The Bum's NFL Preseason Picks-Results-Etc. !

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Thursday's Best Bet
August 24, 2017

Thursday NFL Preseason Best Bet

Carolina vs. Jacksonville

HeritageSports.eu Odds: Carolina (-1.5) vs. Jacksonville (+1.5); Total set at 42.5

Jacksonville has already made plenty of noise this week as their starting QB position is now completely up for grabs. Given that Week 3 of the preseason is generally considered the “dress rehearsal” for NFL teams, this is not exactly the greatest time to open up a QB competition.

But Blake Bortles should have been at the end of his rope long before now, and given the talent around him, Jacksonville can't wait around or “waste” another year believing he's still there future. Chad Henne is a more than capable short-term option if the Jags decide to go that route, but for our betting purposes tonight, this competition might not be a bad thing at all.

When there were initial rumblings early this week that the Jags had been considering going this route, the line on this game saw some action. There were already rumblings of Carolina QB Cam Newton preparing to get the start (which he will) and when you combine that with Jacksonville's QB issues, it's no wonder we saw the line move the way it did.

Carolina went from opening as a 1-point or pick'em 'dog to now laying almost two points on the road. Newton getting his first action is a big bump no question, but nobody really wants anything to do with the Jags right now, and given how they've been everyone's favorite “sleeper” pick the past few off-seasons, you wonder if everyone is completely fed up with this team.

Yet, for our purposes tonight, with the way the line movement has gone and the QB news for both teams shaken out, I actually believe that a QB competition in Jacksonville today is a good thing. Let me explain...

First off, the first-team guys at playmaking positions (WR, RB, TE) should all be out there for at least the first half, meaning both Henne and Bortles have plenty of trust in their teammates out there and can cut it loose. With a starting job on the line now, neither guy is going to hold back anything during their time on the field, and that could actually lead to the Jags offense looking like the one that everyone's thought has had great potential the past few years.

Jacksonville has already shown this preseason that they've got big-play potential with two TD's of over 78 yards in Week 1, and when you combine some of those with methodical, lengthy scoring drives – a Chad Henne speciality – you've now become an offensive attack that is extremely tough to stop.

Secondly, yes, Cam Newton is making his preseason debut, but even if the plan is to have him in there for the first half, you've got to believe the Panthers are always going to stay on the side of caution in that regard. Facing live bullets takes some getting used to, and Panthers backers will be quite disappointed to see Newton come out after the first quarter or something like that if that ends up being the case.

The Panthers offense has looked good without him so far with 27 points scored in each of their two preseason tilts so far, but there can't be much, if any motivation on Carolina's sideline, other than to be happy to see Newton get some quality reps under his belt. It could very well be an attitude of “get in, get it done, get out of town” for the Panthers, so fading that 80% + ML bets that Carolina's already gotten according to VegasInsider.com adds a bit of intrigue to a Jacksonville play as well.

So while going against line moves like this is not something I'm looking to do often, I simply don't agree with the move with how things have played out. If it was just Newton returning and no QB battle in Jacksonville I'd like Carolina and the move much more, but with the line flipping and then Jacksonville coming out and stating that their starting QB position is up for grabs, there is just so much more value in a Jags ML play now.

Anything can happen in the preseason in terms of wins and losses, but the Jags have a huge motivational edge now tonight with both QB's competing for playing time, and they really have nowhere to go but up after last week. The Jags are now a disgraced public darling in the eyes of the many who've had high hopes for this organization the past few years, and now that they look like they are at the lowest of their lows with no idea who there QB will be in two weeks, I've got no problem buying in, at least a little bit.

HeritageSports.eu Best Bet: Jacksonville ML (+105)

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MIA at PHI 07:00 PM

PHI -3.5

U 42.0

CAR at JAC 07:30 PM

JAC +1.5

U 43.0

[StarDust Bum]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Here’s what should excite you about Cam Newton’s preseason debut:

The Carolina Panthers quarterback didn’t do -- or have to do -- anything spectacular and still led a scoring drive on the first series of Thursday night’s game at Jacksonville.

Newton handed off eight times and threw twice, completing both passes, the second a 9-yard touchdown to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin that simply was too easy. So he was efficient.

He never was in danger of being hit by a big pass rush. He never thought about putting his surgically repaired shoulder or body in danger with a designed run out of the read-option or one of his electrifying scrambles. Both were big for the quarterback who has been hit more than any other since 2011.

He got the ball in the hands of first-round pick Christian McCaffrey with a short pass that the former Stanford running back turned into a 12-yard gain. He let his playmakers make plays.

So in terms of what the Panthers wanted to accomplish with Newton: Check, check and check.

