All times Eastern
Click here for early games.
Thursday, August 9
8:00 pm Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers (even, 34 1/2) - Fans will be drooling over the prospect of a Marcus Mariota - Aaron Rodgers shootout, but they'll only get one for a series or two.
The Titans appear to be a team on the cusp of greatness after a 9-7 season and a 22-21 win over Kansas City in the wild card round of the playoffs. Green Bay was 4-1 before Rodgers went down for the season last year and 3-8 after that. They should rebound to a playoff team in 2018, but this game is too close to call. Take the coin flip.
Coin Flip: TENNESSEE
PREDICTION: Titans 21 Packers 20
8:30 pm Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-2 1/2, 33 1/2) - Get ready for a quarterback controversy in KC with Pat Mahomes, Tyler Bray, and Matt McGloin all seeking the spot vacated by Alex Smith. After a 10-6 mark, the AFC West title and a quick exit from the playoffs, there are plenty of concerns for the Chiefs.
Houston, 4-10 last year, may have even more issues with which to deal this year. Plus, they were 1-7 on the road in 2017.
Coin Flip: KANSAS CITY
PREDICTION: Chiefs 16 Texans 12
10:00 pm Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (-3 1/2, 35) - Were this a regular season game, the Cowboys would probably be four-point favorites. Dallas just missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record last year, and will likely want to get their players on the same pages quickly during the preseason.
The 49ers actually were something of a surprise to go 6-10 last year, but they were 6-1 down the stretch, five of those wins coming with Jimmy Garoppolo at QB. That kind of momentum should make them a winner here.
Coin Flip: DALLAS
PREDICTION: 49ers 24 Cowboys 17
10:00 pm Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks (-2, 34 12) - The Seahawks are usually awesome in the preseason (3-1 in 2016; 4-0, 2017), so there's no reason to believe they'll have any problem with the Colts, who stunk up the AFC South with a 4-12 mark last year.
Coin Flip: SEATTLE
PREDICTION: Seahawks 28 Colts 6
Friday, August 10
7:30 pm Atlanta Falcons at NY Jets (-3 1/2, 34 1/2) - Seriously? The Jets are favored? They were 5-11 last year, while the Falcons were a wild card out of the NFC South with a 10-6 mark. The Falcons hammered the Rams, 26-13 in the wild card game and lost to the Eagles, 15-10 in the divisional round. There's a huge talent gap between these teams and it clearly favors Atlanta.
Coin Flip: ATLANTA
PREDICTION: Falcons 24 Jets 14
10:30 pm Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders (-3, 36) - The Raiders will have Derek Carr back at QB this year and maybe some new linemen who will actually block for him. The Lions will start Matthew Stafford, who has had his moments, but lacks a complementary group on offense.
Both teams are going to vie in their respective conferences, making this game very interesting. Give the Raiders a little edge at home.
Coin Flip: OAKLAND
PREDICTION: Raiders 21 Lions 15
Saturday, August 11
Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos (even, 34 1/2) - The Vikings went 13-3 last year and won in the divisional round of the playoffs over New Orleans, 29-24, but fell apart in a 38-7 loss to the Eagles. They're as solid a team as can be found in the league, while the Broncos are still wondering if John Elway can still suit up. Denver chalked up a 5-11 season, their worst record since a 4-12 mark in 2010.
Coin Flip: DENVER
PREDICTION: Vikings 26 Broncos 13
10:00 pm LA Chargers at Arizona Cardinals (-2 1/2, 36) - Sam Bradford arrives in Arizona and there are more changes which the organization hopes will help the team improve from 2017's 8-8 record.
Always competitive, the Chargers just missed the playoffs (again) with a 97 record last season and will put up some points on the retooling Cardinals.
Coin Flip: LA CHARGERS
PREDICTION: Chargers 34 Cardinals 17
Click here for early games.
