Robert Griffin III has been named the starter of the Cleveland Browns, but his preseason debut didn’t make anyone mistake him for the rookie sensation of 2012. This could be Griffin’s final shot at a starting quarterback gig, and he will aim to turn it on in Week 2 of the preseason when the Browns take on the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have a below average first-team defense so Griffin III will aim to find a rhythm in this contest, but Atlanta will counter with a good offense against a weak Cleveland defense.
This Week 2 preseason contest will be held on Thursday, August 18th, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
Odds Analysis
The Falcons are the more talented team, and even though preseason games don’t always jibe with the better team, this once could. If Griffin III struggles again, it could put the Browns in a hole. Additionally, Atlanta has a solid offense, and if Julio Jones plays some of the first quarter, he could make an immediate impact. While these games often come down to backups performing late, an early score by the Atlanta offense would be a boost and could help the Falcons cover the spread.
Quarterback Rotation
Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III was 4-of-8 for 67 yards with an interception against Green Bay in the team’s 17-11 loss in the preseason opener. Griffin III could see some steady time as he aims to be ready to perform once the regular season starts.
Austin Davis could see the most time. He finished the first preseason game just 4-of-9 for 32 yards and needs to be better. Cody Kessler had a short but impressive NFL debut, going 2-for-2 passing for 15 yards and a touchdown. Veteran Josh McCown didn’t do much in the opener, but if he plays more in this second game he has the ability to put up some solid statistics.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will be the most talented signal-caller on the field. He was 0-for-4 in his debut and may look to put up some better numbers as the regular season draws closer. Julio Jones was targeted twice in the first exhibition game and didn’t catch a pass, and he may want to get going as well.
Backup Matt Schaub was one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL in the first preseason game, completing 10-of-15 passes for 179 yards. Sean Renfree also had a nice game, completing 5-of-9 passes for 101 yards. The Falcons’ quarterbacks are deeper and more talented than what the Browns will send into the game, which should give Atlanta the edge.
Coaching History
Browns coach Hue Jackson has never won a preseason game in five tries. His team went 0-4 back in 2011 and lost the first time out this year as the offense struggled.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn has a 3-2 record in the preseason. He went .500 last year in his first preseason as coach and has the opening win from last week.
Free ATS Pick
Matt Ryan probably didn’t like throwing incomplete on every pass last week, and he could be intent on improving. Hitting Julio Jones regularly would be a good plan, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Falcons put a good series together early in the game. The Browns are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this year and may not have star receiver Josh Gordon in this one as he continues to battle an injury. That void and Griffin’s struggles could make Cleveland a tough choice to win this game in NFL odds.
NFL Odds: Falcons 17, Browns 16
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