The pro football preseason kicks off this week (finally). Remember that each season is different, with players changing teams, new coaches and assistants coming aboard, and star college players joining the pros as highly touted rookies. August football offers fans their first peak at all the new additions.
The Packers are at Lambeau Field to face the (always) rebuilding Browns. Cleveland has a new coach in Hue Jackson and a revolving door of quarterback choices. Remember that new coaches often want to win in preseason more than established coaches, which Green Bay has in Mike McCarthy.
Indianapolis stumbled through preseason last year (1-3 SU/ATS)...then did the same during a disappointing regular season. They are away from home, heading to Buffalo to face the Ryan brothers. Rex hired Rob to run his defense, which will make for a fun season on and off the field with the brothers running their mouths as much as they run in defensive substitutions.
Tampa Bay has a new coach in Dirk Koetter and they opened at Philadelphia this week. He was with the team last year as offensive coordinator, so he knows second-year QB Jameis Winston. The Eagles have a new coach, too, and a quarterback battle. Sam Bradford did not have a good season (19 TDs, 14 INTs) and is likely battling rookie QB Carson Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick. The Eagles also add new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who likes to bring the blitz. Free agents CB Leodis McKelvin and Ron Brooks are aboard, the latter who played for Schwartz in Buffalo.
The Saints played at New England, both teams led by aging/veteran quarterbacks. Which means you will see more of QBs Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Jacoby Brisset versus Luke McCown and Garrett Grayson than you will of Drew Brees and Tom Brady. A year ago in Week 1 Brady threw four passes while Garoppolo was 20-of-30 for 159 yards against the Packers.
Minnesota is at Cincinnati, two teams with coaching staffs who have little to prove. But don't tell that to Vikings' head coach Mike Zimmer, who was 4-0 SU/ATS in August of 2015, his first year, then 4-1 SU/ATS last preseason.
NFC champ Carolina will play its first game since getting upset in the Super Bowl, at Baltimore. It's the first of two straight road games for the Panthers. Last season they started 14-0 during a stellar regular season.
Defending champion Denver has nothing to prove in August, of course, but Denver had a huge change at quarterback, losing its starter (Peyton Manning) and top backup (Brock Osweiler). For 2016 they have Mark Zanchez, Trevor Siemian and rookie Paxton Lynch, forcing the coaching staff to start from scratch for a starter. Gary Kubiak went 3-1 SU/ATS in preseason last year, part of a 22-12-2 ATS August mark the last nine years with a 23-11-2 over the total.
Miami head to the NY Giants in a Week 1 battle of new coaches. Former Chicago offensive coordinator Adam Gase is the new leader in Miami, the youngest head coach in the NFL. The Giants have home field and promoted OC Ben McAdoo to head coach. The Giants will be more focused on improving a dreadful defense that was last in the NFL in yards, 30th in points and 24th against the run. At least there's some help in the secondary with rookie CB Eli Apple (#10, Ohio State).
The Dallas Cowboys will head to Los Angeles to play the Rams in their new venue. The Cowboys plan to run the football more, like in 2014, to keep QB Tony Romo healthy, and they add first round pick Ezekiel Elliot (Ohio St, #4). The Dallas defensive line is no Doomsday, with series question marks, little pass rush on a unit that had 33 sacks (#19) in 2015. And who is going to QB the Rams -- Bob Waterfield? Norm Van Brocklin? Kurt Warner? Not exactly: Sean Mannion, Case Keenum, Nick Foles, or rookie Jared Goff.
Seattle opens the preseason on the road this week at Kansas City, a pair of playoff teams with established coaches and quarterbacks with little to prove. Andy Reid has a reputation for not caring much about preseason, but last year that adage didn't hold true as the Chiefs were 4-0 SU/ATS. That included a 14-13 win over this Seattle squad. Pete Carroll usually has his teams ready to play at home, even in August, a 26-14-1 ATS preseason mark.
The up and coming Oakland Raiders head to Arizona this weekend. Oakland coach Jack Del Rio went 1-3 SU/ATS last season, with the only win coming in Week 1, 18-3 over the Rams at home. Del Rio's preseason record is 21-17-2 ATS, as well as 22-18 over the total. There is also only one long road trip for Week 1, with San Diego heading to Tennessee. There are edges in August football, you just have to know where to look and what to look for, even in August.
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