Here are other observations from the 24-23 victory over the Jaguars:

QB depth chart: Anyone who came to see if Newton was ready for the Sept. 10 opener, despite limited throwing in the preseason, got their answer: Yes. While he may not be ready to throw 40-50 passes a game, that’s not what the staff wants. They want a physical, ball-control offense like the one they saw on the opening drive. They want Newton to take advantage of the easy throws, which he did. Third-string quarterback Joe Webb didn’t dress, but he’ll likely get a lot of playing time in the final preseason game, when Newton isn’t expected to play. Derek Anderson played into the third quarter and the offense sputtered for the second straight week.

When it was starters vs. starters, the Panthers looked …: Solid. Efficient. Ready for the regular season. OK, so it was against Jacksonville. But the Panthers dominated up front with their first-team offense, helping make Newton’s return a cakewalk. The physical ground game that is the basis of the team’s attack set up two easy throws by Newton. The defensive front looked solid as well. End Mario Addison ended Jacksonville’s first series with a sack. The Jaguars were headed for another three-and-out, but used a fake punt for a 51-yard gain to set up a touchdown.

One reason to be concerned: Second-year cornerback Daryl Worley had a solid training camp at Wofford College. But for the second straight week, he was beaten badly. Last week, it was for a touchdown on a miscommunication. On Thursday, he was let off the hook on a drop of a deep pass in which the defender got behind him, but he later gave up a 37-yard reception on third-and-14 in the second quarter. Big plays against the secondary killed Carolina a year ago.

That guy could start: Center Tyler Larsen was the third-string, arguably fourth, center last year, but got valuable playing time because of mass injuries. Now he’s the backup center and has played well with the first unit as five-time Pro Bowl selection Ryan Kalil has rehabbed from shoulder surgery. Tyler Larsen took over for Kalil after the first series and held his own against the Jaguars’ starters.

Rookie watch: We pause from the hype of McCaffrey to focus on second-round pick Curtis Samuel. The former Ohio State wide receiver made his preseason debut after dealing with a hamstring injury most of training camp. He was drafted to open up this offense from the slot position. He was targeted five times and had three catches for 9 yards. The swing route he turned into a 7-yard completion was a good example of what he can do. He did leave the field with a slight limp, so that’s something to keep an eye on.

Don’t forget Stew: It’s easy to forget Jonathan Stewart is the starting running back with the dynamic playmaking ability of McCaffrey. But the 30-year-old showed on the first drive he’s still a force and not a player to be forgotten in fantasy football. Stewart carried four times on the first drive for 40 yards, including a 31-yarder in which he looked as nimble as the 21-year-old McCaffrey.

Where’s Funch? The Panthers keep saying they want to get wide receiver Devin Funchess more involved in the passing game. He wasn’t targeted in this one and has only two catches for 12 yards (with a fumble) in three games. Yes, it’s preseason, but Funchess disappeared from the offense last year after having a great preseason. The Panthers will need him to step up when teams start making game plans more for Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen.

[StarDust Bum]

Eagles Secure Wild 38-31 Win Over Miami

The Eagles secured their second straight victory of the preseason in a wild 38-31 win over the Miami Dolphins. The turnover-filled, high-scoring contest saw nine total touchdowns, seven turnovers, and 18 penalties.

The Eagles defense went to work early as defensive end Vinny Curry forced a sack-fumble on Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler which was recovered by defensive tackle Fletcher Cox on the Dolphins' first drive. On the Eagles' first offensive possession, Torrey Smith made his first catch as an Eagle a memorable one, as quarterback Carson Wentz found Smith deep along the right side for a 50-yard touchdown.

The hectic first quarter continued as the Eagles gave up back-to-back touchdowns within 20 seconds to Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi. After Ajayi’s first score, a tipped pass from Carson Wentz at the Philadelphia 21-yard line was intercepted by defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, setting up another Ajayi two-yard touchdown run on the next play, giving the Dolphins the 14-7 lead in the matter of seconds.

The Eagles, however, refused to end the first quarter without a high note. With just over a minute remaining, Wentz found wide receiver Alshon Jeffery wide open on a short pass down the right side for a 15-yard touchdown and Jeffery’s first touchdown as an Eagle. The end of the first would be Wentz and the rest of the starters’ last action of the night.

After a quick Jay Cutler - Julius Thomas touchdown connection that was set up by a pass interference call on cornerback Ronald Darby against Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills, the game took a sloppy turn. The two teams traded picks on back-to-back possessions from backup quarterbacks Matt McGloin and Matt Moore. The Eagles got the better end of the deal, though, as safety Jaylen Watkins snatched away a pass intended for DeVante Parker in the end zone and returned the ball 50 yards before he was brought down at the Philadelphia 47-yard line early in the second quarter.

The second quarter proved to be every bit as high-scoring as the first as the Eagles found their way to the end zone twice. Rookie running back Corey Clement struck gold on a three-yard rush up the middle midway through the second. Less than two minutes later, linebacker Mychal Kendrick continued his stellar preseason play with a pick-six on a 31-yard snatch and score to cap off the first half putting the Eagles up 28-24.

