursday's NFL Week 1 preseason betting primer

As usual with the Patriots, they aren't sharing much in the way of how much time the starters will see on the field or who will be the actual starting quarterback Thursday.

The opening week of the NFL preseason kicks off with six games on the board Thursday. Here's a look at some betting notes for the six matchups:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5, 37)

* Expectations are high for a slimmed down Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016. Vincent Jackson is expected to miss Thursday's game which will mean plenty of No. 1 reps for wide receiver Mike Evans. The Bucs are going to give opposing defenses problems with their skill at the tight end position - Cameron Brate, Austin Saferian-Jenkins, Dan Vitale and Luke Stocker will rotate in and out for most of the game.

* The Doug Pederson era gets underway in Philadelphia without 8-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters at left tackle to protect the blind side of second overall draft pick Carson Wentz and Sam Bradford. Matt "Turnstile" Tobin will attempt to fill in by moving from guard to starting left tackle for Thursday's game. Right tackle Lane Johnson will be on the field at his usual position despite the looming threat of a potential 10-game PED suspension. The Eagles will also be without wide receiver Jordan Matthews who is dealing with a bruised knee. QB rotation - Bradford and Chase Daniel to split first half, Wentz "will play the majority of the second half."


Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons (-3, 37)

* The Redskins have won six of their eight preseason games over the last two seasons under Jay Gruden. Gruden will go with starting quarterback Kirk Cousins for a series or two, Colt McCoy for the remainder of the opening half, and rookie Nate Sudfeld for most, if not all, of the second half. The Skins will be without starting tight end Jordan Reed (thumb) so Vernon Davis, Niles Paul, Logan Paulsen, and Marcel Jensen will all move up a slot on the depth chart.

* The Falcons open their preseason schedule at home and it is expected that head coach Dan Quinn will attempt to vastly improve his club's play on the defensive side of the ball in his second season at the helm. The key additions to their defense are first round draft pick, and now starting safety, Keanu Neal out of Florida and WILL Sean Weatherspoon - who is returning home after one season in Arizona with the Cardinals.


New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots (-3, 39.5)

* Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been told he will be playing "a series or so" at the beginning of Thursday's game at New England. Typically, if they go three-and-out he will come back out for the second possession. Either way, backups Luke McCown and Garrett Grayson will see plenty of work. Saints' running back Mark Ingram (who has missed a couple of practices recently so it's unknown how much he will play - if at all) expects the offense to establish the run with a stiff running back competition for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots (Tim Hightower, Marcus Murphy, C.J. Spiller, and Travaris Cadet).

* As usual with the Patriots, they aren't sharing much in the way of how much time the starters will see on the field or who will be the actual starting quarterback in this game. Coach Belichick did offer that their main, "priority now is to get Jimmy ready for the start of the season." It is expected that Brady will sit this one out and Garropolo will get the starter's reps in the first quarter. The Pats got a scare Tuesday when star wide receiver Julian Edelman threw his helmet and left practice with, what appeared to be, a knee injury. Edelman, however, was back at practice Wednesday in a limited role and is Questionable to play Thursday night.


Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens (-1.5, 36.5)

* The post-Josh Norman era begins in Carolina with three rookie cornerbacks listed as the top three on the Panthers' depth chart. James Bradberry, Daryl Worley, and Zack Sanchez are all expected to be leaned on heavily in 2016, and play significant minutes in order to get their feet wet Thursday night. Cam Newton didn't have his big weapon, wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, for the entire 2015 season. The pair are expected to be a dynamic duo in 2016 but will only be on the field for a series or two in Baltimore.

* Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is basically calling this one a game to test out the rookies and depth players. Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, Steve Smith Sr., Crockett Gillmore, Dennis Pitta, Breshad Perriman, starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Joe Flacco are all expect to sit this contest out entirely. Ryan Mallett, Josh Johnson and Jerrod Johnson will all share quarterback time, although no word yet on order or length of play. The fact that AT&T Stadium is going to air Michael Phelps' 200-meter individual medley from Rio 2016 on the video boards during the game says all you need to know about this one.


Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets (-2.5, 36.5)

* The Jaguars are expected to be competitive in the AFC South this season. They have publically stated that one of their preseason goals is to "start fast". That'll mean the pressure will be on starting quarterback Blake Bortles in his limited playing time Thurday night to put up some points. Chad Henne will likely finish off the opening half, once Bortles is done, and be followed by rookies Brandon Allen and Max Wittek.

* Newly acquired running back Matt Forte will sit this one out with a sore hamstring and the Ryan Fitzpatrick-led first team offense will see limited reps in the opening quarter before putting their helmets aside for the evening. The Jets have four quarterbacks clogging their roster at the moment, so games like this will be critical for Geno Smith, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty to make some big impressions on head coach Todd Bowles and his staff.


Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears (-1, 35)

* The uncertain Broncos quarterback situation is certainly no secret. The plan, announced by head coach Gary Kubiak, is for the co-No. 1 quarterbacks to split the first half - Mark Sanchez will play the first quarter and Trevor Siemian will play the second quarter. Rookie Paxton Lynch will see plenty of playing time in the second half and everyone in Denver will be watching his performance very closely. If Lynch has any hope of starting Week 1, he will have to light up the Bears' third string defense.

* Bears fans, and backers, are excited to see the debuts of the team's last two first round draft picks. Wide receiver Kevin White will debut after missing the 2015 season with a stress fracture in his shin and pass rusher Leonard Floyd will be looking to get to Mark Sanchez early and often in order to make a good first impression. The other big storylines for John Fox's team will be another re-tooled offensive line and a vastly improving defense that has Bears fans salivating and fantasizing about classic "Bears football".

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New Coaches Report
August 11, 2016


Every season there are a plethora of 'new' coaches that are starting with a new team or have a head coaching job for the first time in the NFL. How they fare during the regular season and preseason can have a dramatic difference. There are a number of factors and scenarios that will play out and I will try and help you take advantage of of their strengths or weaknesses.

I will list them and give you the reasons they will or will not make 'us' money during these meaningless 'exhibition' (not called exhibition games as the owners still receive full price for season ticket holders) games. Some coaches will feel a need to impress either the fan base or owners early on...lets see who does!

New York Giants - Ben McAdoo
Plenty of attention will be paid to McAdoo, who replaced two-time Super Bowl winning coach Tom Coughlin and just being in New York will put added pressure on him to succeed. Not that all NFL coaches aren't under pressure, but the Big Apple media is like none other. McAdoo was promoted from offensive coordinator and many wonder why him after realizing the Giants were 6-10 in both of his two seasons leading the offense.

