2021 NFL Preseason Week 2 Picks

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys (-4, 37 1/2), 8:00 pm - Well, howdy. In the Lone Star state, the Cowboys make all the headlines, but it was the Texans who blew out Green Bay, 26-7, last week. While the Packers seemed indifferent to the score, Houston needed a lift after last season's 4-12 fiasco and new head coach David Cully may have lit a fire under some players.

Dallas is 0-2 after losses to Pittsburgh and Arizona. Day Prescott is still out, though healthy, but may not see game action until week one of the regular season. He could get some snaps here, but it's an iffy proposition. the star QB not getting in any preseason work is causing concern in Big D.

Coin Flip: Dallas

Prediction: Texans 27 Cowboys 17

Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings (-2 1/2, 37 1/2), 8:00 pm - Rookie out of Texas, Sam Ehlinger, went 10 of 15 for 155 yards in his first NFL action last week as the Colts defeated the Panthers 21-18. He may be in line for the starting job as Carson Went remains out, recovering from off-season foot surgery.

Minnesota was sleep-waling through a 33-6 pasting by the Broncos last week, resting almost all of their starters. Coach Mike Zimmer may get more of the regulars into this contest, but the Vikings don't seem to have much interest in preseason games.

Coin Flip: Minnesota

Prediction: Colts 21 Vikings 17

Las Vegas Raiders (-7, 35) at Los Angeles Rams, 10:00 pm - Nathan Peterman played the entire game at QB in the Raiders 20-7 win over Seattle last week, throwing for 246 yards on 29-for-39 passing. The Vegas defense was lights out, limiting the Seahawks to 194 yards and just 45 plays from scrimmage.

The Rams are going to get a heavy dose of Derek Carr from the Raiders, as they try out Matthew Stafford, acquired from Detroit in the off-season. The Rams came up on the short end of a 13-6 score against the Chargers. The defense looked good; the offense was held to 197 yards. That -7 is a huge preseason line. It's either a tip-off that the Raiders mean business or that there's something wrong in La-La land. Could be a sucker play, but, hey, it's preseason, so we'll play along with the Vegas guys.

Coin Flip: Las Vegas

Prediction: Raiders 24 Rams 10

Denver Broncos (-5, 37 1/2) at Seattle Seahawks, 10:00 pm - Seattle didn't show up in their 20-7 defeat at Las Vegas last week, which is a bit troubling for Seattle fans, as head coach Pete Carroll places emphasis on winning, feeling it gives off a good vibe (he's right). Denver's three-headed QB monster of Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater, and Brett Rypien threw for a combined 249 yards and 3 TDs, though that may be misleading as the Vikings rested almost all of their starters in the 33-6 defeat.

If fans mean anything to the Seahawks, they'll get Russell Wilson into the game for a couple of series and maybe put some points on the board. Denver may be up-and-coming, but the Seahawks are a proven commodity.

Coin Flip: Denver

Prediction: Seahawks 24 Broncos 21

Sunday, August 22

New York Giants at Cleveland Browns (-5 1/2, 35 1/2), 1:00 pm - To say that the Giants are overmatched in Cleveland would be an understatement. Joe Judge is the fourth head coach for the Giants since Tom Coughlin departed after the 2015 season. Over the ensuing five seasons, the Giants are 29-51, including last season's 6-10 mark.

The Browns made the playoffs last season, are a solid squad heading into 2021, and would be favored by about the same line if this were a regular season game. The Browns are rising, while the Giants are still searching. Giants lost to the Jets, 12-7, last week while the Browns dumped Jacksonville 23-13.

Coin Flip: Cleveland

Prediction: Browns 27 Giants 10

San Francisco 49ers (-5, 34) at Los Angeles Chargers, 7:30 pm - Will fans be treated to Jimmy Garoppolo and Justin Herbert? Maybe for the first quarter, but backups Chase Daniels (LA) and Trey Lance (SF) will take the bulk of the snaps.

The 49ers lost a close one, 19-16, to visiting Kansas City, so that's not anything to cry over, while the Chargers out-toughed the Rams 13-6. Five points seems a bit much for a road team, even though the 49ers are looking for a return to the playoffs after a tough 6-10 season, mostly without Jimmy G.

The Chargers weren't bad, going 7-9 as Herbert got a healthy dose of experience.

Coin Flip: Los Angeles

Prediction: 49ers 21 Chargers 20

Monday, August 23

Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints (-4, 38 1/2), 8:00 pm - Head coach Sean Payton may have a problem deciding between James Winston or Ian Book as the starter, especially if Winston and the Saints continue turnover-prone. The coughed it up six times in last week's 17-14 loss to the Ravens, but they're back home this week and the Jaguars didn't look like much in a 23-13 home loss to the Browns.

The Saints will bounce back as the QB controversy intensifies. Don't forget, Taysom Hill is still in the mix.

Coin Flip: Jacksonville

Prediction: Saints 34 Jaguars 14

Click here for early games.

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IdleGuy.com October 2024, Vol. 1 #9