2018 NFL Preseason Week 3 Sure Losers.

2018 NFL Preseason Week 3 Sure Losers

Written by on August 20, 2018

We’re halfway through the 2018 preseason in the National Football League, and injuries have already started to take their toll at key positions, such as the fractured collarbone that AJ McCarron of the Buffalo Bills suffered, which means that the likelihood of Josh Allen starting in Week 1 of the regular season just got a lot larger. In the 2018 NFL Preseason Week 3, you can expect to see starters play three quarters in most cases, as teams are using this week as a sort of final rehearsal before the regular season. In Week 4 of the preseason, you can expect to see reserves everywhere as the starters rest and coaches figure out their final cuts. Check out some of our sports betting insights as to which teams you can expect to lose this time out.

2018 NFL Preseason Week 3 Sure Losers

Thursday, August 23

  • Philadelphia at Cleveland (8:00 pm ET, FOX)
Philadelphia took a walloping from New England in Week 2 of the preseason, but they didn’t have Carson Wentz under center, and Nick Foles looked most unlike the dominant quarterback who led the Eagles to their first NFL title in 58 seasons last January. Wentz made his first appearance in 11-on-11 drills this past week but is unlikely to see extended action, if he takes the field against Cleveland at all. Even so, the talent gap with Cleveland should be enough for the Eagles to roll to a relatively easy win, as the Eagles have the defense to shut down Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield, and they have the offensive savvy to work around a Browns defense that is aggressive but young. Give me the Eagles to win.

Friday, August 24

  • Seattle at Minnesota (8:00 pm ET)
The Minnesota Vikings lost a close game at Jacksonville a week ago, and now they welcome Seattle to town. The Vikings had the top defense in the NFL a year ago, and while Russell Wilson remains one of the game’s most gifted quarterbacks in all of football, the Seattle offense is in somewhat of a rebuilding mode. On offense, the Vikings have an upgrade at quarterback in Kirk Cousins, a wealth of talent at wide receiver, and Dalvin Cook to carry the ball, and Seattle is no longer the Legion of Boom on defense. With all of that in mind, I like Minnesota to win again in the 2018 NFL Preseason Week 3.
  • Detroit at Tampa Bay (8:00 pm ET, CBS)
Jameis Winston should see some action on offense for the Buccaneers, but the emphasis will be on getting Ryan Fitzpatrick ready for the start of the regular season. Detroit comes in with new head coach Matt Patricia, with an emphasis on defense, and with Matthew Stafford leading the offense, and Ameer Abdullah looking to make a name for himself at tailback. The Buccaneers are sure losers at the 2018 NFL Preseason Week 3. The Buccaneers have some issues getting Fitzpatrick up to speed, and Patricia should be able to take advantage of that. Tampa Bay has a physical defense, but the Lions have a decent line, and Stafford can pick apart secondaries that make mistakes. Give me Detroit to win.

Saturday, August 25

  • San Francisco at Indianapolis (4:30 pm ET)
Jimmy Garoppolo squares off against Andrew Luck in this battle of teams that have high ceilings but a lot of questions to answer. Luck has looked sharp so far in his training camp and preseason action, but he will face a tough defense on Monday Night Football this evening when the Colts welcome the Ravens. The 49ers won the last five games of the season last year once Garoppolo took the reins of the offense, and they should show some momentum coming into face the Colts as well. Indianapolis has a porous defense, which should give the 49ers the opening they need to put up enough points to have a lead that their reserves can hold through the fourth quarter. I Like San Francisco to win in the 2018 NFL Preseason Week 3.