I look for New York to start fast in the preseason as the entire offense won't have to spend time learning a new system and they have a veteran quarterback in Eli Manning who knows how to make the offense work on the fly. The Giants' back-up Ryan Nassib will see plenty of preseason action and already understands the offense and during this time of the year it is a major advantage. The defense will be run by Steve Spagnuolo who returned last season and they were dead last in total defense last season. He did not fare well in his first stint with the Giants in 2006 and 2007. Look for the offense to play well early until the 'others' catch-up to the Giants as the preseason moves forward. Take New York early to get the money!

Miami Dolphins - Adam Gase
Gase come from the Chicago Bears and there are questions as to how he will fare coming from a team full of dissension and a spotty offense that never reached its potential. Gase comes to a club even more dysfunctional than the Bears as Miami's offense has had no running game to speak of and their offensive line has allowed quarterback Ryan Tannehill little time to develop as he was sacked more times than any other QB in the league the past two seasons.

Add that the Dolphins have had a number of defections on both sides of the ball and Gase will virtually have to start from stretch. This is his first head coaching job and he will get plenty of on-the job-training. There is just too much to do in such a short period of time before the opening preseason contest and Gase will still be evaluating talent when the regular season begins.

Tennessee Titans - Mike Mularkey
Mularkey doesn't actually qualify as a 'new' head coach as he was the Titans interim coach last season taking over just before the mid-point of the season and Tennessee was just 2-7 with him in the lead. One of the first things he did upon being named head coach was revamp his staff hiring experience in Dick LeBeau, Terry Robiskie, Russ Grimm, Bobby April, Sylvester Croom and Bob Bratkowski. That may all help but the question really is does Mularkey have what it takes to be a winning NFL head coach?

He has had three and a half seasons as a head coach in the NFL and he is a dismal 18-39 as a leader. The best thing he has going for himself is that the Titans have a young and talented quarterback in Marcus Mariota and the newly acquired running backs Demarco Murray and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. Look for Henry to get plenty of work early and Tennessee who does play smash mouth defense to impress early on as the defense that will dominate during the preseason.

Philadelphia Eagles - Doug Pederson
On the surface, Philadelphia appears to be in disarray as the lost their head coach and have a new quarterback and new running back. Former Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson has taken over the reins and although he was coaching high school football eight years ago, he has NFL experience. As a former NFL quarterback as a back-up for 11 years, Pederson will enjoy working with the trio of San Bradford, Chase Daniel and No. 2 overall draft pick Carson Wentz, who is not expected to compete for a starting job this season.

This should be a transition year for the Eagles and there will be little pressure on Pederson as not much is expected of this year's Eagles. But, remember that Philly fans are not the kindest of supporters. Pederson brought in defensive wiz Jim Schwartz to handle that that side of the ball so that he can concentrate on his offense. It should be slowing going early, but they have no where to go but up.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Dirk Koetter
Lovie Smith is gone and one of the reasons is that he just could not instill discipline on a club that committed an NFL-high 143 penalties. New head coach Dirk Koetter worked well with the development of Jameis Winston, which had the No. 5 offense in the NFL last season. So it is not the offense that he has to worry about, it is a pass defense that had opponents' quarterbacks play to a 102.5 rating and a 70% completion rate.

The Buccaneers play their first two preseason games on the road, the first of which is at Philadelphia where they embarrassed the Eagles, 45-17 last November, so be careful in that one. Tampa Bay has finished in the division basement five straight seasons and can improve, but not enough to contend with Carolina because defense wins...see Broncos.

San Francisco 49ers - Chip Kelly
If you remember when Chip Kelly started with Philadelphia, he came out gunning in the preseason and had everybody swooning over his no-huddle offense that put up a large number of points in these meaningless games. The pressure is even greater now that he has moved back to the West Coast and he has two quarterbacks that will be dueling for a starting spot. San Francisco posted only five wins last season as quarterback Colin Kaepernick was a bust and Blaine Gabbert emerged as the starter before season's end.

Kelly will bring a fresh attitude for the offense and the open at home as the lone game on a Monday night. He will look to impress the fan base and have his troupe excited to start anew. Take the 49ers in their preseason opener!

Cleveland Browns - Hue Jackson
An entirely new coaching staff in Cleveland will join head coach Hue Jackson and 'new' quarterback Robert Griffin III will at least help the attitude of a franchise that has never even appeared in the Super Bowl after 50 years of competition. The Browns have had two winning seasons in 15 years and are off a 3-13 year their worst since 2000, but Jackson will bring positive energy to the franchise. He is a quarterback guru and the sideshow of Johnny Manziel is a thing of that past and with the return of wide receiver Josh Gordon, they should should huge improvement, especially early in the year.

This team has the most room for improvement and you will see it right away. Josh McCown who started most of last season will see plenty of action along with USC standout quarterback Cody Kessler and they will provide a strong offensive showing during the preseason. Competition is good and the Browns will be better.

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QBs for Patriots, Saints enter key stretch
August 10, 2016

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Three quarterbacks will be in the spotlight on Thursday night when the Saints and Patriots open their preseason schedules.

It will be just another tuneup for two of the league's most productive veteran signal callers, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. For the other, it will serve as an important prelude to an opportunity he's prepped for just over two years.

New England's Jimmy Garoppolo has known since the abrupt conclusion of ''Deflategate'' last month that he would get the first regular-season starts of his career when Brady's league-imposed, four-game suspension begins next month. What remains unclear is if that new status will also translate into Garoppolo starting during the preseason and taking the majority of the snaps.

''It's always different on game day. It's a different feel and everything,'' Garoppolo said. ''You get those butterflies in your stomach and all that. It's awesome. Football is back now.''

It will also be the first peek this season at the 39-year-old Brady and 37-year-old Saints quarterback Drew Brees as they continue to progress toward the conclusion of their respective NFL runs - though both plan on playing for a few more seasons.

While the teams have held joint preseason practices three times in the last five years, this latest edition brought about more reminiscences for the former Big Ten rivals.

Brees said the steady rain that fell during Wednesday's practice took them both back to when Brady's Michigan team faced Brees' Purdue squad in 1999.

''The weather today the exact same as it was for that game,'' Brees said. ''Tom actually threw it out there. He said, `Hey, remember that game, Michigan-Purdue in the Big House?' It was just like it. They kind of smoked us that day, though.''

From college kids to veteran pros, Brees said there is an appreciation for the longevity that both have had in the league.

''I think we're thankful for the opportunities that we've been given,'' Brees said. ''Obviously, he is a part of a great organization, and has been for a long time. I'm part of a great organization and have been for a long time.

