FRIDAY NIGHT PRESEASON NFL: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS

BY ADAM GREENE

We have two Friday night NFL preseason games to let run in the background while we mess around on Twitter, Facebook and swipe through Tinder. Up first is the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs making the short trip west to take on the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.

With the move to just three preseason games for all but two teams, there’s no real rulebook on how most will play this game two. I’d suspect they’ll use it like their olden days game three, meaning we’ll see more from the starters in most cases. Even if some shouldn’t even think about it — you know, like the Chiefs.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (+2, O/U 41)

Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

Broadcast: ESPN

Kickoff: Aug. 20, 8 p.m. EST

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0)

The Chiefs roll in after a 19-16 win over the San Francisco 49ers that should make everyone kind of nervous. First off, they only played Patrick Mahomes for a single series and I’d expect the same here. What should concern the rest of the league is how well the rest of Kansas City’s quarterbacks played. As a unit, they went 25 of 37 for 184 yards, one touchdown and a pick. While it’s not a ton of yardage, you also have to think that Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was keeping it vanilla. The interception was thrown by the most experienced QB on the roster, Chad Henne. The two young guys — Shan Buechele, a rookie out of SMU and Anthony Gordon, a second year player from Washington State who I loved coming out of college, kept their sheets clean. Gordon, I really feel, is a potential pro project and a guy that would benefit greatly from a stint in the upcoming XFL. I see Kurt Warner-esque things in him.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-0)

Like the Chiefs, the Cardinals claimed a 19-16 victory of their own last week, knocking off the Dallas Cowboys. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray never took a snap, instead the team looked to veteran back up Colt McCoy and last year’s No. 2 Chris Streveler. Both guys looked fine, with Streveler securing a back up role (if not in Arizona, probably somewhere) with his arm and legs. He passed for 107 yards and led all rushers with 55. Murray will play some Friday, according to reports, but I can’t see him going more than a couple of series.

THE PICK

Murray and Mahomes will play a little then watch a lot. While the Cardinals did a lot to upgrade their roster, most of those guys won’t play either. Kansas City has the superior depth and that played out last week. Arizona isn’t hurting at quarterback, but they’re easily three years behind Kansas City on filling out the rest of their roster. I’m playing it safe and picking the road team. Chiefs 20, Cardinals 17

Last week

Straight up: 6-10

Against the spread: 5-11

Preseason

Straight up: 7-10

Against the spread: 6-11

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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