Looking for a NFL Week 2 Upset?

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Looking for a NFL Week 2 Upset?

The NFL preseason is even more unpredictable than the regular season, as incentives, coaching decisions and lack of continuity all play a larger role in August football. If one follows this line of thinking, this should suggest taking the points with the underdog is not a bad option, especially given the right circumstances. Here is a look at several potential upsets that could be in play on Saturday.

Oakland at San Francisco

Around the Oakland practice field this week, head coach Tom Cable heard the chant ?Cable, Bumaye? - a reference to the ?Ali, Bumaye? during the 1974 ?Rumble In The Jungle? heavyweight fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The chant loosely translates to ?Cable kill him?. This refers to reports of coach Cable clobbering assistant coach Randy Hanson, a reported Al Davis snitch.

Along with the usual absurdness that follows the Raiders, they have been running scrimmages recently against Bay Area partner San Francisco and getting their lunch and dinner handed to them. The 49ers? players have been mocking them, which should lend itself to some professional pride by Oakland as 2.5-point underdogs at Bookmaker.com. If nothing else, maybe the Niners will be too satisfied.

Carolina at Miami

Carolina committed a sloppy five turnovers in losing to the Giants on Monday night and will seek to tighten things down this week. Quarterback Jake Delhomme will see more action and the Panthers are a solid 8-4 ATS as dogs under coach John Fox and 6-1 SU & ATS against the AFC. Miami is a three-point home favorite and they are 16-24-3 against the spread when the favored squad.

Detroit at Cleveland

Both teams have a lot to prove this upcoming season, however Detroit has a greater sense of urgency after a winless regular season. Most people know the Lions were 4-0 (3-0-1 ATS) last preseason, before going on to make dubious history. Nevertheless, the circumstances are different as Detroit has new coaches and a real desire to bury the past. Cleveland looked absurdly pathetic in totaling 191 yards of offense against Green Bay in 17-0 loss. The Browns quarterback battle looks like it could have winner by default instead of someone earning the job. The Browns are 1-5 ATS against the NFC and are on 0-5 SU and ATS roll in the preseason. The Lions are catching three points.

San Diego at Arizona

Neither team played well in suffering defeat in first preseason games. San Diego threw for 329 yards last week, but had -2 turnover difference in losing 20-14 to Seattle as three-point favorites. The Chargers could be in a great situation since they are 9-1 ATS off a home loss. San Diego hits a rather potent system that states to Play On underdogs or pick, off an upset loss as a favorite, this week of the preseason. (28-8 ATS)

New Orleans at Houston

Both the Saints and Texans were winners last week. Houston was actually outgained by Kansas City by 27 yards, however was +3 in turnover margin. Matt Schaub was superb 7 for 7 in opener; however behind him Houston is thin at quarterback. Rex Grossman was presumed backup, but he injured hamstring and is out. That leaves Dan Orlovsky and Alex Brink to put up points for the Texans who are oddly 3-2-3 ATS at home. New Orleans has Drew Brees and experienced Mark Brunell to turn to and the Saints are 24-10 ATS in road games.

 

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Saturday's NFL preseason betting previews

Saturday's NFL preseason betting previews

Saturday's NFL preseason betting previews


Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns (-3, 38)

Top pick Matthew Stafford (7-of-14 passing vs. Falcons last week) will start at QB after Duante Culpepper began last week's game under center. On the injury front, star wideout Calvin Johnson will be held out but is likely to return next week against the Colts.

After failing to score an offensive touchdown in their final six games of the 2008 season, the Browns were promptly blanked by Green Bay in their 2009 preseason opener. Derek Anderson is likely to start at quarterback after attempting just two passes last week. Brady Quinn (7-of-11 passing, 1 INT against Packers) will also see early action against the Lions.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3, 34)

Like the Lions and Browns, the Bucs will be switching their starting quarterbacks this week. Byron Leftwich (6-of-14 passing against Titans last week) will begin the game at QB before Luke McCown gets his snaps under center. Top receiver Antonio Bryant won't be ready until the regular season but No.2 wideout Michael Clayton is back after missing last week's contest.

The Jags will be looking to get their first-team units more work Saturday. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew had only one carry in Monday night's matchup in Miami. Jacksonville will also take a close look at their reserve quarterbacks against Tampa Bay.

Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins (-3, 33.5)

The Panthers may once again be short-handed on offense. Wide receiver Steve Smith and running back Jonathan Stewart are still banged up after sitting out against the Giants last week. Head coach John Fox (18-11 preseason record) will be seeking a more efficient effort after the Panthers lost four fumbles Monday.

Chad Pennington and the first-team offense will get some more work against the Panthers. While backup QB Chad Henne impressed head coach Tony Sparano with a TD toss against Jacksonville, the Dolphins will be looking for a better performance from rookie Pat White (2-of-7 passing vs. Jaguars) Saturday.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins (-3, 33)

A rough summer got a little more difficult for Ben Roehtlisberger after he went down with a foot injury in the final practice session of training camp. He is unlikely to see action against the Redskins. No.2 QB Charlie Batch will be the likely starter after attempting just a pair of passes in the preseason opener against Arizona.

