Dolphins 17 Falcons 6
In Week 3 of the preseason, the starters are supposed to get the most burn that they will until the regular season kickoff in early September. Despite that being the case on Thursday night, nothing much really was working in this matchup, as the starters for both teams were underwhelming at best.
While Ryan Tannehill completed an impressive 20-of-29 passes, he only tallied 155 passing yards without a single touchdown and an interception on top of it. Furthermore for the Dolphins, the backfield battle has still yet to sort itself out, as both Jay Ajayi and Arian Foster disappointed with averages of 2.0 yards per carry or less.
Much of the same goes for the Falcons, as they did in fact lose on Thursday, however at least receiver Aldrick Robinson made his case once again, as he is trying to lock down the starting slot position on this Atlanta offense. He hauled in three catches for 70 yards against the Dolphins on Thursday night. Another player who looked good was rookie tight end Austin Hooper, as he reigned in all five of his targets for 50 receiving yards; he has a legitimate chance to steal the starting job from Jacob Tamme at some point during the season. As for the case of Julio Jones, he will be fine for Week 1, but is being held out of the final preseason game just as a precaution.
Seahawks 27 Cowboys 17
This story writes itself. Not only is Tony Romo injured again, but the player whom I have been talking the most about so far this preseason – rookie Dak Prescott – will now have the chance to start for at least the first five games of the season. Speaking of Prescott, he looked impressive once again, as he completed 17-of-23 passes against the defensively stout Seattle Seahawks. Expect his reps to be severely limited in the Cowboys final preseason game – if he plays at all – because they can ill-afford to lose another quarterback entering the season.
Prior to the game on Thursday night, the thing that we were most looking forward to was the debut of Ezekiel Elliott. And while the disappointing news about Romo may have overshadowed Zeke, his excellent showing didn’t slip past these eyes. In all, he averaged nearly 7.0 yards per carry on seven carries, including twice running through All-Pro safety Kam Chancellor, and several impressive pass-blocking opportunities as well. Despite the early camp hammy concerns and the proven irresponsibility of entering a Marijuana dispensary prior to Thursday’s game, Elliott should be considered a surefire first rounder in your drafts this summer due to his evidenced talent and obvious potential.
On to Seattle now, as they were in fact victorious in this game after all… On Thursday, the Seahawks looked the best they have all preseason, as they really took it too the Cowboys. Most importantly, they got back to their roots of their Super Bowl years of yore, as they established a dominant ground presence and then built the passing game off of it. Russell Wilson was accurate and impactful with nearly 200 yards of passing. Appearing ready to enter the regular season, expect them to contend for the NFC crown once again after missing out in 2015.
Patriots 19 Panthers 17
Despite what ESPN may have reported, in his preseason debut, Tom Brady looked a bit rusty. In all he finished 3-for-9 for 76 yards, however what people are clinging to are two of his three completions. One was rifled in to Aaron Dobson for 37 yards, while he also lofted a beautiful 33-yard TD to Chris Hogan. Look, we know what Brady is capable of, so I’m not going to put much stock into this at all. He made a couple of really nice throws, however I will never be encouraged when he completes 33-percent of his passes. Regardless, he won’t be eligible to start until Week 5, so no reason to give this more than a paragraph – good or bad.
Another premier quarterback who looked less than spectacular – reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton couldn’t have looked much worse. I would honestly be surprised if you told me that he wasn’t either hurt or hungover, and that is not an indictment on his character, but rather an anecdote on how bad he looked. Some his throws were just sailing, and the ones that didn’t were picked off easily. Again though, like I said with Brady, we know what Cam is capable of and the guy always brings it. Have no fear in him for Week 1.
Redskins 21 Bills 16
Overall, this was a good showing for the Redskins first teamers. They moved the ball offensively, getting the veterans involved such as Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, while emerging stars such as Kirk Cousins and Jordan Reed delivered quality performances as well. On the defensive side of the ball, Washington’s first teamers held the Bills to nine points in all and as a team didn’t allow a touchdown until the second teamers allowed rookie Jonathan Williams to break free on a 37-yard rushing touchdown up the gut in the third quarter.
Speaking of Williams, the aforementioned run was an impressive one. With the Bills relatively thin at the position entering the regular season, Williams has every opportunity to become this year’s Karlos Williams as LeSean McCoy’s primary spell guy.
