FOOTBALL NFL ARTICLES

Buffalo has some decent pieces, and if quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back LeSean McCoy can help run an efficient offense, it’s not out of the question that the Bills push to finish with a winning record of make the playoffs. However, the level of talent is not on the same level as teams like the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers or Oakland Raiders.The Bills have a new coaching staff and recently jettisoned star wideout Sammy Watkins in a trade, brightening the future but hurting this year’s squad. The defense will need to dominate and the ground game must be unparalleled for Buffalo to truly have a shot to win the AFC.... 

As we enter the start of the 2017-18 regular season, all the talk surrounding the New York Jets is about who the team is going to anoint their QB1. I can’t help but wonder why? Does it really truly matter if it’s Josh McCown, Bryce Petty, or Christian Hackenberg? The short and immediate answer is no. New York’s offense could possibly go down as the absolute worst in NFL history. The defense is going to be the unit to watch, but defense doesn’t win in this day and age of the NFL. That’s why New York is the owner of the lowest season win total on the board at 4 with heavy +135 juice riding the over.... 

If you ask Jed York when there are no cameras around, he might tell you that the San Francisco 49ers miss Jim Harbaugh. San Francisco has cratered since Harbaugh left to take over as the head coach of his alma mater, but things might be looking up. Although the hiring of new GM John Lynch was widely panned, he fleeced Chicago out of some extra picks in this year’s draft and may have found its quarterback of the future in CJ Beathard. San Francisco still has too many holes to be considered a threat to finish above .500, but things are at least trending in the right direction.... 

It appears as though the New Orleans Saints have hit a wall under Sean Payton and this could be his swan song unless he turns things around. In his first seven seasons the Saints averaged over 10 wins per, reached the playoffs five times and won a Super Bowl following the 2009 campaign. It’s been a struggle recently, though they have been consistent. New Orleans was won seven games in each of the last three seasons and with a stronger defense they could rise above that number in 2017.... 

The Denver Broncos ended their quarterback battle when Vance Joseph named Trevor Siemian the starter over Paxton Lynch. It’s the safe move as Siemian won’t make too many mistakes and the Broncos will rely on their stingy defense to win most games. Siemian earned the starting job last season, and while the Broncos posted a winning record, they missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. The newly anointed QB will face the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 of the NFL preseason.This battle in Week 3 of the preseason will go down Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 9 p.m. ET at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.... 

It’s always been widely accepted that the Los Angeles Chargers have the talent to be a playoff contender in the AFC. However, keeping that talent healthy and on the field is one thing the Chargers are not known for. Once again the team was ravaged with injuries last season and the loss of several key playmakers, along with their inability to win close games were the major factors in the Chargers 5-11 campaign. They won nine games just two seasons ago and if healthy they could easily reach that mark again.... 

Up until last season the Cincinnati Bengals were a contender in the AFC and missed on several opportunities for greater success with a stacked roster. They stumbled last season, having their win total from the previous year sliced in half while missing the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. The window may be closing on the Bengals championship hopes and if they don’t rekindle their winning ways, that window will slam shut on the career of Marvin Lewis. Cincy visits out nation’s capital to take on the Washington Redskins in preseason Week 3 action.This preseason Week 3 matchup will take place on Sunday, August 27, 2017, at 4:30 p.m. ET at FedEx Field. Watch the game live on FOX.... 

Did the Chicago Bears sign Mike Glennon to a big free agent contract to sit on the bench, or did they trade up to draft Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick to hold a clipboard for the entire season? We think it was the latter, but the way the two have played this preseason, the “C” word is being tossed around Chicago. Glennon will have a chance to solidify his precarious spot as the Bears starting quarterback when they take on the Tennessee Titans in a Week 3 matchup.This matchup in Week 3 of the preseason will go down Sunday, August 27, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at Nissan Stadium. The game will be televised live on FOX.... 

After an opening preseason win, Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers got a taste of how the other half lives with a thumping at the hands of the Broncos last week. The new coach will get a first-hand look at what he has to work with when his Niners take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Week 3 dress rehearsal game. The Niners are looking to improve one of the worst offenses in the NFL from last season and will go up against one of the stingiest defenses in the league.This contest in Week 3 of the preseason will go down Sunday, August 27, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium. The game will be televised on NBC.... 

Only the New York Jets ( +35000 ) have longer odds to win Super Bowl LII than the San Francisco 49ers ( +26500 ) who to nobody’s surprise are the biggest dogs on the board to win the NFC ( +12500 ). The 49ers franchise is currently in tank mode. They’ve stockpiled draft picks and have plenty of money in the coffers to become respectable once again in the next 2-3 seasons. You’re better off taking a blowtorch to whatever amount of money you plan to throw on them this year. At least that way it’d be fun to watch something go down in flames!... 

The New York Jets are the biggest joke in the league right now. Experts around the NFL are calling this team one of the least talented teams in recent memory and many would consider five wins to be a successful season. The offense has no playmakers whatsoever and the defense let go of its best player in the offseason. It’s almost impossible to see how they could win the AFC East and 80-1 on them might be too low.... 

