The elongated, six-month drought without regular-season football is nearly over as the NFL preseason began on Aug. 2.
Preseason football obviously isn’t as important as the regular season for fans. However, it allows teams to dictate which players make the final roster, and it lets position battles sort themselves out against live competition.
Throughout August, each NFL team will play four preseason games. Teams won’t play someone they’ll meet in the regular season. In many cases, an AFC team will try to schedule an interconference matchup since they only meet NFC teams once every four years.
Team strategies for each of the four games can vary. In the preseason, wins and loss are irrelevant. An 0-4 record in the preseason doesn’t mean a team’s season outlook is doomed. On the same note, a 4-0 preseason isn’t a sign that a team will make the playoffs.
In 2017, the Cleveland Browns finished 4-0 in the preseason. However, in the regular season, the Browns became only the second team in NFL history to finish the season 0-16. On the other hand, the Atlanta Falcons were 0-4 in the preseason. It looked like the Falcons were headed for a Super Bowl hangover season. Nevertheless, Atlanta finished 10-6 in the regular season and won a playoff game over the Los Angeles.
Week by Week NFL Preseason Betting Guide
2018 NFL Preseason Team Strategies
When training camp begins in late July, every NFL team can have as many as 90 players on its roster. In previous years, teams would cut players throughout the preseason until only 53 players remained.
Now, there will only be one cut, and it will be after all four preseason games have been played. So, the roster will be trimmed from 90 to 53 after Week 4 of the preseason. This change is advantageous for the players competing for the last few roster spots since they have another opportunity to showcase their skills in a preseason game.
Week-to-week strategies can vary for teams, but most franchises tend to follow the same pattern. Last year in Week 1 of the preseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took on the Cincinnati Bengals. Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston played two series, and he was 9-for-13 for 99 yards before being replaced by Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Winston was clearly the starter, and he only played two series. For the Bengals, starter Andy Dalton only played one series. Backup quarterbacks played for the remainder of the game. Most starters play in the first week of the preseason, but they are only on the field for a few series at most.
In the second week of the NFL preseason, starters typically receive more reps. For example, Winston played the entire first half and threw 29 passes. Tom Brady, who didn’t play at all in the first week of the preseason, saw the field for two possessions.
The third week of the preseason is when veterans and starters see the most playing time. It’s about three weeks before the regular season begins, and most teams treat the third preseason game as a tune-up game for the start of the year. Tom Brady played the entire first half of the Patriots’ game against the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford also played the whole first half plus an additional series in the second half.
Week 4 of the preseason is for the players on the borderline of making the cut who are vying for those final roster spots. You won’t find Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers anywhere near the field. In many cases, even proven backups won’t play much at all in the final week of the preseason.
In last year’s Week 4 preseason game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders, the leading rusher for the entire game was Raiders’ back John Crockett. Seattle’s leading receiver was Kasen Williams.
It’s the final showcase for players before the final cut day. Fans might not enjoy Week 4 of the preseason as much as the previous week, but it’s vitally important for players trying to earn a spot on the final roster.
2018 NFL Preseason Betting Strategies
For bettors looking to gain an edge in the preseason, the best way to start is to look for teams and coaches who actually care. That might seem obvious, but some teams simply don’t care much about winning in the preseason.
The Patriots, Steelers, Packers, Saints and Seahawks — among other teams — don’t have quarterback competitions. Cleveland, on the other hand, has a battle brewing between Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield. Both quarterbacks are competing for the starting job, so they have incentive to play more and to give more effort. The Jets, Bills and Cardinals also have quarterback battles.
Teams with new coaching staffs could also have more to play for in the preseason. Players have the motive to play harder for new coaches. A player in the doghouse for another coach could use the preseason as a new opportunity to earn playing time.
NFL Preseason Schedule and Odds
Week 1
Thursday, Aug. 9
Carolina Panthers (+2.5) at Buffalo Bills (7 p.m.)
Total: 34
Pittsburgh Steelers (+3) at Philadelphia Eagles (7 p.m.)
Total: 35
Chicago Bears (+2.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (7 p.m.)
Total: 35.5
Cleveland Browns (+2.5) at New York Giants (7 p.m.)
Total: 34.5
New Orleans Saints (+3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (7 p.m.)
Total: 34.5
Los Angeles Rams (+2.5) at Baltimore Ravens (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 36
Washington Redskins (+4) at New England Patriots (6:30 p.m.)
Total: 37
Tennessee Titans (+1) at Green Bay Packers (8 p.m.)
Total: 34.5
Houston Texans (+2.5) at Kansas City Chiefs (8:30 p.m.)
Total: 34.5
Dallas Cowboys (+3.5) at San Francisco 49ers (10 p.m.)
Total: 35
Indianapolis Colts (+3) at Seattle Seahawks (10 p.m.)