While it was just a preseason game, the Redskins woeful performance against Baltimore last week gained the attention of head coach Jim Zorn. The defense allowed 500 yards while the offense was blanked in the 23-0 defeat. This week, the starters will likely play into the second quarter. Albert Haynesworth and Clinton Portis are expected to make their 2009 preseason debuts after missing last week's contest.

New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans (-3, 38.5)

These clubs have been practicing against each other this week in Houston and have had a few spirited scuffles. The Saints will give their starters some more playing time this week against the Texans. The offense will likely be without running back Reggie Bush and All-Pro lineman Jamaal Brown due to injuries.

Houston didn't escape the intense practices unscathed. Linebacker Cato June suffered a broken forearm in Thursday's scrimmage. The secondary is also short-handed. Starting corners Jacques Reeves (injury) and Dunta Robinson (contract dispute) will not be available on Saturday. At quarterback, Alex Brink is now the No.3 QB after Rex Grossman went down with an injury last week against the Chiefs.

Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers (-3, 38)

Head coach Dick Jauron has indicated that his starters will play into the second quarter on Saturday. The club's no-huddle offense was effective in last week's preseason win over the Bears. Terrell Owens will miss his second straight game due to a sore toe.

First-round pick B.J. Raji is set to make his first preseason appearance on the defensive line on Saturday. Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm will continue to battle for the backup QB spot although Flynn appears to be the front-runner.

New York Giants at Chicago Bears (-2, 34.5)

After attempting just three passes in last week's preseason opener, Eli Manning will get a chance to develop some chemistry with his raw group of wide receivers. The secondary is still banged up. Starting corners Aaron Ross and Corey Webster are unlikely to play on Saturday after missing Monday's preseason opener.

Bears fans are hoping that their first look at QB Jay Cutler (5-of-10 passing, 1 INT against Bills) isn't a sign of things to come. Cutler will be aided by the return of RB Matt Forte on Saturday. He is expected to get at least a half-dozen carries in his preseason debut against the Giants.

Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers (-3, 34.5)

The 49ers defense could be in the head of Oakland starting QB JaMarcus Russell (6-of-9 passing vs. Cowboys last week) when these two squads hit the field Saturday. In a Wednesday morning scrimmage session between the two Bay Area squads, Russell was picked off three times. The backup quarterbacks will still gain most of the playing time in this one. Veteran Jeff Garcia is set to make his Raiders debut on Saturday.

San Francisco No.1 QB Shaun Hill played just a single series against the Broncos last week while backup Alex Smith (5-of-7 passing vs. Broncos) looked sharp in his bid to win the starting job. Smith will start Saturday. However, without rookie receiver Michael Crabtree (holdout) and free agent wideout Brandon Jones (injury), the offense is still a work in progress.

San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals (-2, 37.5)

While LaDainian Tomlinson ran the ball in the preseason last week for the first time since 2005, the Chargers (49 passes, 21 rushes vs. Seahawks) were a pass-first club in their exhibition opener. Starting wide receiver Vincent Jackson will miss Saturday's game due to a finger injury.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt (2-7 preseason record) is hoping that top draft pick Beanie Wells (ankle injury) can make his debut in the Cardinals backfield Saturday. Matt Leinart and Brian St. Pierre will continue their battle for the backup QB spot. Leinart (8-of-14 passing against Steelers) took the lead in the race as St. Pierre struggled against Pittsburgh.

Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks (-3, 36.5)

Kyle Orton will try to rebound after firing three interceptions in his Broncos debut last week. Even though backup QB Chris Simms fired a pair of TD strikes in the game, Orton is still a clear No. 1 on the depth chart. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall is unlikely to play due to a hip injury. The Broncos should get top draft pick Knowshon Moreno more involved this week after he gained 18 yards on three carries last week.

The Seahawks will add more snaps to the duties of Matt Hasselbeck and the first-team offense on Saturday. All-Pro lineman Walter Jones will likely miss the entire preseason after undergoing a minor surgical procedure on his knee this week. The defense is also banged up. All-Pro defensive back Marcus Trufant is questionable for the start of the regular season while top draft pick Aaron Curry is questionable for Saturday's matchup with Denver.

 

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QB battles give bettors more bang for their buck

QB battles give bettors more bang for their buck

QB battles give bettors more bang for their buck


There are a handful of teams still trying to determine their starting quarterback for the 2009 season. Those QB competitions can serve as added motivation for players. And as any bettor knows, extra motivation in the preseason is a gold mine.

Here's a look at this week's games involving those teams:

Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns (-3, 38)

This is undoubtedly the most intriguing game on the board. Both teams are coming off awful seasons and have first year-coaches who are looking at decisions at quarterback that will impact their job and the team's long-term future.

Detroit's Jim Schwartz has a stud in top overall pick Matt Stafford but has said that the rookie will only be named the starter if he outplays his competition and shows that he is mentally ready. His competition is Daunte Culpepper, who clearly has the edge in experience but was part of last season's 0-16 mess.

