NFL PRESEASON WEEK 3: THURSDAY & FRIDAY PREVIEWS & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

Our final week of the 2023 NFL Preseason is upon us. Do we care? Of course we do, because we have the odds, lines and totals with which to make these games matter to us, even if they don’t matter to the teams.

We have a solid slate of games for your Thursday and Friday enjoyment, with their only competition being the Canadian Football League and pretty much every baseball game on the planet.

THURSDAY

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (+4.5, O/U: 39.5)

You could point out how great Kenny Pickett looked against the Buffalo Bills last week in the Steelers 27-15 win, but the fact is, all their quarterbacks were fantastic. Mitchell Trubisky went 10 of 13 and Mason Rudolph was 5 of 7. I would say we shouldn’t get that excited as there was a chance that the Bills weren’t taking the game that seriously, but then I saw that Josh Allen, James Cook and Stefon Diggs all played. I’m assuming it was the same on defense with their starters, so Sean McDermott is just actively trying to destroy his team in the preseason and got absolutely nothing out of it. As for the Falcons, they secured one of our two ties on the weekend, 13-13 with the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, Cincy does not put any stock, or starters in the preseason, so the fact that Desmond Ridder tossed a pick in his short action might be concerning. And for all the hopes being pinned on Bijan Robinson as a rookie, maybe Arthur Smith shouldn’t play him in meaningless games. Regardless, Pittsburgh should roll here, but, please, Mike Tomlin, hide Kenny Pickett, Najee Harris and George Pickens’ helmet. And I’d bar TJ Watt from even entering the stadium. Steelers 24, Falcons 16

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (+4.5, 38)

Anthony Richardson was named the Colts starter last week and didn’t play a single down in their 24-17 win over the Chicago Bears. So, you know, good job Shane Steichen. I expect to see more of the same this week, with plenty of sideline shots of Richardson in his sweats parked next to Jonathan Taylor, a guy he needs to pay some cash under the table or something. Richardson is going to need him. As for the Eagles, they too, like the birds mentioned above, wrapped their Week 2 preseason contest with a sister-kissing tie. Marcus Mariota threw a preseason pick and since I didn’t watch the game or even view the highlights, I’m just going to hope it wasn’t from his back like he did with the Falcons last season. As career lowlights go, that one is an all timer for the former No. 2 overall pick. Colts 23, Eagles 17

FRIDAY

DETROIT LIONS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (-4, O/U: 38.5)

If you had any doubt that Lions head coach Dan Campbell realized he’s fielding a good team in 2023, look no further than the gameday roster in their 25-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs are nowhere to be seen and backup Teddy Bridgewater barely played at all. Detroit is simming to the regular season and I’m feeling it. As for the Panthers, no such luck. They played everybody in their 21-19 loss to the New York Giants, including what looks like the worst offensive line in the league. Still, they should do OK against the Detroit practice squad. Panthers 19, Lions 13

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (+2, O/U: 38.5)

For all the talk, and I’m one of the talkers, that Bailey Zappe could unseat Mac Jones as the New England Patriots starting quarterback, the Zappster didn’t look all that great in their 21-17 win over the Green Bay Packers last week. Zappadapp didn’t complete even 50 percent of his passes, but he did throw a touchdown. Jones played a little, going 6 of 9, but might not see the field in this one. As for the Tennessee Titans, due to a minor injury for Will Levis, Malik Willis took every snap in the Titans 24-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings and it looked a whole lot like a Malik Willis game. He didn’t even hit 100 yards passing, tossed a pick and rushed 11 times for 91 yards. Again, pundits thought this guy was going to go in the first-round last year. Ridiculous. Patriots 26, Titans 19

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-7.5, O/U: 37.5)

Like the Titans, the Los Angeles Chargers only let one quarterback horse out of the barn in Week 2 and Easton Stick drew the short end of the… well, stick. He was sacked five times in their 22-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints, so that stick left a few welts and marks. I can’t find any info on No. 3 QB, rookie Max Duggan, and why he didn’t play, but I’m thinking it’s because he’s made the roster for sure and that Stick may not… well, stick. The San Francisco 49ers held off the Denver Broncos 21-20 in Week 2, with Brock Purdy seeing his first action of the exhibition season since injuring his elbow in the NFC Championship and having surgery shortly after. While it’s a good sign that he’s completely ready to go for the regular season, the fact that head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t feel the need to protect him at all in meaningless games is kind of telling. I don’t think Purdy’s as settled a starter as NFL punditry wants to believe. Working in his favor is the fact that both Sam Darnold and Trey Lance threw picks and Darnold was sacked twice. Still, those two should be more than enough to shove past the Chargers’ scrubs. 49ers 20, Chargers 16

Last week

Straight up: 9-5-2

Against the spread: 9-7

Preseason

Straight up: 18-13-2

Against the spread: 17-16

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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