Total: 34.5
Friday, Aug. 10
Atlanta Falcons (+2.5) at New York Jets (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 34.5
Detroit Lions (+3) at Oakland Raiders (10:30 p.m.)
Total: 36
Saturday, Aug. 11
Minnesota Vikings (+1) at Denver Broncos (9 p.m.)
Total: 34.5
Los Angeles Chargers (2.5) at Arizona Cardinals (10 p.m.)
Total: 36
Week 2
Thursday, Aug. 16
Philadelphia Eagles (+3) at New England Patriots (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 43
New York Jets (+1.5) at Washington Redskins (ESPN, 8 p.m.)
Total: 39.5
Pittsburgh Steelers (+3) at Green Bay Packers (8 p.m.)
Total: 42.5
Friday, Aug. 17
Kansas City Chiefs (+2.5) at Atlanta Falcons (7 p.m.)
Total: 40.5
New York Giants (+3) at Detroit Lions (7 p.m.)
Total: 41
Buffalo Bills (+3.5) at Cleveland Browns (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 38.5
Miami Dolphins (+3.5) at Carolina Panthers (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 43
Arizona Cardinals (+3.5) at New Orleans Saints (8 p.m.)
Total: 42.5
Saturday, Aug. 18
Jacksonville Jaguars (+4.5) at Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m.)
Total: 40
Oakland Raiders (+3) at Los Angeles Rams (4 p.m.)
Total: 38.5
Cincinnati Bengals (+3) at Dallas Cowboys (7 p.m.)
Total: 41
San Francisco 49ers (+2.5) at Houston Texans (8 p.m.)
Total: 41
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2.5) at Tennessee Titans (8 p.m.)
Total: 40.5
Chicago Bears (+3) at Denver Broncos (9:05 p.m.)
Total: 41
Seattle Seahawks (+3) at Los Angeles Chargers (10 p.m.)
Total: 41
Monday, Aug. 20
Baltimore Ravens (+1) at Indianapolis Colts (ESPN, 8 p.m.)
Total: 40.5
Week 3
Thursday, Aug. 23
Philadelphia Eagles (-2) at Cleveland Browns (FOX, 8 p.m.)
Total: 42
Friday, Aug. 24
New York Giants (+1) at New York Jets (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 40.5
Denver Broncos (+3) at Washington Redskins (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 42.5
New England Patriots (+2.5) at Carolina Panthers (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 42.5
Detroit Lions (+2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Total: 44.5
Seattle Seahawks (+3.5) at Minnesota Vikings (8 p.m.)
Total: 40.5
Green Bay Packers (+3) at Oakland Raiders (10:30 p.m.)
Total: 45
Saturday, Aug. 25
Kansas City Chiefs (+1) at Chicago Bears (1 p.m.)
Total: 44.5
Houston Texans (+2.5) at Los Angeles Rams (4 p.m.)
Total: 42.5
Tennessee Titans (+4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4 p.m.)
Total: 45.5
San Francisco 49ers (+1.5) at Indianapolis Colts (4:30 p.m.)
Total: 42.5
Baltimore Ravens (Pick) at Miami Dolphins (7 p.m.)
Total: 41.5
Atlanta Falcons (+1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (7 p.m.)
Total: 42
New Orleans Saints (+2.5) at Los Angeles Chargers (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Total: 44
Sunday, Aug. 26
Cincinnati Bengals (+1.5) at Buffalo Bills (FOX, 4 p.m.)
Total: 41.5
Arizona Cardinals (+3) at Dallas Cowboys (NBC, 8 p.m.)
Total: 43.5
Week 4
Thursday, Aug. 30
Miami Dolphins (+2.5) at Atlanta Falcons (7 p.m.)
Total: 36.5
New York Jets (-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (7 p.m.)
Total: 37.5
New England Patriots (+3) at New York Giants (7 p.m.)
Total: 38.5
Indianapolis Colts (+1.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (7 p.m.)
Total: 35
Cleveland Browns (+1) at Detroit Lions (7 p.m.)
Total: 36.5
Carolina Panthers (+2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 36
Jacksonville Jaguars (-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 35.5
Washington Redskins (+2.5) at Baltimore Ravens (7:30 p.m.)
Total: 36
Dallas Cowboys (No Line) at Houston Texans (8 p.m.)
Total: N/A
Los Angeles Rams (No Line) at New Orleans Saints (8 p.m.)
Total: N/A
Buffalo Bills (+3) at Chicago Bears (8 p.m.)
Total: 39
Minnesota Vikings (Even) at Tennessee Titans (8 p.m.)
Total: 35.5
Green Bay Packers (+3) at Kansas City Chiefs (8:30 p.m.)
Total: 40
Oakland Raiders (+1.5) at Seattle Seahawks (10 p.m.)
Total: 35.5
Los Angeles Chargers (+2.5) at San Francisco 49ers (10 p.m.)
Total: 35
Denver Broncos (+1.5) at Arizona Cardinals (10 p.m.)
Total: 36.5