''From knowing him and his approach, I think we both understand we gotta prove it each and every time out. We're in the business of winning. I think we both have high expectations as to how long we can play. But we don't take it for granted.''

Brees said he has been told he would play ''a series or so'' on Thursday, leaving ample time for backups Luke McCown and Garrett Grayson to get snaps.

Garoppolo and Brady have each had equal time working alongside players that will likely make up the Patriots' first-team offense. Garoppolo said after Wednesday's rain soaked practice he hadn't yet received any indication from the coaching staff on who would start Thursday.

''I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine,'' he said.

NOTES: Patriots WR Julian Edelman was back on the field Wednesday after leaving practice early Tuesday with an unspecified lower left leg injury. Edelman was in uniform, but did not participate in live pass-catching drills. He instead worked on conditioning with a small group of other players. ... Saints RB Mark Ingram, who missed a couple of practices recently, also said he isn't sure how much playing time he will get Thursday. But he said his time off was nothing major. ''Yeah, I'm fine,'' he said. ''They were taking care of me a little bit. So, I'm good.'' ...Former Rutgers football player turned motivational speaker Eric LeGrand was at practice Wednesday, and addressed players afterward. LeGrand, who was paralyzed while attempting a tackle during a 2010 Rutgers game, was in town working on a new web series. Patriots Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon both played alongside LeGrand at the school.

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Preseason Record: All picks will be opinions only

ATS Picks 0-0-0 0.00% +0

O/U Picks 0-0-0 0.00% +0



THURSDAY, AUGUST 11

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

WAS at ATL 07:00 PM

ATL -2.5
U 37.0

TB at PHI 07:00 PM

TB +3.5
U 37.0

NO at NE 07:30 PM

NE -3.0
O 39.0

JAC at NYJ 07:30 PM

JAC +2.5
U 36.5

CAR at BAL 07:30 PM

BAL +1.0
U 36.5

DEN at CH I 08:00 PM

CHI -1.0
U 35.0

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TONIGHT'S PRESEASON COACH'S ATS RECORDS

Here are the records of the Coach's in tonight's matchups showing their
Preseason records and their records in the first preseason games.

Redskin's - Jay Gruden 6 and 2 over all - 2 and 0 in week one
Falcons - Dan Quinn 2 and 2 over all - 1 and 0 in week one

Bucs - Dirk Koetter 0 and 0 over all 0 and 0 in week one
Eagles - Doug Peterson 0 and 0 over all - 0 and 0 in week one

Jags - Gus Bradley - 4 and 8 over all - 2 and 1 in week one
Jets - Todd Bowies 3 and 1 over all - 1 and 0 in week one

Panthers - Ron Rivera 11 - 9 over all - 3 and 2 in week one
Ravens - John Harbaugh 20 - 12 over all 7 - 1 in week one

Saints - Sean Peyton 21-21 over all - 7 and 5 in week one
Pats - Bill Belichick - 36 and 30 over all - 11 and 6 in week one

Broncos - Gary Kubiak 21 and 14 over all - 7 and 2 in week one
Bears - Jon Fox - 31 and 25 over all - 10 and 4 in week one

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NFL Preseason Capsules
August 11, 2016

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Jimmy Garoppolo made his preseason debut, spreading the ball around for 168 yards, and Jamie Collins added a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown to help the New England Patriots beat the New Orleans Saints 34-22 on Thursday night.

Garoppolo played the entire first half as he preps to start the first four games of the regular season with Tom Brady suspended for his involvement in the ''Deflategate'' case. Brady was not in the building Thursday, excused by the team to attend memorial services for a family member.

Saints running back Mark Ingram had an early fumble, but also had two 1-yard touchdown runs in an extended night that saw him play most of the first half. Second-year quarterback Garrett Grayson threw an early interception, but completed a few long passes to finish 10 for 16 for 133 yards.

Defensive end Kasim Edebali had two first-quarter sacks.

After a slow start, Garoppolo completed several long passes and finished 11 of 18.

Trey Flowers added a 17-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, scooping up the loose ball created by his sack of Luke McCown.

BRONCOS 22, BEARS 0

CHICAGO (AP) - Mark Sanchez made a strong opening argument for Denver's starting quarterback job, throwing for 99 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter in the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos' victory over Chicago.

Sanchez came through with just the sort of performance he needed if he's going to beat out Trevor Siemian. The former Jets quarterback completed 10 of 13 passes in the first quarter and led a game-opening 76-yard touchdown drive. He had a pass intercepted by Jerrell Freeman on the Broncos' second possession.

Sanchez maintained his cool against Chicago's pressure and kept the opening drive going by completing three third-down passes - including a 32-yard TD to a wide open Demaryius Thomas along the right side.

As for Siemian, the former Northwestern star looked comfortable throwing short passes and was 7 of 12 for 88 yards in the second quarter.

Chicago starter Jay Cutler threw for 18 yards and got sacked twice in the first quarter. Brian Hoyer threw for 81 yards in the second period, but was sacked three times.

RAVENS 22, PANTHERS 19

BALTIMORE (AP) - Cam Newton directed a 68-yard drive in his only series, then stepped aside in Carolina's loss to Baltimore.

The NFL MVP was 5 for 6 for 36 yards before being replaced by 33-year-old Derek Anderson.

Graham Gano kicked four field goals for the Panthers. They went 15-1 last year and won the NFC championship before falling to Denver in the Super Bowl.

Baltimore was without quarterback Joe Flacco as he returns from a knee injury. Running back Justin Forsett, wide receivers Steve Smith and Breshad Perriman, and linebackers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil were also held out of the game.

Anderson threw a TD pass to Devin Funchess for a 10-0 lead before the Ravens answered with touchdowns by Terrance West and Javorius Allen.

JETS 17, JAGUARS 13

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Blake Bortles led Jacksonville on two scoring drives, the second capped by Chris Ivory's 1-yard run against his former team, in a loss to New York.

Bortles finished 6 of 7 for 105 yards in his two series, Allen Robinson caught three passes for 80 yards and the Jaguars took a quick 10-0 lead with their starters in the game. Ivory, who signed with Jacksonville as a free agent after three seasons in New York, capped the second drive with his TD.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, who re-signed with the Jets just before training camp after a long contract stalemate, also went two series with the starters and was 3 of 4 for 72 yards. Bilal Powell capped the second drive, which included catches of 26 and 43 yards by Quincy Enunwa, with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Geno Smith replaced Fitzpatrick with 9:49 left in the second half on the one-year anniversary of the punch that changed the Jets' season - and possibly Smith's career. The former starting quarterback had his jaw broken by a punch from then-teammate IK Enemkpali in the locker room, sidelining Smith and pushing Fitzpatrick into the job. Smith finished 8 of 14 for 79 yards, including a 17-yard TD pass to seventh-rounder Charone Peake that gave the Jets a 14-13 lead with 22 seconds left in the opening half.