Buccaneers 30 Browns 13
This was a shootout of sorts, and not in terms of being a particularly close game, but more because of how the ball was being flung down field. Both strong-armed quarterbacks really aired it out, and gave the fans an interesting preseason matchup to watch. While Jameis Winston pitched a nearly flawless game, RGIII’s success was limited to a few bombs to Josh Gordon. Otherwise, Griffin actually was a bit disappointing considering he took five sacks.
Back to Tampa Bay here, it should be noted that their first team offense looked to be in midseason form. Both of their primary receivers – Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson – produced regular season stat lines despite only playing one half of football. And while their running game didn’t really get on track, it likely would have, provided they gave more carries to starter Doug Martin (4.5 YPC in limited work). While we know much about the aforementioned players and how they will be going forward and have been mainstays in the starting lineup for some time now, the real emerging player for Tampa on Thursday night was Adam Humphries. Humphries – a player looking to compete for the starting slot receiver position – not only hauled in two passes for 39 yards, but he also brought back a punt 73 yards for a touchdown. This should do wonders for him in terms of separating himself from Russell Shepard in the slot receiver battle. Coaches love offensive commitment and the ability to contribute on special teams.
Steelers 27 Saints 14
The Steelers first teamers appeared business as usual, as Big Ben looked rock solid, Bell ran the ball well on three carries despite a fumble on a reception, and Antonio Brown hauled in all four of his targets for 87 yards and a long 57-yard touchdown. From there, the second teamers handled everything pretty well, closing out the game with the lead.
On the Saints side, they appeared to be executing their intended objectives for the most part, but a few turnovers really cost them. With the preseason essentially over, the first teamers appear to be set. Expect no surprises coming out of Saints camp once the final preseason game concludes.
Packers 21 49ers 10
All of the talk over the last 72 hours has obviously been dominated by the actions (or lack there of) of Colin Kaepernick. This is not my personal political platform, so I will remain out of that discussion. As for the aforementioned Kaep, the reality for him is that he is far out of the 49ers quarterback battle and he did nothing on Friday night to improve his situation. His final numbers: 2-of-6 passing for 14 yards, 4 rushes for 18 yards. The facts are simple, he will at best not dress for San Francisco this season and will serve as the third string quarterback behind rookie Jeff Driskel and starter Blaine Gabbert, or he will be cut at the conclusion of the preseason. Luckily for him, starting quarterbacks seem to be going down by the second around the league, so if he is cut, he should be able to find another job.
In other 49ers news, Carlos Hyde looked good. His numbers weren’t eye opening, but on one particular run, he proved to me that physically he is back to where he needs to be. Unfortunately he suffered a concussion during the game, but it is minor and is not considered one that will affect his status for Week 1.
On the Packers side, Eddie Lacy had another nice game. Although he still looks about 30 lbs overweight for the position to me, his burst is definitely back. I will never consider him a safe fantasy option, but barring injury early on, Lacy should serve as the Packers workhorse in 2016. Take that for what you will.
Chiefs 23 Bears 7
I know it’s only preseason, but considering the third game is treated like a regular season tune up, the Bears have to be concerned with their showing. Simply put, the Bears were awful. Their run game was garbage, Jay Cutler completed only 6-of-15 passes for 45 yards, the first offensive unit was shutout, and as a team they didn’t score a touchdown until the waning moments of the fourth quarter. I know the Chiefs are a pretty good team, but the Bears appeared as though they were taking on the 2000 Ravens.
On the other side, the Chiefs looked just as predicted. They took care of the ball offensively, looked strong defensively, and remained unexplosive in terms of down the field production. While the last one may sound negative, it actually works for Kansas City’s identity of taking care of the ball and controlling the pace of the game. They should be a confident unit entering the regular season.
Ravens 30 Lions 9
Two weeks ago I warned you about getting overzealous about the prospects of Terrance West in 2016, however here I am now apologizing and advising you to take him into consideration if you need a Justin Forsett handcuff. Had circumstances remained the same since then, West likely would have been cut, however now after the injury to Lorenzo Taliaferro and rookie Kenneth Dixon, West is next in line after the unreliable Buck Allen. To further that, West has also far and beyond outperformed Allen so far this preseason, which gives credence to the thought that the coaching staff may slot him as the number two guy on the depth chart entering the season.