The two teams traded blows in the second half, but ultimately the Eagles would secure the lead for the rest of the game late in the fourth quarter when wide receiver Marcus Johnson got in on the scoring fun as well with a tough touchdown catch near the back corner of the end zone.

The Eagles will be back in action next Thursday when they take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium in the preseason finale.

[StarDust Bum]

PRESEASON RECORD:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

08/24/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
08/20/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +950
08/19/2017 8-10-0 44.44% -1500
08/18/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -50
08/17/2017 2-3-1 40.00% -650
08/13/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +950
08/12/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -1200
08/11/2017 1-5-0 16.67% -2250
08/10/2017 6-8-0 42.86% -1400
08/09/2017 0-2-0 0.00% -1100
08/03/2017 0-1-1 0.00% -550

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 13-20-1 39.39% -25.00

O/U Picks 15-18-1 45.45% -24.00

[StarDust Bum]

AFC North Outlook
August 25, 2017


AFC NorthBaltimore Ravens
-- 2016 record (8-8) – 2nd in the AFC North
-- Off YPG – 347.7 (17th) – Def YPG – 322.1 (7th)
-- Points scored 21.4 (21st) – Points allowed 20.1 (9th)

2017 ASA prediction – Play OVER 9 Wins for the Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore has been one of the more consistent franchises in the NFL winning at least 8 games in 8 of the last 9 seasons. Last year they finished 8-8 and we expect a jump to at least 9 wins this year. This is a team that outgained their opponents by 26 YPG last year and outscored their opponents on the season. They only lost two games all season long by more than 7 points. Five of their eight losses came at the hands of playoff teams and in three of their losses they led with 2:15 or less remaining in the game. This team could have easily topped 8 wins last season.

The schedule sets up for them to get off to a fast start as 3 of their first 6 games come against Cleveland, Jacksonville, and Chicago, none of whom topped 3 wins last season. The Birds also close out the season with 4 of their final 6 games at home and one of those two roadies comes at Cleveland which is a probable win. Baltimore has one of the more stable coaching staffs in the NFL and head man John Harbaugh has proven his worth with an impressive 85-59 NFL regular season record. We think 9-7 at worst for this team which would get us a push at worst as well.

Betting Records – 7-9 ATS record / 7 Overs, 8 Unders, 1 Push

-- Ravens were just 4-8-1 ATS as a HF last 2 seasons. However, leading into the 2015 season they were 60-38-3 ATS as a HF since 2000 (62%)
-- Ravens vs Steelers – 11 of the last 18 meetings between these two AFC North rivals were decided by 3 or less
-- Ravens vs Steelers – Despite two defensive minded teams, the over is 21-13-1 the last 35 meetings
-- Ravens vs Browns – These two rivals have gone UNDER the total in 11 of their last 16 meetings. Only 4 times in their last 16 meetings have these two topped 42 points

Pittsburgh Steelers
-- 2016 record (11-5) – 1st in AFC North
-- Off YPG – 372.6 (7th) – Def YPG – 342.6 (12th)
-- Points scored 24.9 (11th) – Points allowed 20.4 (10th)

2017 ASA prediction – Play OVER 10.5 Wins for the Pittsburgh Steelers

This one was a tough call as we think this number of 10.5 is set exactly where it should be. However we have to lean OVER here and we expect the Steelers to get to 11 wins again in 2017. They finished 11-5 last year and that was with Roethlisberger sitting out 2 games due to injury. Big Ben’s health is obviously a key to this selection. He needs to stay on the field and with his age and the beating he takes, that is not guaranteed. His weapons on offense are 2nd to none with RB Bell & WR Brown causing problems for defenses. They have finished in the top 7 in total offense each of the last 3 years and another high finish is expected this season.

The schedule on the front end and back end is favorable. The Steelers begin the season in Cleveland and don’t play a playoff team from last year until week 6. They should be favored in 11 of their first 12 games and if the season plays out as we think, this team will most likely be an underdog only twice all season (vs New England and at KC). There are a few other games that could go either way spread wise (at Baltimore, at Cincinnati, and at Houston) although worst case scenario would have them a small underdog in those. They close the season with 5 of their last 7 games at home and their overall schedule ranks as the 5th easiest in the NFL with their opponents winning just 45% of their games last season.

Betting Records - 9-6-1 ATS record / 6 Overs, 10 Unders

-- Ravens vs Steelers – 11 of the last 18 meetings between these two AFC North rivals were decided by 3 or less
-- Since 2003, Pittsburgh has the 4th best ATS home record in the NFL (66-52-3) covering 56% of the time.
-- Since 2003, the Steelers are 9-3-2 (75%) as a home underdog – best mark in the NFL.
-- Going back to 2010, Pittsburgh is 25-15 ATS (62.5%) the game following a SU loss.
-- Steelers have dominated AFC North rival Cincinnati. Pitt is 40-14 SU the last 52 meetings and 36-18 ATS.