Cleveland's Eric Mangini is looking at one-time hotshot Brady Quinn and former Pro Bowler Derek Anderson. Quinn is believed to have the inside track but could even things out with a poor performance. Anderson was 0-for-2 with a pick in the opener.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3, 34)

Plenty of eyes will be on Byron Leftwich, who is trying to win Tampa Bay's starting quarterback job and is returning to where he made a name for himself as a QB before being supplanted by David Garrard.

Most believe the quarterback battle is between Leftwich and Luke McCown. Leftwich has the clear edge in experience but McCown is less mistake-prone and may manage the game better. Still in the mix, however, is rookie Josh Freeman, who has better long-term prospects than either Leftwich or McCown and was sharp in the opener.

Bucs first-year coach Raheem Morris has said he will make his decision before Tampa Bay's next preseason game. He may have some trouble determining which quarterback is best because wide receivers Michael Clayton and Kelly Campbell both are doubtful with injuries.

Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers (-3, 34.5)

The 49ers started Shaun Hill in their preseason opener and have given every indication that he has the edge in his battle with Alex Smith. But coach Mike Singletary named Smith the starter for the 49ers' matchup with their Bay area rivals.

Last week, both quarterbacks directed the team to points. Hill looked more consistent, while Smith has the better arm.

San Francisco won five of its final seven games under Hill last season. Smith has had three surgeries in the last two years on his right shoulder but says his arm is feeling strong.

On the other side of the field, JaMarcus Russell is Tom Cable's choice as starter. But veteran Jeff Garcia will play and could make things interesting if he gets fired up to face his former team and Russell displays the inconsistency he has shown throughout his career.

New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens (-3, 32.5)

Rookie Mark Sanchez seems to be on the fast track to the starting job - if you believe the tabloids, who have fallen in love with him after one solid game. But Kellen Clemens was also sharp in last week's preseason opener and should not be counted out.

There could be a lot of emotion swirling as Jets coach Rex Ryan, who has been shooting his mouth off since taking the job, returns to Baltimore, where he built a powerhouse defense that could give both Sanchez and Clemens fits depending on how long the starters play.

 

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DUNKEL INDEX NFLX 22 AUG 09

DUNKEL INDEX NFLX 22 AUG 09

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
Time Posted: 2:00 p.m. EST (8/18)

Game 411-412: Tampa Bay at Jacksonville
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 120.858; Jacksonville 124.413
Dunkel Line: Jacksonville by 3 1/2; 30
Vegas Line: Jacksonville by 3; 34
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (-3); Under

Game 413-414: Pittsburgh at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 123.251; Washington 118.722
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 4 1/2; 36
Vegas Line: Washington by 1; 33
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+1); Over

Game 415-416: Carolina at Miami
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 120.106; Miami 124.460
Dunkel Line: Miami by 4 1/2; 28
Vegas Line: Miami by 1 1/2; 33 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (-1 1/2); Under

Game 417-418: Detroit at Cleveland
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 120.522; Cleveland 120.631
Dunkel Line: Even; 32
Vegas Line: Cleveland by 3; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+3); Under

Game 419-420: Buffalo at Green Bay
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 120.774; Green Bay 124.127
Dunkel Line: Green Bay by 3 1/2; 42
Vegas Line: Green Bay by 3; 38
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (-3); Over

Game 421-422: New Orleans at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 122.812; Houston 123.593
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1; 43
Vegas Line: Houston by 3; 40
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (+3); Over

Game 423-424: NY Giants at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 121.337; Chicago 121.298
Dunkel Line: Even; 33
Vegas Line: Chicago by 2; 35 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Giants (+2); Under

Game 425-426: Oakland at San Francisco
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland 119.037; San Francisco 124.453
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 5 1/2; 33
Vegas Line: San Francisco by 3; 36
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-3); Under

Game 427-428: San Diego at Arizona
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego 122.336; Arizona 124.905
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 2 1/2; 40
Vegas Line: Arizona by 1; 37 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-1); Over

Game 429-430: Denver at Seattle
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 120.740; Seattle 125.677
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 5; 38 1/2
Vegas Line: Seattle by 3; 36 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-3); Over

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - San Diego (0-1) at Arizona (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - San Diego (0-1) at Arizona (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - San Diego (0-1) at Arizona (0-1)




- A pair of teams that endured shaky preseason openers will look to find a spark on Saturday night, when the Arizona Cardinals play host to the San Diego Chargers in the second August warm-up for each club.

The Cardinals began their 2009 season just as they ended their 2008 campaign - with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Quarterback Kurt Warner was 6-of-10 for 53 yards in the 20-10 loss, playing only briefly before yielding to backups Matt Leinart (8-of-14, 83 yards), Brian St. Pierre (4-of-10, 42 yards, 1 INT) and Tyler Palko (8-of-15, 103 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).

Palko, a long shot to make the team, capped off the Cardinals' only touchdown drive of the night with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Onrea Jones in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals' offense was at less than full strength absent the services of first-round running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, who suffered an ankle sprain early in training camp. Wells re-aggravated the injury in practice earlier this week and appears unlikely to play against the Chargers, meaning Tim Hightower (6 carries, 24 yards) and Jason Wright (3 carries, 11 yards) will likely be the first rushers in for Ken Whisenhunt's squad.