FALCONS 23, REDSKINS 17

ATLANTA (AP) - Matt Schaub made a successful return to his first NFL home, passing for 179 yards and leading three scoring drives in Atlanta's victory over Washington.

The 35-year-old Schaub began his career with the Falcons as Michael Vick's backup from 2004-06. He played seven seasons as Houston's starter and the past two years with Baltimore and Oakland.

After starter Matt Ryan was 0 for 4 and could not manage a first down on two possessions, Schaub moved the offense by finding Aldrick Robinson for passes of 47 and 68 yards. Schaub completed 10 of 15 passes for 179 yards, giving Atlanta a 13-3 halftime lead.

Falcons rookie J.D. McKissic returned a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown to open the second half.

Redskins starter Kirk Cousins completed each of his five passes for 39 yards on his only possession. Washington third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld led two touchdown drives.

EAGLES 17, BUCCANEERS 9

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia needed 1:37 to score its only touchdowns in beating sloppy Tampa Bay.

The Eagles covered 27 yards on their two drives to the end zone, with each series lasting three plays after Tampa Bay fumbles. Ryan Mathews had a 5-yard run to make it 7-0 after Tampa Bay fumbled the opening kickoff, and Chase Daniel scooted 3 yards for the second score after Jameis Winston had the ball stripped.

No. 2 overall draft pick Carson Wentz played just more than a half at quarterback for the Eagles. Perhaps his most noteworthy play came when he went flying acrobatically on a fourth-quarter run after a tackle by rookie cornerback Javien Elliott.

Winston threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Russell Shepard.

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49ers excited for upcoming joint practice with Texans
August 11, 2016

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) After spending nearly two weeks only lining up against teammates, the San Francisco 49ers are looking forward to the opportunity to hit someone else for a change.

The Niners will hold a joint practice on Friday with the Houston Texans before the two teams open the exhibition season two days later at Levi's Stadium.

While these sessions often come with increased intensity and occasional fights, 49ers coach Chip Kelly said he does not believe his players will cross any lines.

''They understand that you have to play with emotion, not let emotion play with you,'' Kelly said. ''It's the same rules that you have in a game. If you get in a fight in a game, you're not going to be around. So, it's the same thing. We're trying to get a good quality practice. We're not trying to turn it into a WWE wrestling match.''

That has not always been the case. Two years ago, the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys got into a few scuffles in a joint practice in Oxnard that spilled over into the fans on the side of the field. One Raiders fan even tried to hit a Dallas defender with a replica helmet.

Niners rookie guard Joshua Garnett said it's important to strike a balance between being aggressive and physical, while staying under control.

''You hope people are not too sensitive,'' he said. ''You're going to go after them and they're going to go after you. You want to be the guy dealing the blow and not be that guy who gets caught not going harder than your opponent. You always want to be that guy setting the tempo but keep it under control and play with poise and not get out of control with your emotions.''

Kelly is a proponent of joint practices, having done them a few times during his tenure in Philadelphia. The 49ers will hold another joint practice next week in Denver before taking on the Broncos in their second exhibition game.

''I think it's always good,'' Kelly said. ''It's a great way to gauge yourself. I've done it in the past a couple times with the Patriots and once with the Ravens. We thought it was quality work in the three years that we did it.''

The sessions require some pre-planning with head coaches coordinating schedules and offensive and defensive coordinators trading ideas and scripts to make sure the practices go as smoothly as possible.

Kelly said he has spent a lot of time talking to Texans coach Bill O'Brien about how the sessions will go. The coordinators for both teams also have been involved, with Niners offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins trading ideas with Texans defensive head Romeo Crennel and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil doing the same with Houston offensive coordinator George Godsey.

O'Neil said he and Godsey have talked about whether there are any different looks they would like to see Friday in practice that they aren't able to see as much when they go up against their own teams.

''For us defensively, it's going to be huge just from a player evaluation standpoint and then it's a totally different offensive scheme,'' O'Neil said. ''It'll be a lot more two-back formations, stuff we need to see to get ready for the season. So, it'll be a big test for our defense.''

NOTES: QB Colin Kaepernick only took mental reps at practice Thursday in what the team described as a ''planned'' rest day. ... DL Arik Armstead returned to team drills after sitting out earlier this week.

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Goff believes he's prepared for opener
August 11, 2016

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) No matter when Jared Goff relieves starting quarterback Case Keenum or how much the rookie plays, he will be the focal point of the Los Angeles Rams' preseason opener Saturday.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft got a preview of what kind of attention he can expect going forward from the season premiere of ''Hard Knocks,'' the HBO documentary series that follows life in an NFL training camp. Goff was shown taking a ride on the Goodyear Blimp, buying electric fans so offensive players could stay cool in their dorm rooms at UC Irvine, adjusting to a pro-style scheme, and not remembering where exactly the sun rises.

Goff said Thursday he hasn't heard back from Taylor Swift after his interest in the pop star became television fodder, but is hearing about his sunrise gaffe.

''Got a lot of grief from my friends and stuff, but I thought it was funny,'' Goff said. ''I know it is a TV show and they are trying to make a story line whatever that may be. That doesn't bother me. I think it's funny and I think it's cool, something I can probably watch for years to come.''

Everything Goff has done during training camp has drawn plenty of interest.

Goff's media availability attracted more than a dozen reporters Thursday, while Keenum spoke to less than half that number on Monday. While he has been taking snaps with the first team offense in closed walk-throughs, Goff's first public work with the starters in a two-minute drill on Tuesday resulted in a barrage of questions for coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Rob Boras.

That interest will only intensify, but Goff said he isn't paying heed to the overwhelming attention from fans and media.

''Whatever you guys say, take it with a grain of salt. It doesn't mean much to me,'' Goff said. ''I don't read anything. I don't look at anything. I just try to do my best every day out here and get better and do the best I can.''

Goff said he believes the tempo of practice and quality of the Rams' defense has him prepared for his first NFL action. He expects to treat it like every other game he has played in, though there will be one notable difference as he will be coming off the bench. Goff, a three-year starter at California, didn't remember the last time he did not take the first snap in a game.

''In football, I don't know,'' Goff said.

Goff didn't know how much he would play against the Dallas Cowboys either.

