There are two NFL preseason games on the program this evening, both starting at the same time. The first one is the WFT at Patriots game; the other is the Steelers at Eagles.
Washington Football Team vs New England Patriots
When: Thursday, August 12 – 19:30 EDT
Where: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts
Weather: Clear, 31°C
Friday, January 4 – that is when the Pats’ fans were at Gillette Stadium the last time. More than a year and a half later, they’re back in the stands. It’s now up to their players to give them a warm welcome. How? By doing well in their first preseason game!
Patriots Quarterbacks are in the Spotlight
For that to happen, the Patriots’ QBs will have to step up. And they probably will, as now is the time to showcase the skills in order to get picked for the starting position in the upcoming season.
Although Cam Newton is 99% certain to be the Pats starting QB in Week 1, the fact is that rookie Mac Jones is breathing by his neck.
Both quarterbacks will get their playtime this evening, and you can be sure each will give his utmost. The Pats will need Newton/Jones to perform well tonight as their opponent is a team with fantastic defence.
WFT Looks Really Strong in the Defense
The Washington Football Team isn’t among the top Super Bowl candidates, but the fact is that this team has more than a solid roster.
The problem is that their QB isn’t quite elite, his consistency being the main issue. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the man in question, with whom you never know what to expect – sometimes his brilliant beyond expectations, sometimes he can’t throw anything.
On the bright side, WFT’s defence looks really strong. In fact, the team finished with only 353 conceded points – the fourth-best record of all the 16 teams in the AFC.
WFT vs Pats Betting Pick
The WFT is a better team than the Pats, but this is the preseason, and neither side will give its best. However, a couple of players are expected to show their best tonight. This goes particularly for the two QB rivals from the New England roster. If they play well, the Pats will be able to break the WFT defence.
Prediction: New England Patriots – 2.17 at Pinnacle
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles
When: Thursday, August 12 – 19:30 EDT
Where: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Weather: Sunny, 32°C
The team that won Super Bowl LII in early 2018 is one of the biggest underdogs for winning the Lombardy trophy this season. In fact, the Eagles are expected to do very poorly in 2021, missing out on the postseason action entirely.
Their tonight’s opponents should do better, although they’re also not among the top contenders. Nevertheless, the Steelers did start their campaign with a decent performance in the first game of the NFL preseason – they beat Dallas in the 2021 Hall of Fame Game.
The Eagles Got a New Coach
The Steelers at the Eagles game is going to be the debut of Nick Sirianni as Philly’s head coach. He’s never been in this role before, with his previous job being the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.
Another thing that should worry the Eagles fans is that the QB will not be their strongest position in 2021. The second-year QB Jalen Hurts is one of the players in the contest for this role; the other one is Joe Flacco, formerly of the New York Jets – the team with the least number of scored points in the entire NFL in 2020.
These QBs surely don’t have what it takes to break the Steelers’ defence, which is one of the strongest in the NFL. It’s very likely that the Eagles aren’t going to be able to score a single TD this evening. The question is whether the Steelers can do it?
Can the Steelers Score Some Touchdowns?
Yes, they can! Although their first-choice QB Ben Roethlisberger will probably sit out this game, the Steelers do have a fantastic backup.
The man in question is Dwayne Haskins, who did really well in the Hall of Fame Game. Then, there’s also Mason Rudolph, who’s expected to be the Steelers no.2 QB behind Big Ben.
Steelers vs Eagles Betting Pick
The Steelers are a much better team than the Eagles in all areas of play. Although this is going to be a low-scoring affair, the team from Pittsburgh will probably score more than the opponent.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers – 1.99 at Pinnacle
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