The Chargers, meanwhile, will be attempting to recover from a 20-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, in a game that saw Norv Turner's team turn the ball over three times.

Three San Diego quarterbacks combined for 329 passing yards in the game, including a brief 5-of-8, 26-yard performance for starter Philip Rivers, though the big story was who was carrying the ball early for the Chargers.

LaDainian Tomlinson, who had been held out of preseason games for precautionary reasons for the majority of his career, carried four times for 10 yards in the loss and also caught an eight-yard pass out of the backfield.

The Chargers' starters should play more extended minutes on Saturday, in keeping with second-week-of-preseason tradition, though it is unknown how much Tomlinson will factor into those plans.

Another starter, wideout Vincent Jackson, will miss the game with a sprained finger suffered in practice on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on the injury front for San Diego, third-round rookie guard Louis Vasquez (Texas Tech) should make his debut in a Charger uniform after missing the preseason opener with a sprained foot. The team's first-round selection, outside linebacker Larry English (Northern Illinois), is unlikely to play for a second straight week due to a hamstring strain.

Arizona holds a 9-8 edge in the preseason series with San Diego, though the Chargers were 33-31 road winners in the last such meeting, prior to the 2007 campaign.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - Detroit (1-0) at Cleveland (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - Detroit (1-0) at Cleveland (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - Detroit (1-0) at Cleveland (0-1)


A pair of quarterback competitions will take center stage at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday night, when the hosts welcome the Detroit Lions to town in the second preseason tune-up for both squads.

For the homestanding Browns, fans will be eager to see QB competitors Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson exhibit much stronger
play than they did in last Saturday's 17-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Quinn (7-of-11, 68 yards, 1 INT) and Anderson (0-of-2, 1 INT) combined for three of the Browns' four interceptions in the game, both failed to lead a scoring drive, and Cleveland logged just 191 yards of total offense in the defeat.

Quinn, who is expected to relieve Anderson in Saturday's game, threw a would- be touchdown pass that was dropped by still-struggling wide receiver Braylon Edwards.

A repeat of that scenario would not be a way to endear Cleveland fans to either quarterback, or to head coach Eric Mangini, who will pace the home sideline for the first time as a member of the Browns.

The Lions, meanwhile, will be looking to build on a mostly positive performance in a 27-26 win over the Falcons last Saturday.

Quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper (5-of-6, 41 yards) and Matthew Stafford (7- of-14, 114 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) both had their moments in the victory, though it was third-stringer Drew Stanton who led the team back from a 26-16 deficit with under three minutes to play.

Stanton, the former second-round pick out of Michigan State, was 7-of-13 for 114 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

Outside of the quarterback battles, a couple of interesting storylines will present themselves in the Lions/Browns warm-up.

One will involve Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who will be facing a Lions team for which he starred from 2001 through 2007 before being traded to Cleveland prior to last season.

Another will be the Lions' somewhat incongruous preseason winning streak, which reached five games when Jason Hanson's 47-yard field goal against the Falcons split the uprights at the final gun last week.

Detroit was a perfect 4-0 in the 2008 preseason before becoming the first team in NFL history to finish the regular season at 0-16.

The Lions last won six consecutive preseason games in 1990-91.

Saturday's game will mark the 41st preseason battle between the Lions and Browns, with Detroit holding a 21-18-1 edge. Detroit won a 26-6 home decision prior to last season.

The teams will also meet in regular season play, on Nov. 22nd at Ford Field.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - Tampa Bay (0-1) at Jacksonville (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - Tampa Bay (0-1) at Jacksonville (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - Tampa Bay (0-1) at Jacksonville (0-1)




The quarterback battle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take another step forward on Saturday night, when Raheem Morris' club makes the short trip north to face Jacksonville in the second preseason tilt for each club.

Luke McCown got the start under center for the Buccaneers in their preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans last Saturday
but did little to help his cause in the 27-20 loss.

McCown was 4-of-8 for 19 yards in a brief appearance against the Titans before yielding to Byron Leftwich, who was 6-of-14 for 61 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown pass to Brian Clark early in the second quarter.

The team's third quarterback, first-round rookie Josh Freeman (Kansas State) was 5-of-9 for 52 yards and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Titans defensive back Ryan Mouton.

Leftwich is expected to start Saturday's game.

Among those who will not play for Tampa Bay are running back Cadillac Williams (knee) and guard Arron Sears (personal). The team also lost starting punter Josh Bidwell for the season due to a hip injury earlier this week.

Journeyman Dirk Johnson will do the punting for the Bucs on Saturday.

The status of defensive back Aqib Talib, who was arrested and charged with battery in an alleged attack against a taxi driver on Wednesday, is unknown for the Jacksonville game.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, will hope to see a little more life out of the offense as they open their home preseason schedule.

Jacksonville was a 12-9 loser in Miami this past Monday, settling for three Josh Scobee field goals in the loss.