Cincinnati Bengals
-- 2016 record (6-9-1) – 3rd in the AFC North
-- Off YPG – 356.9 (13th) – Def YPG – 350.8 (17th)
-- Points scored 20.3 (24th) – Points allowed 19.7 PPG (8th)

2017 ASA prediction – Play UNDER 8.5 Wins for the Cincinnati Bengals

We’re not big fans of QB Andy Dalton and with him under center, we simply think the Bengals will underachieve. They will most likely improve a bit on last year’s 6-9-1 mark but we don’t see this team getting to 9 wins. Their defense was solid, but offensively with Dalton running the show, they simply aren’t very good. He will be operating behind an offensive line that lost arguably their 2 best players in the off-season with Whitworth going to the Rams and Zeitler to the Browns. The defense was solid for the most part but if the offense scores only 20 PPG again this year, this team won’t get to 9 wins.

They start fairly tough with 3 of their first 6 opponents making the playoffs last year + Baltimore who was close. They have a brutal stretch coming out of their bye in late October playing 4 of 5 on the road including 3 consecutive roadies on November 5th at Jacksonville, November 12th at Tennessee, and November 19th at Denver. They do close with a much more manageable schedule but at that point they might have a tough time battling back above .500. The Cats did lose a home game last year when they traveled to London but even back to a regular schedule in 2017, we feel this team is destined for an 8-8 season.

Betting Records – 7-9 ATS record / 6 Overs, 10 Unders

-- The Bengals have been terrible against the division rival Steelers winning just 14 of the last 54 meetings. Cincy has also covered only 18 of the last 54 vs Pittsburgh.
-- Since 2004, the Bengals are just 29-38-4 ATS (43%) as home favorites – 10th worst in the NFL.
-- Since 2005, Cincy is a terrible 0-7 (1-6 ATS) in the playoffs losing by an average score of 25-12.
-- If you can find the Bengals as a home underdog they have gone a money making 19-8 the last 27 times in that position.
-- Cincinnati has cashed in at a 67% clip vs division opponent Baltimore going 16-8-1 ATS – dating back to 2004.

Cleveland Browns
-- 2016 record (1-15) – 4th in the AFC North
-- Off YPG – 311 (30th) – Def YPG – 392.4 (31st)
-- Points scored 16.5 (31st) – Points allowed 28.2 (30th)

2017 ASA prediction – Play UNDER 4.5 Wins for the Cleveland Browns

Have the Browns improved enough to jump a full 4 wins in 2017? Not in our opinion. This team had only 1 win last year and we don’t see them getting to 5 wins this season. This franchise has THE WORST record in the NFL since 2010 with 29 wins & 83 losses. That’s an average of just 4 wins per season. There is a solid chance they will be underdogs in every game this season. They do have a chance to be small favorites at home vs Jacksonville or the NY Jets but that’s it. They were not favored in any game last year and have been a favorite only 62 times total since the start of the 2001 season.

Will they improve on 16 PPG with Osweiler at QB? Possibly not. He is one of the most inaccurate passers in the NFL with 22 interceptions in his 23 games played the last 2 seasons. If not it might be rookie Kizer and we don’t expect much offensively if that is the case. The Cleveland defense was actually pretty good two years ago before getting worn down later in the year. Last season they were flat out bad finishing 30th in YPG allowed & 31st in PPG allowed. They allowed 27 or more points in 12 of their 16 games last season! Unless their defense improves drastically, this offense won’t be able to keep up. Look for another 2 or 3 win season at best from the Browns.

Betting Records – 3-12-1 ATS record / 8 Overs, 8 Unders

-- Browns are 9-19-2 ATS (32%) as a home favorite since 2008, the worst mark in the NFL.
-- Since the start of the 2011 season, Cleveland has gone UNDER the total in 55 of their 96 games – that’s a 57% UNDER mark of the last 6 seasons.
-- The Browns have gone UNDER the total in 23 of their last 34 AFC North contests.
-- Cleveland has been absolutely dominated by division rival Pittsburgh. The Steelers have won 30 of the last 34 meetings (Pitt is 20-13-1 ATS in those meetings).
-- Since the start of the 2008 season, the Browns are just 10-44 SU (22-30-2 ATS) vs the AFC North.

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

NE at DET 07:00 PM

DET +3.0

O 43.5

KC at SEA 08:00 PM

SEA -3.0

U 43.5

[StarDust Bum]

Julian Edelman injured in Patriots' 30-28 win over Lions
August 25, 2017

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) Julian Edelman limped off the field with an injured right knee, putting a damper on strong performance from Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Edelman was hurt on the opening possession that ended with Brady throwing his first of two touchdown passes to Chris Hogan in a 30-28 victory over the Detroit Lions on Friday night.