''I'll go in whenever they tell me to go in and go out wherever they tell me to go out,'' Goff said, ''I don't think that is up to me.''

NOTES: Fisher hasn't divvied up playing time just yet, but indicated starters would likely play two or three series before exiting. A handful of players might not make their preseason debut until Week 2, he added. ... Fisher is certain that no one is more excited to see the Cowboys than Rams center Tim Barnes, left guard Cody Wichmann and right guard Jamon Brown, not even the expected crowd of nearly 90,000. ''Our interior have had just about enough of (All-Pro defensive tackle) Aaron Donald, so they are looking forward to lining up against someone else,'' Fisher said.

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Friday's Preseason Tips
August 11, 2016

Dolphins at Giants (-3, 36 ½) – 7:00 PM EST

Miami
Head Coach: Adam Gase (No preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Brandon Doughty (Rookie), Zac Dysert
Beat Twitter Follow: Omar Kelly

The Dolphins haven’t made the playoffs since 2008 as the team turns to Gase to try and save a pedestrian offense. Miami dropped three of four preseason games in 2015 in Joe Philbin’s final (quarter) season as coach, including losing both road contests at Chicago and Carolina. The Dolphins are riding a four-game losing streak in preseason openers dating back to 2012, while scoring 10 points or less in three of those defeats.

New York
Head Coach: Ben McAdoo (No preseason record)
Quarterback Rotation: Eli Manning, Ryan Nassib, Logan Thomas
Beat Twitter Follow: Ralph Vacchiano

The Giants also made a head coaching change following Tom Coughlin’s departure after 12 seasons, as offensive coordinator McAdoo steps into Coughlin’s shoes. New York split four preseason contests last year, including a 23-10 defeat in the opener at Cincinnati. In the last two preseasons, the Giants have finished ‘under’ the total in six of nine games, including a 3-1 ‘under’ mark at home.

Lions at Steelers (-3, 35 ½) – 7:00 PM EST

Detroit
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (8-12 SU, 10-10 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, Jake Rudock (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Dave Birkett


The Lions put together one of the more impressive preseasons in 2015 with a 3-1 SU/ATS record, while allowing 17 points or less in each of their three victories. All four games finished ‘under’ the total, as seven of Detroit’s past eight exhibition contests have gone ‘under.’ The Lions have won three consecutive preseason openers, but open on the road for the first time since a 23-7 setback at Pittsburgh in 2010.

Pittsburgh
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin (21-17 SU, 16-21-1 ATS)
Quarterback Rotation: Bruce Gradkowski, Landry Jones, Dustin Vaughan
Beat Twitter Follow: Ed Bouchette

The Steelers will be without several of their key offensive weapons in Thursday’s opener as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell, and wide receiver Antonio Brown will all sit. Pittsburgh didn’t put too much stock into last preseason, posting a 1-4 SU/ATS record, while scoring 19 points or fewer in three of those defeats. Big Ben also sat out their opener last season against the Vikings in the Hall of Fame game, as the Steelers put up only three points.

Vikings at Bengals (-2 ½, 35) – 7:30 PM EST

Minnesota
Head Coach: Mike Zimmer (8-1 SU, 7-2 ATS)
Quarterback Rotation: Teddy Bridgewater, Shaun Hill, Joel Stave (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Chris Tomasson

If there’s one coach that cares about preseason results, it’s Zimmer. The Vikings have won eight of nine exhibition games under Zimmer, while compiling a 3-1 SU/ATS record as a road underdog. The ‘under’ has hit in five of nine preseason games since 2014 for Minnesota, as the Vikings yielded just six points in their opening week victory over Oakland.

Cincinnati
Head Coach: Marvin Lewis (28-25 SU, 28-24-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Andy Dalton, A.J. McCarron, Keith Wenning, Joe Licata (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Jim Owczarski

The Bengals have been extremely competitive the last four preseasons by winning 10 of 16 games, including a 3-1 mark in 2015. Cincinnati cruised to a pair of home victories over the Giants and Bears by double-digits apiece, while posting a 5-1 SU/ATS record in the past six exhibition games at Paul Brown Stadium. In all four preseason contests last season, the Bengals finished ‘under’ the total each time, which is in stark contrast to the 3-1 ‘over’ mark in the 2014 preseason.

Browns at Packers (-3 ½, 36 ½) – 8:00 PM EST

Cleveland
Head Coach: Hue Jackson (0-4 SU, 0-4 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Josh McCown, Robert Griffin III, Cody Kessler (Rookie), Austin Davis
Beat Twitter Follow: Mary Kay Cabot

The Browns scored the third-fewest points in the NFL last season, as Cleveland signed RGIII hoping to bolster its offense. In the 2015 preseason, Cleveland scored 17 points or less in its three defeats, while all four games went ‘under’ the total. The Browns won three of four road preseason games from 2012-13, but own a 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS in the past four away exhibition contests in 2013-14.

Green Bay
Head Coach: Mike McCarthy (20-20 SU, 20-20 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Joe Callahan (Rookie), Marquise Williams (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Rob Demovsky

The Packers didn’t have to worry about injuring any of their players when Sunday’s Hall of Fame game against the Colts was cancelled due to poor field conditions. Green Bay returns home as Aaron Rodgers will likely sit out (as he was expected to in the HOF game), while Brett Hundley is questionable with an ankle injury. The Packers haven’t put much stock in their preseason opener recently by losing five of the past six in this situation, including setbacks to the Browns in 2010 and 2011.

Raiders at Cardinals (-3, 37 ½) – 10:00 PM EST

Oakland
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio (22-18 SU, 21-17-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Derek Carr, Matt McGloin, Connor Cook (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Vic Tafur

The Raiders have high expectations this season following a 7-9 campaign in Jack Del Rio’s debut season as head coach. Oakland cruised to an 18-3 victory over St. Louis, but lost its final three preseason contests, including a 30-23 home defeat to Arizona. The Raiders have struggled on the road in preseason by losing 10 straight games away from the Coliseum, while covering only once in this span, which coincidentally came against the Cardinals in 2012 in a 31-27 defeat as 4 ½-point underdogs.

Arizona
Head Coach: Bruce Arians (6-6 SU, 7-4-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, Matt Barkley
Beat Twitter Follow: Kent Somers

The Cardinals played in four high-scoring exhibition games last season, finishing ‘over’ the total in all four contests. Following a 3-1 debut in the 2013 preseason, Arizona has lost five of its past eight exhibition games under Bruce Arians, including an 0-2 mark at home in 2015. The Cardinals pitched a pair of shutouts in preseason openers in 2013 and 2014, but allowed 34 points to the Chiefs in the 2015 opener.