The team's starters played only briefly in the loss, and high-profile Jags such as quarterback David Garrard (4-of-7, 22 yards), running back Maurice Jones-Drew (1 carry, 4 yards), and wideout Torry Holt (1 reception, 10 yards) should see more extensive action on Saturday night.

Holt, who played his first 10 seasons as a member of the St. Louis Rams (1999-2008), will wear a Jaguars uniform before his new home fans for the first time, as will first-round draft choice and tackle Eugene Monroe (Virginia).

On the injury front for Jacksonville, wideouts Mike Walker (ankle) and Mike Thomas (hamstring), fullback Montell Owens (knee), linebacker Justin Durant (hip flexor), and defensive end Jonathan Lewis (ankle) are among the notables considered questionable for Saturday.

The Jaguars lead the all-time preseason series with the Buccaneers, 5-2, including a 23-17 road victory prior to last season.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - Carolina (0-1) at Miami (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - Carolina (0-1) at Miami (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - Carolina (0-1) at Miami (1-0)

- The Miami Dolphins will try to enjoy their final moments at home for a long stretch on Saturday night, when Tony Sparano's club hosts the Carolina Panthers in the second August warm-up for both clubs.

Following Saturday's contest, the Fins will spend a total of 29 days away from Dolphin Stadium, traveling to Tampa Bay (Aug. 27) and New Orleans (Sept. 3) to finish out their preseason, before heading to Atlanta (Sept. 13) in Week 1 of the regular season.

Miami fans won't get a chance to participate in a Dolphin Stadium tailgate again until Monday, Sept. 21, when the Fins open the home portion of their schedule against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Dolphins got off to a winning start to the preseason last week, downing the Jacksonville Jaguars, 12-9, in a somewhat sloppy defensive struggle.

Miami backup QB Chad Henne (7-of-11 passing, 94 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) provided the game's only touchdown, delivering a 33-yard touchdown pass to wideout Ernest Wilford in the third quarter.

Starting quarterback Chad Pennington played only limited minutes in the contest, and should see more action on Saturday night before yielding to backups Henne and Pat White. In his first appearance in a Dolphins uniform, White struggled against the Jaguars, completing just 2-of-7 passes for 14 yards with an interception. The second-round pick out of West Virginia also rushed six times for 20 yards in the victory.

The Panthers, meanwhile, will come to South Florida looking to play better than they did in this past Monday's 24-17 loss to the New York Giants.

Playing without stars such as wideout Steve Smith (shoulder) and running back Jonathan Stewart (Achilles), Carolina's first-string offense did not put together a scoring drive in the game, and the team committed five turnovers in the loss.

Starting QB Jake Delhomme, in his first action since a playoff meltdown against the Cardinals last January, completed 5-of-9 passes for 38 yards prior to exiting.

Delhomme should garner more extensive time on Saturday before yielding to backups Josh McCown and Matt Moore.

Smith, who returned to the practice field this week, has a chance to play against Miami but could continue to be held out for precautionary reasons. Stewart, who has not returned to practice, is less likely to be in the lineup.

The Panthers and Dolphins have met in the preseason on just one other occasion, a 19-10 Carolina home win prior to the 2006 campaign.

The teams will also meet in regular season play on Nov. 19th, for a Thursday night game in Charlotte.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - Pittsburgh (1-0) at Washington (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - Pittsburgh (1-0) at Washington (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - Pittsburgh (1-0) at Washington (0-1)

The Washington Redskins will look for their first points of the 2009 preseason on Saturday night, when they play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second August warm-up for each club.

Washington was generally awful in all phases of last Thursday's 23-0 loss at the Baltimore Ravens, but the work of an offense that is being counted on for improvement
had to be of greatest concern to the Redskins and their fans.

Quarterback Jason Campbell was 3-of-6 passing for 38 yards in the loss, and made his brief appearance in the absence of Redskins notables such as running back Clinton Portis and wide receiver Santana Moss. Portis sat out the game for precautionary reasons, while Moss was bothered by a hamstring problem. Both have a chance to be in the lineup on Saturday.

Washington's first-team offense should play into the second quarter against the Steelers.

The Redskins also struggled on the defensive end against the Ravens, surrendering 500 yards of total offense to Baltimore. Washington was not at 100 percent on that side of the ball either, as free agent defensive tackle acquisition and $100 million man Albert Haynesworth was held out due to a minor knee problem.

Haynesworth is expected to make his debut in a Redskins uniform on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the Steelers will head to the nation's capital seeking to build off of a 20-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals in their preseason opener last Thursday.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, on the field following a turbulent few weeks defined by a civil suit alleging that he raped a Nevada woman, was 4-of-6 for 33 yards before yielding to backups Charlie Batch (1-of-2, 45 yards) and Dennis Dixon (10-of-19, 112 yards).

Steelers running back Willie Parker did not play against the Cardinals to a back problem, but has a chance to suit up and see a few snaps against the Redskins.

The status of outside linebacker James Harrison, who has been battling a stomach virus this week, is unknown for Saturday.