The preseason victory may have been costly.

Edelman had three receptions for 52 yards in a four-play stretch and was injured on the last one as he was tackled by safety Tavon Wilson, a former teammate. He was evaluated on the sideline briefly before being taken to the locker room on a cart and being ruled out for the game.

Brady was 12 of 15 for 174 yards with two TDs and an interception. He helped the defending Super Bowl champions take a 24-0 lead late in the first quarter. Detroit slowed him down in the second quarter and mercifully didn't have to face him after halftime.

Matthew Stafford threw a 23-yard TD pass to Marvin Jones late in the first half and an 18-yard pass to Dwayne Washington for another score early in the third against New England's backups. He finished 15 of 22 for 190 yards, two TDs and an interception.

Jake Rudock, Detroit's backup quarterback, connected with Jared Abbrederis for an 11-yard score late in the third and led another drive that ended with Washington's 1-yard run to put the Lions up 28-24 midway through the fourth.

Jimmy Garoppolo set up Stephen Gostkowski's 25-yard field goal to pull New England within a point with 3:46 left. After the Patriots defense forced Detroit to punt, their backup QB put Gostkowski in a position to make a go-ahead, 45-yard kick with 2 seconds to go.

DUAL THREAT:

Lions running back Ameer Abdullah had 60 yards rushing on 13 carries and three receptions for 39 yards.

INJURY UPDATE:

Patriots: If Edelman has to miss any games during the regular season, New England may lean on players such as Hogan and Danny Amendola to fill his role as a slippery receiver in the slot. Edelman led the Patriots with 98 receptions and 1,106 yards receiving last season and was a key player during their championship run.

Lions: TE Cole Wick, getting a chance to play a lot with Eric Ebron out with a hamstring injury, left the game with a chest injury and LB Tahir Whitehead went out with a knee injury. RB Theo Riddick, coming off wrist surgery, made his preseason debut. He didn't gain a yard on one carry and one catch.

[StarDust Bum]

Chiefs RB Ware injures knee
August 25, 2017

Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware left Friday night's preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks with a right knee injury.

The team said Ware would not return.

Ware, 25, was tackled after catching a short pass from Alex Smith for a 6-yard gain in the first quarter. He was holding his right knee before being taken from the field in a cart.

The 229-pound Ware led the team with 921 rushing yards on 214 carries last season. He scored five touchdowns, three rushing and two receiving.

The team drafted rookie Kareem Hunt from Toledo in the third round of April's NFL draft.

[StarDust Bum]

Seahawks win 26-13; Chiefs' Ware injures right knee

SEATTLE -- Kansas City may be looking for a starting running back after Spencer Ware injured his right knee in the Chiefs' 26-13 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Friday night.

Russell Wilson was again brilliant for Seattle, throwing for 200 yards and a touchdown, but his performance was secondary to the injury suffered by Ware and the impact it could have for the Chiefs.

Ware remained on the turf after making a 6-yard reception on a pass from Alex Smith in the first quarter. Ware appeared to take an awkward step with his right leg during the play and team trainers were looking at his knee while he was down on the field. Players from both teams took a knee while Ware was examined, and he was taken off the field on a cart.

It was the second straight week a starter in Seattle was taken off the field with a knee injury. The Seahawks lost starting left tackle George Fant for the season last week due because of a torn ACL in his right knee.

The Chiefs have depth at running back with veteran Charcandrick West and impressive rookie Kareem Hunt, who averaged 4.3 yards per carry filling in after Ware as hurt. But Ware's strength was his versatility as a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield. Ware rushed for 921 yards and had another 447 yards receiving last season for the Chiefs, finding a home in Kansas City after starting his career with the Seahawks.

Ware's injury was part of a lackluster effort form Kansas City's offense. Smith was 7 of 17 for just 44 yards although there were a handful of drops. The Chiefs had just 102 total yards in the first half against Seattle's starters and Kansas City's only touchdown came on a 95-yard kickoff return from De'Anthony Thomas .

Wilson's stellar preseason continued , playing the entire first half and one drive of the second half. He threw a 2-yard touchdown to Tre Madden and led Seattle on four scoring drives, including three field goals by Blair Walsh. In parts of three preseason games, Wilson is 29 of 41 for 447 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

The biggest area of concern for Seattle coming into the week was how the offensive line would respond to the loss of left tackle Fant. His replacement, Rees Odhiambo, went mostly unnoticed with the exception of one play early in the third quarter. Chris Jones, in his preseason debut following offseason knee surgery, made Odhiambo whiff and engulfed Wilson for the only sack allowed by the Seahawks starters.

