A bad thing about NFL preseason games is that they’re often very hard to predict. However, the good news is that this Saturday, there are plenty of matchups to choose from. We’ll now share our thoughts on those games with you!
Carolina Panthers vs Baltimore Ravens
When: Saturday, August 21 – 19:00 EDT
Where: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
Weather: Partly cloudy, 29°C
The Carolina Panthers lost their first game of the preseason to the Indianapolis Colts. The final score was 21-18, showing that it was a very close game. Still, the fact is that in that game, the Panthers scored only one touchdown.
It’s going to be even more challenging for them to score a TD against the Ravens. It’s not just because the Ravens are great at the back, but also because Carolina’s coach will probably rotate his squad, giving some rookie defensive players more playing time.
Similar will probably be the case with Baltimore, but perhaps not when the offence is concerned. According to recent reports, the Ravens starting QB Lamar Jackson is expected to feature in Saturday’s game.
With him as the signal-caller, the Ravens look destined to get a big win. By “big”, we mean a win with at least three points difference.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens -3.00
Miami Dolphins vs Atlanta Falcons
When: Saturday, August 21 – 19:00 EDT
Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
Weather: Clear, 29°C
Some would think that without Julio Jones on the roster, the Atlanta Falcons have nothing to hope for in the 2021 NFL season. However, he was out of almost the entire 2020 season, but they managed to do reasonably well without him. As a result, we expect them to be even better this season than before. But what about the preseason?
The Falcons started with a disappointing defeat to Jones’ new team, the Tennessee Titans. They scored only one field goal in that game. This time, they need to do slightly better.
Whether they can beat the Dolphins in Miami remains to be seen; however, we believe the Falcons will not suffer another embarrassment and keep the bout within five points. They have the tools to put up a fight with or without Jones in the team.
Pick: Atlanta Falcons +5.00
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Tennessee Titans
When: Saturday, August 21 – 19:30 EDT
Where: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
Weather: Partly cloudy, 29°C
The reigning Super Bowl champions lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the NFL preseason, which was the biggest upset of the preseason. The odds on the Bengals were as long as 3.50 at some online sportsbooks, partially because their starting QB Zach Wilson had to miss that game.
However, even without their offence not being at its best, the Bengals managed to get a win. The reason was their impressive defending – their defenders even managed to sack Tom Brady once!
This time, the Bucs need to face an even stronger offensive opponent than the Bengals. However, you can be sure that they’ve learned their lesson. You can be certain that the Bucs coach will opt for a stronger defensive lineup.
In turn, this means that the home side should be able to keep the Titans’ offence at bay. But what about Tampa’s offence?
Even though Tom Brady probably won’t spend too many minutes on the field, his teammates should be able to score some points. There probably won’t be too many of them, but then again, they should do enough to edge out a win.
Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win
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