[StarDust Bum]

Preseason Record: ( Opinions Only )

WLT PCT UNITS RANK

ATS Picks 3-3-0 50.00% -150

O/U Picks 4-2-0 66.67% +900


FRIDAY, AUGUST 12

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

DET at PIT 07:00 PM

PIT -3.0

U 35.0


MIA at NYG 07:00 PM

MIA +2.5

U 36.5


MIN at CIN 07:30 PM

CIN -2.5

O 35.0


CLE at GB 08:00 PM

CLE +3.0

O 36.5


OAK at ARI 10:00 PM

OAK +2.5

U 37.5

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Preseason Tips
August 13, 2016


Seahawks at Chiefs (-2, 35 ½) – 4:30 PM EST

Seattle
Head coach: Pete Carroll (25-16 SU, 27-13-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin (Rookie), Jake Heaps
Beat Twitter Follow: Gregg Bell

Wilson had an eventful offseason, marrying Ciara, but it wasn't quite as hectic as former top backup Tarvaris Jackson, who got himself arrested for gun charges and wasn't re-signed. For now, that leaves a gaping hole behind Wilson, who may make a cameo here before turning it over so his current backups can show Carroll what they've got. Boykin starred at TCU and is a dynamic pass/run threat. Heaps, who played at BYU, has had a strong camp. The Seahawks have won 11 of their last 15 preseason contests, but have gone just 2-2 the past two seasons. Seattle has averaged 31.4 points over its last six preseason home games.

Kansas City
Head Coach: Andy Reid (32-36 SU, 30-34-4 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Alex Smith, Nick Foles, Aaron Murray, Tyler Bray, Kevin Hogan (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Terez Paylor

The Chiefs are also looking to determine their situation at backup QB, but have many more options to work with. Behind Smith, the recently-signed Foles has already emerged as the top option, but will be looking to show Reid what he’s retained of the system. Bray and Murray, prolific college passers, are fighting for a roster spot. X-factor Tyreek Hill, a fifth-round pick out of West Alabama, has been the talk of camp and could command attention similar to how Seattle’s Tyler Lockett managed to last preseason. Kansas City went a perfect 4-0 in last year’s exhibitions.

Colts at Bills (-2 ½, 37) – 7 PM EST

Indianapolis
Head coach: Chuck Pagano (5-11 SU, 7-9 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Andrew Luck, Scott Tolzien, Stephen Morris
Beat Twitter Follow: Stephen Holder

Luck was probably going to take a few snaps in the Hall of Fame game, but he's likely to get a couple series here before giving way to his backups. Pagano has lost eight of his nine exhibition games, with the lone victory coming in the key third one, so he doesn't put a lot of stock in results. The Colts have a new defensive coordinator in Ted Monachino, who has spent the last five years as Ravens linebackers coach. That side of the ball should be eager to make an impression, so we'll see how aggressive the defense plays.

Buffalo
Head Coach: Rex Ryan (13-15 SU, 13-15 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Tyrod Taylor, E.J. Manuel, Cardale Jones (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Mike Rodak

Taylor just signed a six-year, $92 million extension that got him a raise if nothing else, so he'll be a happy man taking the field for the opening quarter. Ryan's plan is to ride Manuel in the second and Jones after halftime, so we'll see how the Ohio State product has progressed for an entire half. Ryan went 2-2 in his first exhibition season in Buffalo. Sammy Watkins is being brought back slowly and injuries have been an issue for the Bills throughout camp, so look for the second half to be dominated by roster longshots. Reggie Bush won't go.

Cowboys at Rams (-5, 35 ½) – 8:00 PM EST

Dallas
Head coach: Jason Garrett (8-13 SU, 6-14-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Tony Romo, Dak Prescott (Rookie), Jameill Showers
Beat Twitter Follow: David Moore

The Cowboys have held out Dez Bryant and Jason Witten while taking baby steps with Romo. They've erred on the side of caution with top pick Ezekiel Elliott, who has sat with a hamstring issue. Dallas has a lot of work to do as far as truly identifying where its backup quarterback situation lies, but have been installed as the heaviest underdog in Preseason Week 1 for a reason. Garrett has lost 10 of his last 12 exhibitions.

Los Angeles
Head coach: Jeff Fisher (38-42 SU, 37-41-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Case Keenum, Jared Goff (Rookie), Sean Mannion, Dylan Thompson
Beat Twitter Follow: Gary Klein

Only New England's Bill Belichick has won more preseason games among active coaches, but no one has lost more than Fisher. The 58-year-old was even at the helm the last time a team relocated and won his preseason home opener back in 1999 on a Friday night in Nashville, doing so with the Titans. The L.A. native is certainly going to have his team up to make a good first impression on the patrons at the Coliseum in this nationally-televised contest. He'll play Goff, the NFL's top draft pick, extensively, doing so after giving the veteran Keenum first crack.

Chargers at Titans (-3, 35 ½) – 7 PM EST

San Diego
Head coach: Mike McCoy (5-7 SU, 7-4-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Philip Rivers, Kellen Clemens, Zach Mettenberger, Mike Bercovici (Rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Tom Krasovic

The Chargers are hoping Melvin Gordon can bounce back from a disappointing rookie season that never got going well since he was having ankle issues this time last year. Rivers only took nine snaps in last year's second exhibition game and isn't likely to participate too long in this one. Donald Brown should be back from a hip injury and should see increased reps with Gordon out. Attrition has already been an issue in camp, as has the continued absence of top pick Joey Bosa due to a contract holdout. After losing their first two preseason home games under McCoy by a combined score of 72-16, the Chargers are 3-1 in Qualcomm exhibitions since, surrendering just 9.5 points per game.

Tennessee
Head coach: Mike Mularkey (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Marcus Mariota, Matt Cassel, Alex Tanney
Beat Twitter Follow: Jim Wyatt

Mularkey has a chance to call the shots in a preaseason for the first time since 2012, his only season with Jacksonville. He went 2-7 and presided over Mariota's continued emergence, so it's ironic that his former boss Ken Whisenhunt, who drafted Mariota and began his development, returns here as San Diego's offensive coordinator. He'll start and watch his new backup (Cassel) and old one (Mettenberger) undoubtedly get more time in this one. Defensively, veteran mastermind Dick LeBeau doesn't put much on display this time of year, so expect plenty of vanilla.

[StarDust Bum]

Special teams stars make case as NFL again tweaks kickoffs
August 13, 2016

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) Chris Maragos can't imagine an NFL without kickoffs.

