NFL PRESEASON WEEK 3: SATURDAY & SUNDAY PREVIEWS & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

This is it. Our final chance to build up some bank before the games really count. The NFL surrenders Saturdays to the outright chaos of college football for the next few months, so there’s no reason not to embrace the insanity and maximize our preseason experience.

The final week of preseason, for me, is always scarier than compelling. In fact, it’s not exciting at all unless you’ve invested yourself in some bottom of the roster guy (like the Los Angeles Rams’ Lance McCutcheon) who is willing himself onto a roster. That part of it is fun.

But, hey, we have odds, we have lines and we have totals. What more do you need? Games that count?

There’s always NCAA football for that. It kicks off Saturday as well.

Let’s pick some games.

SATURDAY

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (-4, O/U: 37)

It’s time for the Falcons to get the full Desmond Ridder experience here in the final game of the preseason. As for the Jags, they’re looking at the rare feat, since all but two teams play just three preseason games, of going 0-4. I don’t think Jacksonville will be especially bad this season, but the guaranteed way to screw it up is to play starters in the final exhibition contest. Falcons 23, Jaguars 16

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (-2.5, O/U: 38)

It’s a Super Bowl rematch where pretty much no player who took the field in that game will play more than a few downs in this one. And, ironically, most of those will be guys suiting up for the Super Bowl champion Rams, who had to dig into the depth chart due to so many injuries down the stretch. While it’s a Super Bowl replay, could it be a Super Bowl preview? I don’t hate the idea. Bengals 26, Rams 23

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (-6.5, O/U: 38.5)

The Ravens have now won 22 preseason games in a row, continually adding to their own record and no part of this game against Washington makes me believe it’s in any danger of stopping in 2022. Considering how I picked last week, that could be the best news the Commanders get. Ravens 31, Commanders 20

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (-3.5, O/U: 38)

These might be the two teams most ready to sim to the regular season. The Eagles have expectations they haven’t enjoyed since 2018 and the Dolphins, experiencing any expectations at all, has to be a real thrill after their last decade. Miami is deep at running back and I think that’ll make the difference. Dolphins 19, Eagles 14

CHICAGO BEARS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-4.5, O/U: 41)

We finally got the word on Deshaun Watson’s final punishment, so will he play in this game? He probably should, since the next time he suits up it’ll be Santa time. Watson’s probably going to get a solid lump of coal this Christmas, but I hear it can be exfoliating, so that’s a bonus. I still don’t know what to expect out of Chicago this season, but they better be careful with Justin Fields. Browns 28, Bears 21

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (-3, O/U: 35)

With two more weeks until the regular season kicks off, Kyler Murray better get all his Call of Duty in while he can. As for the Titans, their entire season rests on starter health and everybody is finally upright, with even newly acquired wideout Robert Woods only showing up as questionable on the injury report. It’d be a shame to screw that up here. Titans 17, Cardinals 13

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-5.5, O/U: 40.5)

Hey, Tom Brady’s back. After taking a week off to appear on The Masked Singer or pull off a casino heist in Malta (reports vary), the GOAT has returned to the pen. He also, strangely, likes to play in the preseason so there’s a chance he takes a series or two in this one. I can’t believe Todd Bowles would want him to do it, but we know who’s in charge in Tampa. The Colts have a Super Bowl capable roster and all they can do in this one is throw a stupid wrench in the works by being careless. Buccaneers 14, Colts 13

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT DENVER BRONCOS (pk, O/U: 35.5)

If Kellen Mond can’t outduel Josh Johnson, then it’s time to just hang up the spurs for good. No team in the NFL has a weaker QB room behind its starter than the Denver Broncos. They’ve taken going “All In” seriously as this team might not win a game if Wilson goes down. Vikings 24, Broncos 21

SUNDAY

NEW YORK GIANTS AT NEW YORK JETS (-3, O/U: 38.5)

It’s the annual battle of New York and the only thing at stake is finding out if any of the Jets QBs who take the field, Mike White and Chris Streveler (who I did not know existed until this very moment) will be on the team when the final 53 are selected before Week 1. The Giants have let Daniel Jones play a lot and it’s not done much to inspire confidence in the preseason. You’d hate to see him replaced by Tyrod Taylor as the starter, mainly because Taylor would be able to move the Giants out of the Top 5 in next April’s draft. Giants 17, Jets 10

DETROIT LIONS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-4, O/U: 38.5)

There’s a rising tide for Kenny Pickett, but if Mitchell Trubisky can keep Pittsburgh over .500 this season, the rook will never see the field. This might Pickett’s last real chance to dazzle the pundits and make me believe he deserved to go in the first round. Detroit is basking in the Hard Knocks love, but I don’t think Tim Boyle and David Blough can hang with Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Steelers 27, Lions 21

Last week:

Straight up: 5-11

Against the spread: 7-9

Preseason:

Straight up: 15-18

Against the spread: 16-17

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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