The Redskins hold a 12-4-1 advantage against the Steelers in preseason games all-time, but were 12-10 home losers in the most recent such matchup, held prior to the 2007 campaign.

The teams met in meaningful play last Nov. 3rd at FedEx Field, a 23-6 win for the Steelers in a Monday night contest.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - N.Y. Giants (1-0) at Chicago (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - N.Y. Giants (1-0) at Chicago (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - N.Y. Giants (1-0) at Chicago (0-1)




Jay Cutler will wear a Bears uniform in Soldier Field for the first time on Saturday night, when Chicago welcomes the New York Giants to the Windy City in the second preseason tune-up for each club.

Cutler played to mixed reviews in his first outing with the Bears last week, a 27-20 loss at the Buffalo Bills. The Pro Bowler completed 5-of-10 passes for 64 yards in the defeat,
failing to lead a touchdown drive and also throwing a badly-underthrown interception.

Cutler should see more extensive time on Saturday, in keeping with second- game-of-preseason tradition, before yielding to backups Caleb Hanie (8-of-11, 87 yards, 1 TD against the Bills) and Brett Basanez. Basanez, who starred locally at Northwestern University, could be in danger of not making the squad after completing just 3-of-11 passes for 26 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions in Buffalo.

In addition to offering the quarterbacks another turn, Saturday will present an opportunity for Bears running back Matt Forte' and tight end Greg Olsen to get on the field in a live situation.

Forte', who became just the second rookie in NFL history to amass 1,000 rushing yards and 60 receptions a year ago, sat out the Buffalo contest as a precautionary measure due to a sore hamstring.

Olsen, the club's leader in touchdown catches last year with five, had been bothered by a hip injury.

Charles Tillman (back) is among the notable Bears who will not be in uniform on Saturday, but defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee, hamstring) has a chance to play some snaps after returning to the practice field earlier this week.

The Giants, meanwhile will be trying to build off an encouraging performance in a 24-17 win over the Panthers this past Monday.

Eli Manning completed 2-of-3 passes for 31 yards in limited action, while running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 66 yards on nine total carries.

Manning and the first-string should play into the second quarter on Saturday, before the quarterback yields to backup David Carr.

The Giants defense remains banged up heading into the Chicago game, as tackles Rocky Bernard (hamstring), Fred Robbins (knee), Chris Canty (hamstring) and Barry Cofield (knee), as well as linebacker Michael Boley (hip), are all nursing injuries and are question marks for Saturday.

Cornerbacks Aaron Ross (leg) and Corey Webster (hip), both of whom missed the Carolina game, have a chance to be in uniform on Saturday.

The Bears hold a 15-6 edge in their all-time preseason series with the Giants, including a 20-8 road victory in the most recent such meeting, prior to the 2000 campaign.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - Buffalo (1-1) at Green Bay (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - Buffalo (1-1) at Green Bay (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - Buffalo (1-1) at Green Bay (1-0)

Just days after the best quarterback in franchise history signed with their hated rival, Aaron Rodgers will try to ease the sting a bit for fans of the Green Bay Packers, who will watch their team host the Buffalo Bills in the second preseason outing for both teams.

After initially telling the Minnesota Vikings he would remain retired, Brett Favre did an
about-face on Tuesday and signed with the team that ranked among his club's biggest rivals for 17 seasons.

Reaction among supporters of the storied Green Bay franchise has been mixed on this development, though fewer will lament Favre's presence with the enemy if Rodgers continues to progress.

In his first year as starter a year ago, Rodgers put together a fine season with 4,038 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just 13 interceptions, though the Packers finished a disappointing 6-10 on the year.

Rodgers was 5-of-10 for 102 yards and a touchdown during limited action in last week's 17-0 win over the Cleveland Browns, delighting the Lambeau Field crowd with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver in the first quarter.

Rodgers will be followed in the lineup on Saturday by backups Matt Flynn (5- of-6, 50 yards against Cleveland) and Brian Brohm (3-of-10, 18 yards, 2 INT), who may have to look sharp against the Bills to prevent the team from seeking a more experienced backup to Rodgers.

But what many Packers fans will be more interested to see is the work of the team's new 3-4 defensive scheme, which received positive early reviews in shutting out the Browns last week. Green Bay picked off four passes in the win, including at least one of all three Cleveland quarterbacks, and limited the Browns to 11 first downs and just 191 yards from scrimmage.

Enhancing the defensive effort for the Pack will be the probable preseason debut of defensive tackle and first-round draft choice B.J. Raji (Boston College), who missed the first warm-up due to a contract holdout.

The biggest drawing card for the Bills, meanwhile, will not be appearing in Lambeau on Saturday.

Wide receiver Terrell Owens will miss his second straight game with what has been described as a sprained toe, and will not resume practicing until some time next week, according to head coach Dick Jauron.

Also absent for the Bills will be first-round pass rusher Aaron Maybin (Penn State), one of three first-round draft choices who has yet to sign.

Buffalo will be seeking to overcome those absences and build upon last Saturday's 27-20 win over the Bears.