The Philadelphia special teams ace admits to sounding like a lobbyist when he said he never feels safer during a play that the league keeps altering in an effort to reduce high-speed collisions, backed by statistics that show most injuries occur on kickoffs.

With competition committee member Stephen Jones of the Dallas Cowboys suggesting that safety is more important than players making a living covering kickoffs and punts, Maragos is quick on the counterpoint.

''Yeah, things are moving fast and you're running down the field. But I never feel like my safety's compromised, at all,'' said Maragos, who is going into his seventh year as mostly a special teams player. ''From what people look on the outside in, it looks like a chaotic play. But the guys who are really mastering it know what they're doing. It's pretty under control.''

Five years after moving the kickoff to the 35-yard line from the 30 to reduce the number of returns, the NFL is trying something else to encourage more touchbacks by putting the ball on the 25 instead of the 20 on a one-year trial.

There is still plenty of dialogue, too.

Senior vice president of officiating Dean Blandino held a conference call with special teams coaches during the offseason.

Among other ideas being discussed are eliminating the running start for the coverage team and pulling players on the receiving team closer to the kickoff line so that they're moving more in the same direction as the kicking team, making it more like blocking for a punt return.

Blandino said he doesn't think the kickoff will be eliminated.

''It's a big part of the game,'' he said. ''It's an exciting play.''

But the league increasingly sees it as a dangerous play, particularly with so much attention on concussions. And that's where Jones isn't swayed by the idea that it might mean fewer opportunities for players who aren't good enough to be stars on offense or defense.

''At the end of the day the players' health and safety is the No. 1 priority in this league,'' said Jones, the executive vice president of personnel for the Cowboys. ''If that comes at the expense of something else that's not as high a priority, then we certainly have to accept that.''

One of the most noteworthy plays of 2015 was actually a punt return, when Dallas safety Jeff Heath blocked Ricardo Lockette when the Seattle coverage man was in full stride and didn't see him. It was a legal play, but the resulting neck injury ended Lockette's career.

While Heath has twice as many tackles on defense as Maragos in half the number of years, he still fits the special teams profile: part-time defensive player, full-time chaser of opposing kick returners. And he believes there will always be a need for that.

''You're covering a lot of ground and you've got to be fast,'' said Heath, who is going into his fourth season. ''There's a lot of skill that comes into it as well. Those type of guys tend to do well wherever they play. Defense, offense or special teams.''

Maragos would argue that kickoffs and punts are gateways to stardom, too. Among his peers, he points to Tennessee tight end Delanie Walker, his teammate in San Francisco when Maragos was a rookie. He says special teams helped keep Walker on the roster, and now Walker is coming off a Pro Bowl season in Tennessee.

Minnesota receiver Adam Thielen was undrafted out of Division II Minnesota State Mankato and spent a year on the practice squad before becoming a key special teams contributor for the Vikings. He blocked a punt for a touchdown in 2014 and last season ran a fake punt 41 yards in the NFC North-clinching season finale at Green Bay.

Thielen said the key to safety in kick coverage comes on the practice field.

''Every day, it's technique, technique, technique,'' he said. ''I really don't think it's more dangerous than an offensive play. You could get hit on a crossing route over the middle a lot harder than on a kickoff.''

Maragos grew up in Wisconsin rooting for the Green Bay Packers, who beat New England 35-21 in the 1997 Super Bowl. The thing Maragos remembers most is the anticipation of the opening kickoff. And by the way, Desmond Howard had a 99-yard kickoff return and was the game's MVP.

''You talk about speed down the field, athleticism to avoid blocks. You talk about a heart, a grit, a determination, an inner desire,'' Maragos said. ''To me, it embodies everything that an NFL football player should be. And really what the game is about.''

[StarDust Bum]

PRESEASON OPINIONS RECORD:

ATS Picks 5-6-0 45.45% -800

O/U Picks 4-7-0 36.36% -1850

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

SEA at KC 04:30 PM

KC -3.5

O 36.0


IND at BUF 07:00 PM

BUF -2.5

U 36.5


DAL at LA 08:00 PM

DAL +5.0

U 36.0


SD at TEN 08:00 PM

SD +2.5

U 35.5

[StarDust Bum]

PRESEASON OPINIONS RECORD:

ATS Picks 6-9-0 40.00% -1950

O/U Picks 4-11-0 26.67% -4050


SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HOU at SF 07:00 PM

SF -3.0

U 37.0

[StarDust Bum]

Close Calls - Preseason Week 1
August 15, 2016


Glancing at the scoreboard won’t tell you the whole story in most games. Here are some of the games that went down to the wire relative to the spread in the fourth quarter last week in the opening weekend of the NFL preseason, including several last second scores that changed results.

Atlanta Falcons (-3) 23, Washington Redskins 17 (37): The Falcons led 23-3 about halfway through the third quarter, but Washington answered to make it 23-10. An Atlanta fumble to start the fourth quarter tilted the trajectory of the game as the Redskins scored another touchdown on a short field to get within six, also pushing the total ‘over’ in the process. After the Falcons missed a late field goal that would have sealed the win, Washington wound up failing on four tries to advance as Atlanta held on in a game where they had a significant yardage edge.

Philadelphia Eagles (-3) 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 (37½): The Eagles struck early with two touchdowns in the first five minutes with the first score coming after the Buccaneers fumbled on the opening kickoff. Tampa Bay would find the end zone, but a missed extra-point kept the score at 14-6 where it stayed until well into the second half. After a Philadelphia field goal early in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers did the same to keep the margin at eight points, whereas a touchdown would have had a chance to change the spread result as going for two would have been likely. In the final minute, an interception in the end zone ended Tampa Bay’s quest to tie the game or at least spoil the spread result with the Buccaneers featuring five turnovers in the head coaching debut of Dirk Koetter

New York Jets (-3) 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 13 (36½): The Jaguars took an early 10-0 lead, but by halftime, they barely clung to an underdog cover trailing 14-13 with an 84-yard kickoff return being a big play for the Jets to set up a touchdown just before the half. New York extended the lead to 17-13 with a field goal in the third, but the Jets also missed two field goals to leave the door open. Behind rookie Brandon Allen, Jacksonville reached the New York 14-yard line in the final minute of the game, but an interception ended the threat and sealed the win for the Jets and the ‘under’ in a game where the Jets were out-gained by 131 yards.

