THURSDAY NIGHT PRESEASON NFL: WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

BY ADAM GREENE

A week after the Hall of Fame game kicked off the NFL Preseason with a resounding thud (though you did win some cash if you followed my advice). The Pittsburgh Steelers’ back ups defeated the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad 16-3 in what was probably the most boring game of the year in which we watched every single minute.

But we have more boring games ahead! Don’t you worry about that. Thursday night brings us two, and we’ll start with the nationally televised match up between the still mascot-less Washington Football Team and the New England Patriots on the NFL Network.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (+2, O/U 35)

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.

Broadcast: NFL Network

Kickoff: Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m. EST

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-0)

The Patriots have seen a lot of turnover this offseason and probably aren’t done, as second year wide receiver N’Keal Harry expressed his desire for a trade and former first round pick Sony Michel is reportedly being shopped around as well. New England is rolling again with Cam Newton at quarterback, who I suspect won’t play a down of this game. A preseason foot injury a few seasons ago all but ended Newton’s tenure with the Carolina Panthers. I can’t see Bill Belichick taking the chance here.

This will be the 2021 debut of the Pats’ soft rebuild as well as first round pick Mac Jones as Belichick tries to keep his team relevant instead of blowing them up and starting all over. I do expect New England to let Jones play with the starters for a couple of series at least like the Steelers did Mason Rudolph last Thursday.

WASHINGTON FOTOBALL TEAM (0-0)

Coming off a playoff season and NFC East title, the WFT are looking at a nice rebuilding opportunity themselves. Of course, that’s nothing new for a team that’s started nine different quarterbacks since 2018 counting the playoffs.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will be No. 10 since that time and I do think he’ll play in this one as Ron Rivera really has nothing to lose with his QB room. I don’t expect him and the starters to go longer than a quarter. After that, it’ll probably be a quarter of Taylor Heinicke before Kyle Allen and Steven Montez clean up in the third and fourth.

THE PICK

With these early preseason games especially, you have to look at the talent level of the back ups to try to make your pick. It worked last week with Pittsburgh and I see no reason to switch it up now. If Newton does play, it’ll be sparingly. I really think Belichick will want to let Mac Jones run the show for a while, which puts New England solidly behind here. Heinicke, for WFT, might be good enough to start in the NFL and certainly looked the part in their playoff loss to Tampa Bay last season. This one could be fun in the first half and a slog in the second, but I like the road team here. WFT 20, Patriots 16

Last week

Straight up: 1-0

Against the spread: 1-0

Preseason

Straight up: 1-0

Against the spread: 1-0

The NFL season begins on Thursday, Sep. 9 and the Week 1 Schedule is already up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

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