NFL Preseason Week 2: Top ATS Predictions

You may see a situation much improved on the part of the New England Patriots this season. They are going to be able to run the ball; they did demonstrate that last season. And they have upgraded the offensive line.

Bill Belichick looks like he wants to go back to a two-tight end scheme with Jonnu Smith and Hunter. The defense has a number of key players who weren’t there last year.

Where to Bet on the NFL Preseason

But they will need competent quarterback play. Maybe Cam Newton has a comeback left in him, but rookie first-round pick Mac Jones must have come with high recommendations from Belichick’s close friend, Alabama coach Nick Saban.

That’s why these preseason games carry some significance. If Jones shows he can be a solution, the Pats could be on the way back.

NFL Preseason Week 2 Against the Spread Picks

New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles Preview

Time: Thursday, August 19th at 7:30 PM ET

ATS Odds: New England Patriots -2.5 (-110) vs. Philadelphia Eagles +2.5 (-110)

The Play: PATRIOTS -2.5

For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus issued Jones its highest grade among rookie quarterbacks for the first week of action, at 82.0 (Zach Wilson of the New York Jets was right behind, at 78.8).

Bill Belichick was looking for someone who could show a little command running the offense, and Jones gave him that, completing 13 of 19 passes in a 22-13 victory over Washington. That he had just 87 yards through the air is probably more incidental than you might think.

You’d have to imagine that unless Newton really bounces back from a season in which he had only eight touchdown passes, Jones could find himself starting for the Pats at some point during the season.

With their offensive scheme, New England is going to be able to run the football by committee. And fourth-round draft pick Rhamondre Stevenson could be a revelation. Stevenson, sometimes overshadowed in the pass-heavy offense at Oklahoma, nonetheless averaged 6.6 yards per carry.

In his preseason debut, Stevenson ran for a 91-yard touchdown, which gave him 127 yards for the evening. Let’s see what else we get from him.

Meanwhile, after their starters left the game, the Eagles’ defense became sieve-like against Pittsburgh, allowing Dwayne Haskins to look like a Pro Bowler, with 16-of-22 for 161 yards. Such a thing could be inviting for Jones. There was little in the Philly ground game (52 yards) but veteran backup Joe Flacco threw for 178 yards.

NFL Preseason Odds

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals Preview

Time: Friday, August 20th at 8 PM ET

ATS Odds: Kansas City Chiefs -2.5 (-110) vs. Arizona Cardinals +2.5 (-110)

The Play: CARDINALS +2.5

The Kansas City Chiefs escaped with a 19-16 win over San Francisco last week. Patrick Mahomes only threw a couple of passes and they got him out of there. The intriguing thing here is that Kansas City has two young backups who, like Mahomes, have backgrounds in the Air Raid offense. Shane Buechele is a rookie out of LSU, while Anthony Gordon played for Mike Leach at Washington State.

Those two combined to complete 19 of 28 passes for 155 yards against the Niners. The assumption here is that since veteran backup Chad Henne is still around, Gordon and Buechele will be battling it out for the #3 spot.

Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury knows something about all this Air Raid stuff since he is one of the leading proponents of it. His club was also on the winning end of a 19-16 score, this one against the Dallas Cowboys. There were 18 completions spread amongst eleven receivers, and backup quarterback Chris Streveler was a standout, with 107 yards passing and 55 on the ground.

Streveler is something of an oddity for this offense, in that he seems more useful running the ball. In the process of leading the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL to the Grey Cup two seasons ago, he had just eight TD passes and 14 INT’s, but ran for 726 yards.

That gives the Chiefs a different look to deal with, and it’s pretty good news for the Cards that they can run the ball (168 yards last week).

Kingsbury had said that Kyler Murray was going to play against Dallas last week, but then he decided to sit him down. Nothing is certain about Murray’s status this week. It may not matter.

NFL Preseason Picks

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team Preview

Time: Friday, August 20th at 8 PM ET

ATS Odds: Cincinnati Bengals +3 (-110) vs. Washington Football Team -3 (-110)

The Play: BENGALS +3

The Cincinnati Bengals went on the road and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week (19-14). Head coach Zac Taylor did not let QB Joe Burrow anywhere near the field (after left knee surgery), but did not rule out some activity before the end of the preseason schedule.

Either way, we can’t imagine his presence would be a game-changer.

What we can say about these quarterbacks is that Brandon Allen has starting experience with the team (five starts in Burrow’s place last season), while Kyle Shurmur got to know the offense while on the practice squad last December. And everyone is excited about the way first-round pick Ja’Marr Chase has looked.

The WFT saw Steven Montez throw a TD pass against New England, but much of the talk is about how many interceptions he has thrown in practice drills. Kyle Allen has just returned to practice after missing two weeks with an ankle injury. Washington is trying to develop some depth in the backfield; however, that won’t include ex-Pro Bowler Lamar Miller, who was released. Keep your eye on rookie Jaret Patterson (U. of Buffalo), who had 70 yards from scrimmage last week.