Baltimore Ravens (+1) 22, Carolina Panthers 19 (36½): The 2015 NFC champions started off hot with a 3-0 lead that nearly turned to 10-0, but a penalty on Cam Newton for being on the field cost the team a defensive touchdown. Derek Anderson led the Panthers to the end zone a few plays later, but by halftime it was 14-13 Ravens to the chagrin of ‘under’ players as 10 points were scored in the final minute of the first half. Baltimore extended the lead to 22-13 in the third, but back-to-back Baltimore turnovers gave the Panthers two field goals to climb within three points as a slight road favorite. Wil Lutz missed a 53-yard field goal attempt for Baltimore and it looked like the Panthers would take the lead with first-and-goal with over three minutes to go in the game. Being that it was the preseason, the Panthers went for it on fourth and goal from the 4-yard line with an incompletion ending the threat.

New England Patriots (-4) 34, New Orleans Saints 22 (38): With eyes on Jimmy Garoppolo and the revamped Saints defense, it was the New England defense that made the biggest mark on this preseason game. Jamie Collins opened the scoring with an interception return touchdown, but the Saints would take a 16-8 lead in the second quarter. New England pulled ahead to 24-16 in the third quarter, but the Saints lined up to tie the game only to fail on their two-point conversion after succeeding on the conversion attempts on two first half touchdowns. The New Orleans defense forced a punt, but Luke McCown wound up being sacked on a key third down play and his fumble was returned for another defensive score for the Patriots to put the game away as the Saints had 26 first downs offset by four turnovers.

Miami Dolphins (+2) 27, New York Giants 10 (36½): A 10-0 1st quarter lead for the Giants was quickly erased as the Dolphins scored 17 points in the final five minutes of the first half with the key play being Ryan Nassib fumbling on a sack with the ball returned to the 5-yard line. That play was also the key play in pushing the pace towards the ‘over’ although after just three points in the third quarter both total results were very possible. Another New York fumble set up the Dolphins in great field position with Miami scoring about halfway through the final frame to seal the win and push the total just barely ‘over’.

Detroit Lions (+3) 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 17 (35): A scoreless first quarter was promising for the ‘under,’ but that changed quickly with a defensive touchdown opening the scoring that eventually led to 27 points in the second quarter. Detroit took a 16-14 lead with a field goal in the third quarter, a lead the Steelers got back early in the fourth quarter with their own 3-point kick. The side and total results were confirmed on the ensuing kickoff as Dwayne Washington went 96 yards for a touchdown for the Lions and Detroit connected for the two-point conversion to lead 24-17. Another late Lions touchdown behind rookie Jake Rudock padded the final score although the statistics also presented a pretty dominant result for Detroit with nearly a 200-yard edge.

Minnesota Vikings (+1) 17, Cincinnati Bengals 16 (35): Mike Zimmer’s excellent preseason track record continued as the Vikings led the majority of this game, a bit of a homecoming for Zimmer who was a long-time assistant under Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. Minnesota led 17-7 heading into the fourth quarter as a slight underdog and the Bengals did not score again until late in the final frame. With the line closing at just +1 for the Vikings and the total closing at 35, the final minutes were uncomfortable for all involved as a Minnesota 17-10 lead turned into 17-16 after an impressive 80-yard punt return touchdown from rookie Alex Erickson for the Bengals. With less than three minutes to go, the Bengals went for two in a play that was critical on the spread and total results with the Vikings and the ‘under’ just barely holding on with the attempt failing.

Oakland Raiders (+3) 31, Arizona Cardinals 10 (37): The Raiders quickly jumped ahead in this matchup and a seven-point lead was doubled late in the third quarter as the spread result for the underdog Raiders was rarely in doubt. The total that looked on pace for an easy ‘over’ after a 20-point first quarter stalled with just 34 points well into the fourth quarter. With just over three minutes to go Oakland running back George Atkinson III broke a 35-yard run for a touchdown to confirm the ‘over’ in a game that featured over 700 total yards for a very productive outing by preseason standards in Week 1.

Seattle Seahawks (+3½) 17, Kansas City Chiefs 16 (36): The Chiefs relied on mostly field goals, but a 16-6 lead was the result through three quarters and the Chiefs still led by seven after Steven Hauschka connected from 50 yards with just over three minutes to go in the game. Rookie Trevone Boykin was handed the reins of the Seattle offense for most of this game and as time expired he hit rookie Tanner McEvoy for a touchdown with Seattle then successfully rushing for the two-point conversion and the win.

Indianapolis Colts (+2½) 19, Buffalo Bills (36): Andrew Luck sat out for the Colts and a safety for the Bills opened the scoring. At halftime, the score was 9-9 and the slight favorite Bills were just barely covering through three quarters with a 12-9 lead. The Colts connected for a big 57-yard pass play early in the fourth quarter to lead by four and Indianapolis added a field goal with just over a minute to go to seemingly lock up the game. Behind rookie Cardale Jones, the Bills managed to 83 yards in the final minute for a touchdown as time expired, shifting the total result to the ‘over’ though the Bills wound up failing going for two and the win.

Los Angeles Rams (-6) 28, Dallas Cowboys 24 (35½): The Rams clearly wanted to win their Los Angeles return, but the game started with the worst possible scenario as the opening kickoff was returned for a touchdown for the Cowboys. Dallas would take a 24-7 lead at the half to seemingly take complete control of the game with turnovers hurting the cause for the Rams. Behind Sean Mannion, the Rams rallied with a third quarter touchdown locking up the ‘over’ and Los Angeles was within three after an 80-yard touchdown drive early in the final frame. Just after the two minute warning, the Rams found the end zone again on a drive that included a big fourth-down conversion. With the successful extra-point, the Rams were past the early spreads of -3 or -3½ but this game featured a significant line move with Los Angeles closing as high as -6 and those that were looking for the middle got it as a final drive from Dallas couldn’t get past midfield.

Tennessee Titans (-3) 27, San Diego Chargers 10 (37): The Titans eventually posted 437 yards in this game, but they had just a modest 17-10 lead into the fourth quarter. Bishop Sankey would break a long run to eventually push the lead to 27-10 for the Titans, hitting the ‘over’ for many that got on the game early in the week. The score didn’t change in the final 10 minutes as the total wound up right on the closing number.

Houston Texans (+3) 24, San Francisco 49ers (39): The 49ers led 13-7 at the half, but wound up not scoring again as the Texans overcame a substantial yardage deficit to win on the road, outscoring the 49ers 17-0 in the second half. The total opened at 35 but was past 37 by game day, eventually closing at 39 with many eyeing the high scoring preseason track record of new 49ers coach Chip Kelly. 37 was right where the game landed with a 49ers drive reaching the Houston 32-yard line in the 4th quarter the biggest threat with a holding penalty pushing San Francisco backwards from there.