MAHOMES MADNESS: Kansas City rookie Patrick Mahomes wasn't quite as impressive as the first two weeks of the preseason. Mahomes was 8 of 15 for 70 yards passing and led one scoring drive in four possessions.

BACKUP BATTLE: The backup QB role in Seattle could be back open after Trevone Boykin had a miserable night and Austin Davis was solid. Boykin missed on all six attempts with an interception, while Davis was 5-of 5 for 64 yards and a 28-yard TD pass to Tanner McEvoy in the fourth quarter.

BENNETT SITS: Seahawks DE Michael Bennett continued to sit on the Seattle bench during the national anthem. For the second straight week, teammate Justin Britt stood next to Bennett with his right hand on Bennett's shoulder. Cliff Avril stood for most of the anthem before sitting next to Bennett at the end.

SITTING OUT: Chiefs DE Justin Houston was expected to make his debut but was scratched due to illness. Safety Eric Berry and outside linebacker Tamba Hali were also among the veterans rested.

Seattle wide receiver Tyler Lockett went through full pregame warmups but did not playas he continues to recover from a broken leg suffered late last season. Also sitting out was running backs Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise, and linebacker Michael Wilhoite.

---

[StarDust Bum]

PRESEASON RECORD:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

08/25/2017 4-0-0 100.00% +2000
08/24/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
08/20/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +950
08/19/2017 8-10-0 44.44% -1500
08/18/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -50
08/17/2017 2-3-1 40.00% -650
08/13/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +950
08/12/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -1200
08/11/2017 1-5-0 16.67% -2250
08/10/2017 6-8-0 42.86% -1400
08/09/2017 0-2-0 0.00% -1100
08/03/2017 0-1-1 0.00% -550

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 15-20-1 42.85% -15.00

O/U Picks 17-18-1 48.57% -14.00

[StarDust Bum]

NFL notebook: Former GM Beathard named Hall of Fame finalist
August 25, 2017

Former Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers general Bobby Beathard was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Friday by the entity's contributors committee.

Beathard ran the Redskins from 1978-88 and the franchise won two Super Bowl titles during his reign. He was the general manager in San Diego from 1990-99 and built the Chargers' lone Super Bowl squad -- a team that lost to San Francisco following the 1994 campaign.

Beathard also served in player personnel roles for the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins won two Super Bowl titles during his time in Miami (1972-77).

As the Contributor Finalist, Beathard must receive 80 percent of the votes from the 48-member selection committee. We will be one of 18 finalists -- the seniors committee chose guard Jerry Kramer and linebacker Robert Brazile earlier week -- under consideration. The 15 modern-era finalists will be picked in January.

--Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott plans to attend his six-game suspension appeal hearing at NFL headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' executive vice president and CEO, confirmed to reporters that Elliott will not be at practice on Monday and Tuesday to prepare for the appeal hearing.

Arbitrator Harold Henderson, who was appointed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to hear the appeal, has denied a request from Elliott's representatives to make his accuser, former girlfriend Tiffany Thompson, available to testify, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.

--The San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Ahmad Brooks after nine seasons with the team.

The 49ers were unsuccessful in finding a trade partner for the 33-year-old Brooks. The team will save about $6 million in salary cap space by cutting Brooks, who was entering the final year of a six-year, $40.4 million deal.

Brooks, who either led or tied for the 49ers' team lead in sacks every season since 2013, was battling with third-year player Eli Harold for the starting strong-side linebacker spot. Harold, 23, started the most recent preseason game against the Denver Broncos.

A two-time All-Pro (2012-13) and Pro Bowl (2013-14) selection, Brooks appeared in 120 games (92 starts) and registered 439 tackles, 51.5 sacks, 28 passes defensed, 11 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions (one touchdown) with San Francisco. His total sacks as a member of the 49ers rank third in franchise history.

--Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone needs more time before naming his starting quarterback for the season opener.

The competition between Blake Bortles and Chad Henne will continue into the preseason finale next week after neither quarterback did enough to win the job in the Jaguars' 24-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Field on Thursday night.

Henne got the start Thursday night and completed 8 of 14 passes for 73 yards in the first half against Carolina's first-team defense. He led the Jaguars to a touchdown and a field goal in five possessions, and also was sacked three times. Bortles was 12 of 16 for 125 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. He also threw an interception that was returned 48 yards and set up a touchdown in the third quarter.

--Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick will work for Fox Sports as a studio analyst this season.

The 37-year-old Vick will also make regular appearances on FS1 studio shows as part of his new job.

Vick was the No. 1 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 draft out of Virginia Tech. His tenure in Atlanta ended in disgrace when he was arrested for running a dog-fighting operation. He spent 21 months in federal prison for the crime.