As for the Lions, they were a mess on Saturday night. They scored only nine points, while the first teamers failed to get into the end zone, which should be concerning considering this game is treated as the Week 1 dress rehearsal. As concerning as it sounds, at least the ground game proved respectable (19 carries, 101 yards). It appears that Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick are pretty much set in stone as the one and two on the depth chart there, so at least there is no need to worry in that regard.
Eagles 33 Colts 23
It’s really tough to find a bigger Sam Bradford hater than me, however I would be disrespecting you – the reader – if I didn’t discuss how good he looked on Saturday night against the Colts. At 17-of-20, he completed an astounding 85-percent of his passes, while his 167 yards and two touchdowns matched the bill as well. His interception was of the tipped variety, so the blame is only partially his there. As stated several times already though, preseason production doesn’t change my perception of player’s talent typically – especially that of veteran players – but it should be noted that this was a breath of fresh air coming from a guy who has repeatedly disappointed throughout his entire career.
The Colts on the other hand, have to be disappointed – not particularly with Andrew Luck, but with their entire first offensive unit, as they could only muster three points on the night. It was their second teamers that made it a game towards the end, which should be a bit concerning considering they are averaging under 20 points per game this preseason and because of the fact that this matchup was supposed to be their regular season dress rehearsal. Hopefully Luck finds a way to rally the troops for Week 1… He’s not a guy I tend to doubt.
Giants 21 Jets 20
“The Snoopy Bowl” – as it is affectionately known amongst New Yorkers – is really the only preseason game on the NFL slate that actually matters a little. Played between the Jets and the Giants each preseason, it is named as such because they are battling over the ownership of their shared home field – MetLife Stadium. If you weren’t aware, the mascot of MetLife is in fact Snoopy, of “Peanuts” fame. Both fan-bases use this rivalry game for bragging rights (depending on if they win) throughout the rest of the season, and you can tell that it matters slightly extra to the players too. Throughout the years there have been some compelling storylines that have emerged from these famous matchups such as 2013 “The end of The Sanchize” – when Mark Sanchez was senselessly in the game in the fourth quarter behind the Jets third string offensive line. He was obviously injured and required season-ending shoulder surgery that he has never really recovered from… Thanks, Rex Ryan. Another was in 2010 “Salsa Party” – and while the Salsa dance wasn’t debuted by Victor Cruz just yet, his six catches, for 145 yards, and three touchdowns against the Jets will always be remembered as his coming out party. On to 2016, and if a storyline had to be identified, it would begin and end with Tavarres King. While he didn’t match Cruz’s monster numbers from 2010, King took both of his receptions to the house and his one carry for a 20-yard gain. All camp and preseason, King has been in the running to make the Giants final wide receiver roster spot, and after his performance on Saturday night, he may have just solidified his place.
On the Jets side, their interests were much less about the rivalry and more about figuring out their quarterback situation. As it stands, they still have four QB’s that they want to keep when many rosters only carry two. They will end up carrying three of them, which still means that they will have to cut a quarterback whom they have invested a good amount into over the last few years. Considering he was a second round pick just this season, one would have to assume that Christian Hackenberg is safe. The same goes for Ryan Fitzpatrick but for the reasons that he is the most reliable option on the roster and that the Jets just paid him a considerable amount of money to start for them this season. Ultimately the decision will come down to last year’s fourth round selection Bryce Petty and former second round pick Geno Smith. My opinion on who will be on the chopping block appears to be changing with the direction of the wind, but right now I may be going with Petty.
Unfortunately, despite outplaying Geno for most of this preseason, Jets coach Todd Bowles cannot seem to rationally justify giving the backup quarterback job to a player who has never appeared in a regular season game. This means that they will have to give up on a young quarterback whom they just spent a relatively high draft pick on only a year ago. Coach Bowles seems to have confirmed this theory when he stated that Geno will not be playing in the Jets final preseason game and rather Hackenberg and Petty will split the game evenly. At least this will give the young QB plenty of exposure at a time when teams are desperate for backup quarterback help.
Titans 27 Raiders 14
After trying to get a grasp on their quarterback situation in last week’s game (not that there is any issue there), the Titans went back to basics against the Raiders here on Saturday, as they ran the ball into submission with their first offensive line on the field. Both DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry looked fresher than ever, making it more and more believable that they will boast one of the most ferocious rushing attacks in the league this season. I consider both must draft options entering Week 1.