Quarterback Trent Edwards was a perfect 10-of-10 for 79 yards in the victory, and the Bills' four quarterbacks were a combined 29-of-34 passing with a touchdown and an interception.

Green Bay has a 9-3 lead in the all-time preseason series with Buffalo, but was a 27-7 road loser in the most recent such meeting, held prior to the 2005 campaign.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - New Orleans (1-0) at Houston (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - New Orleans (1-0) at Houston (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - New Orleans (1-0) at Houston (1-0)

A duo of clubs seeking to build upon a positive first week of the preseason will convene at Reliant Stadium on Saturday night, when the Houston Texans welcome the New Orleans Saints to town in the second August warm-up for each club.

The Texans were 16-10 winners in Kansas City last Saturday, picking up where they left off when they won five of their final six games during the 2008 regular season.

Quarterback Matt Schaub was a perfect 7-for-7 for 70 yards in the win, though the news was not all good for Houston on the signal-calling front.

Ex-Bears QB Rex Grossman, who was competing with Dan Orlovsky for the primary backup job behind Schaub, left the game with a hamstring injury after throwing just one pass, and could miss the remainder of the preseason.

With Grossman on the shelf, the spotlight will be brighter on the ex-Lion Orlovsky, who completed just 9-of-20 passes for 121 yards against the Chiefs. The new third quarterback will be 2008 seventh-round draft choice Alex Brink (Washington State), who was recently re-signed by the team and could see some late action on Saturday night.

Among those not expected to play for the Texans are cornerback Dunta Robinson, who is involved in a holdout related to his unhappiness with receiving the franchise tag; fellow corner Jacques Reeves, who is likely to miss the entire preseason with a fractured fibula; first-round outside linebacker Brian Cushing, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue, and defensive tackle Travis Johnson, who is coming off of sports hernia surgery.

The Saints also looked relatively sharp in their first preseason foray, with the work of a revamped defense now led by coordinator Gregg Williams leading the charge on the 17-7 win over Cincinnati.

A New Orleans team that had trouble stopping the run and creating turnovers last season limited the Bengals to 90 rushing yards on 27 carries in the win, also forcing a trio of Cincinnati miscues.

Offensively, quarterback Drew Brees was a crisp 6-of-9 for 88 yards in the win, delighting the crowd with a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey in the second quarter.

Later in the contest, backup Mark Brunell connected with wideout Robert Meachem for a 64-yard TD strike.

Brees and the first-string should see more extensive time on Saturday night.

Also appearing for the Saints on Saturday will be 45-year-old kicker John Carney, who was signed earlier this week after it was revealed that Garrett Hartley would be suspended four games for use of a banned stimulant. Carney, the fourth-leading scorer in NFL history with 1,955 points, was previously a member of the Saints from 2001 through 2006.

The Texans have won the only two preseason meetings with the Saints all-time, including a 31-27 triumph at the Louisiana Superdome prior to last season.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - Oakland (1-0) at San Francisco (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - Oakland (1-0) at San Francisco (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - Oakland (1-0) at San Francisco (1-0)

- The annual preseason battle between Bay Area rivals Oakland and San Francisco should include just a bit more tension on Saturday night, as Jeff Garcia will wear the silver and black against his former team, in the venue that he once called home.

Garcia, who made the Raiders his sixth team in the past seven seasons when he signed with them as a free agent this past offseason, spent the first five years of his NFL career playing at Candlestick Park as a member of the 49ers.

While having the daunting task of succeeding eventual Hall-of-Famer Steve Young, Garcia was named to three Pro Bowls (2000-2002) but never completely won over a fan base that had become accustomed to Super Bowl titles.

In Oakland, Garcia will nominally be the backup to former No. 1 overall draft choice JaMarcus Russell, but could have a chance to usurp the youngster if Russell continues to be inconsistent.

Russell was relatively sharp last week, in a game that Garcia missed due to a calf injury, completing 6-of-9 passes for 50 yards in a 31-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Russell was succeeded in the lineup by Charlie Frye (7-of-12, 80 yards, 1 TD) and Bruce Gradkowski (9-of-16, 161 yards, 1 touchdown), who are battling for a spot on the depth chart.

Running back Darren McFadden provided another bright spot in the win, rushing for 63 yards on just four carries, though the team lost the game's top pass- catcher, Chaz Schilens (5 receptions, 52 yards), to a foot injury that will knock him out for the remainder of the preseason.

While one of the other team's quarterback will get some attention among the 49ers and their supporters, the work of their own signal-callers will be of more pressing concern.

Both Shaun Hill (2-of-2, 41 yards) and Alex Smith (5-of-7, 33 yards, 1 TD) played relatively well in last Friday's 17-16 win over the Broncos, and probable third-stringer Damon Huard (7-of-9, 98 yards, 1 TD) did nothing to hurt his case to make the roster either.

Smith is expected to start on Saturday before yielding to Hill.

The Niners offense could run at even better efficiency this week, as both running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Isaac Bruce are expected to be in uniform after sitting out the Denver game for precautionary reasons.