In February, Vick announced he was retired from the NFL after not playing in 2016. Vick passed for 22,464 yards and 133 touchdowns against 88 interceptions during 13 NFL seasons with the Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He added 6,109 yards and 36 rushing touchdowns.

[StarDust Bum]

Jags name Blake Bortles starting QB
August 26, 2017

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Blake Bortles is getting another shot as Jacksonville's starting quarterback.

Coach Doug Marrone made the surprising announcement Saturday, naming Bortles his starter for the opener at Houston and ending any uncertainty heading into the preseason finale.

Marrone was scheduled to address his decision after practice. The call came a little more than a week after Marrone opened up the job and pleaded with Bortles and veteran Chad Henne to ''go out there and take it.''

Bortles presumably did enough in Thursday's exhibition loss to Carolina to keep the starting job he's had the last three years. The third overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft will make his 46th consecutive start when the Jaguars open the season Sept. 10 at Houston.

Henne started Thursday's exhibition against the Panthers and had some decent moments, but the 10th-year pro also got sacked three times in the first half, had a pass batted down at the line of scrimmage and badly overthrew a receiver down the middle of the field. Henne completed 8 of 14 passes for 73 yards and had a would-be touchdown pass dropped by rookie Keelan Cole.

Bortles delivered his best outing of the preseason, finishing with a touchdown and an interception. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 125 yards, playing mostly against backups in the second half.

It's unclear how much stock Marrone put on those performances. This much is certain: Bortles has more upside than Henne and should be more effective scrambling behind what appears to be a shaky offensive line this season.

Bortles looked like a franchise quarterback in his second season, throwing for 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns while smashing several team records. Although he racked up a chunk of his statistics late in lopsided games, there was belief that Bortles would only get better.

Instead, he regressed in 2016 and was admittedly frazzled by the end of the year. His numbers were down, finishing with 23 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. His mechanics were a mess, leading to accuracy issues. And many of his decisions were suspect at best, leaving coaches and teammates shaking their heads.

Marrone worked closely with Bortles the past two seasons as the team's offensive line coach and was convinced he would be more successful with an improved rushing attack. So Marrone and top decision-maker Tom Coughlin drafted LSU running back Leonard Fournette with the fourth overall pick and added Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson early in the second round to beef up the ground game.

But when training camp opened, Bortles was making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

He threw five interceptions in the team's first padded practice. He completed 5 of 17 passes in 11-on-11 drills during joint practices with New England. A few days after the preseason opener against the Patriots, Bortles threw two interceptions so ugly that Marrone pulled him and said he must have a tired arm. And then Bortles woefully underthrew two passes to Allen Robinson in last week's exhibition game against Tampa Bay.

Marrone had seen enough and wanted to send a message. Bortles' time on the bench ended up being brief.

Although Marrone likely will have Bortles on a short leash to start the season, the long-term solution to Jacksonville's quarterback quandary includes drafting or signing another one in 2018.

In the meantime, the Jaguars will hope to keep Bortles healthy. Jacksonville exercised a fifth-year option in Bortles' rookie deal in May that could pay him $19 million in 2018. His salary is guaranteed only for injury, meaning Jacksonville is taking a risk by even putting Bortles on the field.

But the 6-foot-5 Orlando native has been durable, starting every game since Week 4 of his rookie year.

Bortles has completed 59 percent of his passes for 11,241 yards, with 69 touchdowns and 51 interceptions. He also has been sacked 140 times and lost 12 fumbles. Maybe his most damning statistic: He has 11 victories and 11 interceptions returned for touchdowns in three seasons.

Now he's getting another chance to change the narrative.

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BUF at BAL 07:00 PM

BAL -4.0

U 38.0

NYJ at NYG 07:00 PM

NYG -5.0

O 37.0

ARI at ATL 07:00 PM

ATL -3.5

O 43.5

CLE at TB 07:30 PM

TB -5.5

O 41.0

IND at PIT 07:30 PM

PIT -6.0

O 40.5

LAC at LAR 08:00 PM

LAR -2.5

O 41.5

HOU at NO 08:00 PM

HOU +4.0

U 43.5

OAK at DAL 08:00 PM

DAL -3.0

U 43.5

GB at DEN 09:00 PM

GB +3.0

O 42.0

[StarDust Bum]

NFL preseason roundup: Bills lose Taylor to concussion
August 27, 2017

Buffalo lost starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a concussion and the host Baltimore Ravens scored 10 points in the second half to defeat the Bills 13-9 on Saturday.

Taylor was injured on his team's second series after getting sacked by linebacker Matthew Judon. Taylor had to be helped from the field by team trainers after completing 1 of 3 passes for 1 yard.

Buffalo defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was sent home prior to the game for violating a team rule. This is not the first time the former first-round pick has run into trouble, having been suspended twice in the past six seasons.