Over in the other backfield, Raiders rookie DeAndre Washington is really making me look smart, as I have been touting his ability and underrated nature since draft talk began in mid-February. Latavius Murray likewise has been proving me correct, as he has largely disappointed this preseason, making Washington appear to be the far superior running back. As I have been stating all offseason, don’t be surprised if Washington takes over this job at some point down the line this season.
Broncos 17 Rams 9
This week, the Broncos news cycle has been understandably focused on one topic and one topic only: Sanchez is out and Siemian is in… For the time being at least. The coaching staff and John Elway have made it clear that Siemian did in fact win this job and it wasn’t just given to him by default, however I think it is pretty clear that this job is just being kept warm until they feel like rookie Paxton Lynch is ready to take over midseason. The sad story to tell here is that of Mark Sanchez because he was given every opportunity to win this job, and he just continuously squandered them. Despite the good news for Siemian, I wouldn’t expect to see him owned in many fantasy leagues this season.
On the Rams side of things, they have to be disappointed with the play of their first overall pick – quarterback Jared Goff – so far this preseason. In his third outing, the rookie completed a mere 4-of-12 passes for just 45 yards in a loss to the Broncos. It has become clear that he is going to have to ride the bench – at least for the beginning of the season – as he is just not ready to handle the NFL game yet. Don’t count him out just yet and label him a bust, but certainly keep him away from your draft boards.
Vikings 23 Chargers 10
Originally I was going to discuss the game here, but instead I am just going to keep things brief.
God help Teddy Bridgewater on his recovery from his knee injury that he suffered on Tuesday. Word is that this non-contact injury was one of the most gruesome visuals ever seen on a field, to the point that some players were reportedly throwing up. If there is a silver lining for the young quarterback’s thrashed ACL and dislocated knee, it is that he is going to make a full recovery according to team doctors and specialists. Going forward for the Vikes, what this means is that their Super Bowl hopeful roster is going to have to be led by journeyman quarterback Shaun Hill. If he goes down or proves ineffective, Minnesota will be left with rookie Joel Stave out of Wisconsin. Neither should hold fantasy value this season.
On a positive note for Minnesota, my favorite rookie corner throughout the entire draft process this offseason – Mackensie Alexander – recorded another interception this preseason, after not registering one his entire collegiate career – the only major knock on his scouting report.
On the Chargers side of things, Melvin Gordon again flashed that Wisconsin burst – this time for a 39-yard touchdown – but he continues to show incredible inconsistency. With his other three carries in the game, the young running back failed to register over 3.7 yards per carry. Continue to be weary of him as a starting fantasy option headed into the regular season.
Texans 34 Cardinals 24
Boy did Brock and the 1’s look good in this one, as they racked up 31 points in the first half and threw all over this Cardinals secondary. Osweiler finished the day 11-of-13, for 146 yards, and a touchdown. A particularly inspiring takeaway from this game in terms of fantasy implications was the amount of comfort that he showed with all of his new weapons. He hit Hopkins twice, Braxton Miller three times over the middle, and Will Fuller three times – twice of which were deep bombs.
The defense wasn’t too shabby either, as they picked off Arizona twice in the first half – four times in total – one of which went for six the other way. They finished up as one of the best units in football last season and there is no reason that they shouldn’t once again this season.
On the Cardinals side, coach Arians has been getting some heat because of the sloppiness of his team – particularly his offense – but he has assured the media that his team is exactly where he wants them to be in the preseason. Seemingly just as talented as they were last season, there is no reason not to trust the genius coach, so try not to take too much stock into their underwhelming preseason.
Jaguars 26 Bengals 21
The Bengals offense appeared to be in good shape on Sunday night, as not only were both quarterbacks rock solid, but their backfield situation appeared to be in midseason form. Giovanni Bernard caught the ball and ran it well too, while Jeremy Hill scored a touchdown within the red zone.
On the side of the Jaguars, while their first teamers started slowly out of the gates, they put things together towards the end, particularly on defense. For a team that does not currently have a winning culture, rallying during a preseason game such as this one was a nice teaching moment for their coaching staff to use.
Instead of wrapping up the pointless preseason Week 4 matchups next Wednesday, I will provide a regular season preview for my weekly “Running Back Workload” piece that I am picking up from last season. This will be published on Tuesdays, while I will also be featuring a RB vs. CB matchup chart and report that will be published each Thursday.
Be prepared for some bold forecasting this season…
-- Nostra-Dom-Us