Linebacker Patrick Willis (ankle, Achilles) is among the San Francisco notables who are unlikely to play against the Raiders.

Similar geography has made the Raiders/49ers matchup one of the most played preseason rivalries in NFL history, with Oakland holding a 19-17 edge in the all-time series. The Raiders won last season's installment, 18-6, at home.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - San Diego (0-1) at Arizona (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - San Diego (0-1) at Arizona (0-1)

NFL Preseason Preview - San Diego (0-1) at Arizona (0-1)

- A pair of teams that endured shaky preseason openers will look to find a spark on Saturday night, when the Arizona Cardinals play host to the San Diego Chargers in the second August warm-up for each club.

The Cardinals began their 2009 season just as they ended their 2008 campaign - with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Quarterback Kurt Warner was 6-of-10 for 53 yards in the 20-10 loss, playing only briefly before yielding to backups Matt Leinart (8-of-14, 83 yards), Brian St. Pierre (4-of-10, 42 yards, 1 INT) and Tyler Palko (8-of-15, 103 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).

Palko, a long shot to make the team, capped off the Cardinals' only touchdown drive of the night with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Onrea Jones in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals' offense was at less than full strength absent the services of first-round running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, who suffered an ankle sprain early in training camp. Wells re-aggravated the injury in practice earlier this week and appears unlikely to play against the Chargers, meaning Tim Hightower (6 carries, 24 yards) and Jason Wright (3 carries, 11 yards) will likely be the first rushers in for Ken Whisenhunt's squad.

The Chargers, meanwhile, will be attempting to recover from a 20-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, in a game that saw Norv Turner's team turn the ball over three times.

Three San Diego quarterbacks combined for 329 passing yards in the game, including a brief 5-of-8, 26-yard performance for starter Philip Rivers, though the big story was who was carrying the ball early for the Chargers.

LaDainian Tomlinson, who had been held out of preseason games for precautionary reasons for the majority of his career, carried four times for 10 yards in the loss and also caught an eight-yard pass out of the backfield.

The Chargers' starters should play more extended minutes on Saturday, in keeping with second-week-of-preseason tradition, though it is unknown how much Tomlinson will factor into those plans.

Another starter, wideout Vincent Jackson, will miss the game with a sprained finger suffered in practice on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on the injury front for San Diego, third-round rookie guard Louis Vasquez (Texas Tech) should make his debut in a Charger uniform after missing the preseason opener with a sprained foot. The team's first-round selection, outside linebacker Larry English (Northern Illinois), is unlikely to play for a second straight week due to a hamstring strain.

Arizona holds a 9-8 edge in the preseason series with San Diego, though the Chargers were 33-31 road winners in the last such meeting, prior to the 2007 campaign.

 

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NFL Preseason Preview - Denver (0-1) at Seattle (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - Denver (0-1) at Seattle (1-0)

NFL Preseason Preview - Denver (0-1) at Seattle (1-0)

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton will get a chance to shake off last week's preseason meltdown this Saturday, when Denver travels to meet the Seattle Seahawks in the second August warm-up for each squad.

Orton, expected to open the season as the Denver starter after being obtained from Chicago in the Jay Cutler trade during the offseason, had about as poor a first outing in a Broncos uniform as could be imagined.

Orton was 9-of-16 for 83 yards with three interceptions in his first three series of the 17-16 loss to the 49ers, drawing a chorus of boos from the crowd at Invesco Field at Mile High.

To complicate matters for Orton, backup Chris Simms outplayed him drastically, completing 11-of-17 passes for 142 yards and both Denver touchdowns in the defeat.

First-year Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels cautioned that Orton's place on the depth chart was not in jeopardy following the game, though a repeat of the scenario that unfolded last week could change that.

Elsewhere on offense, running back Knowshon Moreno (knee sprain) will not play against the Seahawks, and the status of star wide receiver Brandon Marshall is in doubt as well. Marshall has been involved in a much-publicized spat with the organization, and has been running with the scout team during practice.

On defense, the Broncos will get their first live look at defensive tackle Le Kevin Smith, obtained in a trade with the Patriots earlier this week.

For Seattle, one of the storylines will be Jim Mora's first game at Qwest Field while wearing the head coach's headset for the Seahawks.

Mora, who was promoted from his assistant job after Mike Holmgren retired following last year, had a positive first outing as head man of the Seahawks last week, a 20-14 win at San Diego.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who missed nine games a year ago with a back injury, completed 3-of-5 passes for 27 yards in his return to the field. Hasselbeck should see more extensive minutes on Saturday before yielding to backup Seneca Wallace (8-of-12, 40 yards, 1 TD).

Also making their respective home Seahawks debuts on Saturday will be free agent wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who caught one ball for five yards against the Chargers, and first-round rookie and outside linebacker Aaron Curry (Wake Forest).

On the injury front, left tackle Walter Jones (knee) and cornerback Marcus Trufant (back) are likely to miss the remainder of the preseason. It was reported earlier this week that Jones will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his ailing knee.

Denver has won all six preseason meetings between the two clubs, including a 19-3 road victory in the last such matchup, prior to the 2004 season.