In one of the least surprising moves of the offseason, new head coach Vance Joseph named Trevor Siemian the starter for the Denver Broncos on Monday. The Broncos gave Paxton Lynch every opportunity to extend the battle, but last year’s first-round pick has not played well at all in either preseason or training camp. Now it’s up to Siemian to lead the Broncos back to the postseason in his second year as the team’s primary quarterback.... 

The Saints have made some changes this year, adding Adrian Peterson to the backfield and some key players on defense. They are in a tough division, alongside the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons, the 2015 NFC Super Bowl entrant, the Carolina Panthers, and the up-and-coming Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The Saints are heavy underdogs to not just survive the division but also push all the way through to the Super Bowl. However, any team with a star signal-caller can at least legitimately theorize that if everything goes right they will have a chance of making a magical run.... 

Bortles will aim to hang on to his spot while Chad Henne pushes for the gig. Both signal-callers will be under the microscope when the team takes on the Carolina Panthers in the third week of the preseason. The Panthers are the more talented team but won’t have the same type of motivation in this one.While Carolina’s starters should see a good deal of action, the Jaguars will be the ones more intent on playing well, which could affect the spread.... 

Arizona’s streak of three straight seasons with double-digit wins came to a halt in 2016, but the Cardinals have the talent to be a playoff team this season. Last year, the team was a little unfortunate to finish at 7-9 with a point differential of +56 on the season. Improvement should be in the cards in 2017, but will it be enough to win a division crown?... 

It’s not easy learning a playbook in a matter of weeks, and this will be a good test against a solid Eagles defense. The third game of the preseason always most closely resembles the regular season, and the Eagles are hoping to tune up for a playoff run of their own. This could be a competitive contest, with the home field advantage a slight factor.This game in Week 3 of the preseason contest will go down Thursday, August 24, 2017, at 7 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... 

Atlanta will have its most thorough preseason showing in the third week of the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals. While these teams may not put in as much game-planning as the regular season, this will be the closest it comes to the real thing during the exhibition slate.Atlanta averaged more than 33 points per game a season ago but the Cardinals have a pretty solid defense, so it will be an interesting matchup.... 

The New York Jets are widely expected to be the worst team in the NFL in 2017. Wins will be hard to come by, let alone a conference title. The Jets are the longest of shots to win the AFC Championship and that will scare off most bettors. But for you diehard Jets fans who believe miracles can happen, even the smallest bet will have a big payout. But honestly, that money would be better spent on another team.... 

The annual battle for New York will take place in New Jersey when the New York Giants host the New York Jets in Week 3 of the NFL preseason. It’ll be hard to give the Giants the edge for home field advantage since both teams call MetLife Stadium home, and thus the game has been dubbed the MetLife Bowl. Not much is expected from the Jets this season as they are in the throes of a complete overhaul, but you can throw the records and expectations out the window in this matchup.This duel in Week 3 of the preseason will go down Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 7 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium.... 

A game between the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers usually has plenty of offensive talent and scores could soar. Even in Week 3 of the preseason when starters generally play the most snaps, that could be a treat for fans. However, the stars won’t be shining at Heinz Field with both teams missing some important pieces. The Colts are hopeful Andrew Luck is ready for the regular season opener while the Steelers need Le’Veon Bell back to make their offense click. It just won’t be the same without them.This Week 3 preseason matchup will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.... 

It hasn’t been a smooth move so far for the Los Angeles Chargers, who have done little to impress their new fan base. Working on a streak of seven consecutive quarters without an offensive touchdown, it’ll be up to Philip Rivers to change that when the battle for L.A. takes place in the Coliseum against the Los Angeles Rams. For more than two decades the area was without an NFL team. On Saturday in Week 3 of the preseason, the two clubs that now call the area home will battle for bragging rights.This matchup in Week 3 of the preseason will go down Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Watch the game live on CBS.... 

The Cleveland Browns have already won more games than they did all of last season and the victories are not about to stop. This looks like a different team, at least through the first two preseason games, and the defense has been solid with Myles Garrett looking every bit like the first overall pick he was. The Browns need to decide on a starting quarterback, but that’s not a problem the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have with Jameis Winston ready to lead them to bigger things. The teams hook up in Week 3 of the NFL preseason schedule.This contest in Week 3 of the preseason will take place on Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.... 

The Buffalo Bills turned to Sean McDermott in hopes of ending the NFL’s longest playoff drought, now the new coach will have to patch an offense together in hopes of securing enough victories to do that. The Bills traded away their top receiver and saw one of their free agents retire in the span of a few days, severely hindering their chances of moving the ball through the air. It’s a good thing Buffalo had the best rushing team last season because they will need it again. The offense will search for answers in the Week 3 preseason matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.This matchup in Week 3 of the preseason will go down Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 7 p.m. ET at MT Bank Stadium.... 

The Los Angeles Chargers are snakebit. Unfortunate injuries have been a common scene for the team the past several years, which has helped rob any chance of success despite the presence of upper-tier quarterback Philip Rivers.... 

All eyes will be on Jared Goff this season as the former No. 1 overall draft pick hopes to show he can be the franchise quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams. Goff struggled mightily as a rookie in 2016 but there is still plenty of time for a turnaround....