If anything there should be a little more interest the Hall of Fame game than what we’ve seen in years past. With the game and enshrinement ceremony cancelled last year due to the COVID pandemic, the NFL will embark on a shortened preseason starting Thursday when the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers tangle. This will actually be the first preseason NFL game since 2019 since the entire exhibition slate was shelved last year. That just adds an extra layer to how teams will approach things this season. We typically see a lot of players who won’t be on the team’s final roster take the field in this game. That could change, however, since teams are playing one less preseason game with an additional contest added to the regular season schedule. Still, don’t expect to see regulars take the field for a lot of snaps if they get in the game at all. That makes handicapping the event more difficult.
The 2021 Hall of Fame Game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers will take place at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 5, 2021 and will be televised on FOX.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Dallas Cowboys +1
Pittsburgh Steelers -1
Over/Under 33
Odds Analysis
Most preseason games have a spread of 3-points or lower and that’s the case in this one. Based on last season’s results the Steelers hit the board as a 1-point favorite with the total at 33. There are so many unknowns when it comes to the preseason that make games tough to handicap. One thing we do know is that coaching staffs will take a long, hard look at players further down the depth chart. In essence the game is between third- and fourth-stringers. And that also means the scores will be lower since defenses have the upperhand. Six of the last eight Hall of Fame games had a total at or below the current number for this year’s contest.
Quarterback Rotation
Could we possibly see Dak Prescott for a series in this game? It isn’t out of the question since he missed a majority of last season after a gruesome injury and the Cowboys would like to get him a few reps. However, it’s unlikely since Mike McCarthy has a proven commodity and his past history tell us that he’ll wait. Besides, with Garrett Gilbert No. 2 on the depth chart it sure would be nice to give him a look just in case. Neither team can afford to lose its starting quarterback and having that happen in a meaningless game would be devastating, so don’t expect to see Prescott or Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger when the game kicks off.
There is close competition for the backup job on both sides. Gilbert made one start for the Boys last year, but he’s played in just seven games in his three seasons. McCarthy would like to build trust with at least one of his backups with Ben DiNucci and Cooper Rush also in the mix.
Mason Rudolph will get every chance to solidify his spot behind Roethlisberger on the roster. A few years ago he took over when Big Ben was shelved with an injury and played well winning five of his eight starts. However, the offense struggled to consistently move the football and score points relying more on the defense to win games. Rudolph will be pushed by Dwayne Haskins and Josh Dobbs, but the job is his to lose.
Coaching History
During his tenure in Green Bay McCarthy didn’t put a lot of emphasis on preseason games. Probably because he had a veteran team with great leadership. This year is different since the Cowboys stumbled to a 6-10 record last year. A lot of that had to do with Prescott getting hurt in the fifth game, but this is a chance to build depth and work on a defense that needed a lot of help after finishing near the bottom in several statistical categories. Dan Quinn steps in to run the group with their first six draft picks all defenders needing to get acclimated to the system.
The Steelers are 9-3 in preseason games since 2017 and 31-23 all-time under Mike Tomlin. The club returns a number of players from last year’s 12-win club, but the season ended on a disastrous note with losses in four of the final five regular season matchups and a 48-37 setback to Cleveland in a Wild Card game. You know that didn’t sit well with the coach.
Cowboys vs. Steelers Pick
If you’re looking for a betting edge the Cowboys have won their last three HOF game appearances. And they had some of the best practices during training camp that owner Jerry Jones has seen. That doesn’t always translate on the field, but this game means a lot more to McCarthy and his staff and I think the Boys will be prepped for the win.
NFL Odds: Cowboys 17, Steelers 13
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