Nathan Peterman, a rookie fifth-round pick from Pittsburgh, took over for Taylor and completed 11 of 23 passes for 93 yards. The Bills' LeSean McCoy played most of the first half and managed only 7 yards on six carries.

Cowboys 24, Raiders 20

Derek Carr's two touchdown passes were not enough as Dallas bested Oakland in Arlington, Texas.

Carr's first touchdown was a 17-yard strike to Cordarrelle Patterson. Amari Cooper caught the second touchdown of 48 yards to establish a 13-10 Raiders lead heading into halftime and finished with a game-high 78 yards on four catches.

Carr finished with 144 yards and completed 13 of 17 passes. Ezekiel Elliott played one series for the Cowboys, rushing six times for 18 yards and catching two passes for 6 yards.

Chargers 21, Rams 19

Philip Rivers completed 6 of 6 passes for 85 yards while playing the first quarter and guided the Chargers to two touchdowns in its victory over the Rams.

Rivers threw a 45-yard touchdown strike to Travis Benjamin on the opening drive to put the Chargers up 7-0. The Chargers' Melvin Ingram scored a 76-yard touchdown return of a fumble -- the result of Joey Bosa strip-sacking Rams quarterback Jared Goff.

Goff completed 5 of 8 passes for 56 yards and an interception while working into the second quarter. Sean Mannion came off the bench in relief of Goff and completed 17 of 30 passes for 222 yards -- including a 38-yard touchdown strike to Josh Reynolds.

Cardinals 24, Falcons 14

Speedy wide receiver John Brown proved he could still get open as he led Arizona over host Atlanta in the opening of $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Brown, who has been battling a quad injury, hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer and a 21-yarder from Drew Stanton. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians sent a message to Brown last week, saying if he couldn't get healthy enough to run at full speed, he was in danger of losing his job. Brown heard the message loud and clear.

Arizona's passing attack was strong as Palmer completed 8 of 13 passes for 86 yards and Stanton completed 4 of 6 for 53 yards. The Falcons' Matt Ryan tossed an interception on his first attempt of the game and finished 4 of 11 for 36 yards.

Giants 32, Jets 31

Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg engineered four second-half touchdown drives for the Jets, who trailed 29-3 in the first half en route to a loss against the Giants.

Petty finished 15 of 18 for 250 yards and three touchdowns before being knocked out late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. He was to undergo an MRI exam on Sunday.

Hackenberg, who is trying to win the starting quarterback job, struggled. He finished completing 12 of 21 pass attempts for 126 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked three times and had one rush for 13 yards.

Broncos 20, Packers 17

C.J. Anderson galloped for a 16-yard first-quarter touchdown as Denver overcame an early first-quarter deficit to defeat Green Bay.

Anderson split carries with Jamaal Charles, who made his preseason debut with the Broncos and picked up 42 yards from scrimmage -- 27 yards on four carries and 15 yards on two receptions. Denver backup quarterback Paxton Lynch suffered a shoulder injury.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was pulled from the game after two series in which he went 3-of-5 for 12 yards. Green Bay's Ty Montgomery ran for 31 yards and a touchdown on three carries.

Browns 13, Buccaneers 9

Kevin Hogan led a furious comeback in the fourth quarter, directing drives for a touchdown and field goal in Cleveland's victory over host Tampa Bay.

Browns rookie DeShon Kizer completed 6 of 18 passes for 93 yards. Kizer was relieved in the second half by Cody Kessler, who went 6-of-10 passing for 48 yards. Cleveland quarterback Brock Osweiler did not play.

The Buccaneers' Jameis Winston completed 17 of 27 pass attempts for 200 yards and an interception in 2 1/2 quarters. There have been 14 possessions by Winston and the first-team offense this preseason and it produced one touchdown and five field goals.

Saints 13, Texans 0

Darius Victor ran 3 yards for the only touchdown and New Orleans' defense stymied Houston.

Saints starting quarterback Drew Brees played five series in his first preseason action, the second of which ended with Wil Lutz's 26-yard field goal. The other four possessions yielded only two first downs. Brees completed 11 of 15 passes for 76 yards.

Adrian Peterson made his New Orleans debut and rushed six times for 15 yards. Texans quarterback Tom Savage completed 10 of 16 passes for 79 yards.

Colts 19, Steelers 15

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown played for the first time this preseason and each saw action for two series in Pittsburgh's loss to visiting Indianapolis.

Roethlisberger was 6 of 9 for 73 yards and Brown had two receptions for 28 yards. The Steelers' first-team defense allowed a 55-yard pass play to Donte Moncrief on the Colts' first play and watched Frank Gore cap the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Indianapolis backup quarterback Scott Tolzein finished 7 of 10 for 123 yards in place of Andrew Luck. The only blemish came when Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier intercepted him early in the second quarter.