After six long months of anticipation, the National Football League is back with a full slate of preseason action. The exhibition games won’t count in the actual standings. However, they will still provide sports bettors looking to place a bet at the sportsbooks with a first glimpse of the coming year, including plenty of new faces in new places.
Washington Redskins @ Cleveland Browns
Thursday August 8th – 7:30 PM ET
It will be interesting to see just how many snaps – if any – second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield sees in this game. There is a ton of optimism surrounding the potential of the Browns offence following the additions of Odell Beckham Jr. and Kareem Hunt. There is a good chance we see Mayfield, OBJ, Hunt and Jarvis Landry on the field for at least one possession in front of the Cleveland faithful. Meanwhile, rookie first-round pick quarterback Dwayne Haskins will make his debut for Washington. Haskins has a legitimate shot at earning the starting job for the Redskins if he delivers the goods this preseason.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Arizona Cardinals
Thursday August 8th – 10:00 PM ET
The first-overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft will likely see his first game action against the Chargers on Thursday night. Kyler Murray was drafted to be the franchise quarterback in Arizona. The Cardinals wasted little time handing him the keys to the car by naming him their starter. Thursday could mark our first look at Murray in first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s new offence.
Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers
Saturday August 10th – 9:00 PM ET
While running back Ezekiel Elliott remains in Cabo, Mexico holding out for a new contract, the Cowboys will look to begin their new season with a win on the road. On the other side of the football, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garropolo is set to see his first game action since suffering a significant knee injury in the third game of last season. Saturday should represent a good first test with Garropolo in the spotlight in a nationally televised preseason battle of two storied franchises.
New York Jets @ New York Giants
Thursday August 8th – 7:00 PM ET
While the annual exhibition Battle of New York is usually played in the final week of the preseason, the league bumped that game up in order to give it to us in Week 1 this time around. While we likely won’t see much if anything of Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, we should get an extended first look at Giants rookie first round pick Daniel Jones. Despite likely starting the season behind veteran Eli Manning, Jones has been tabbed as the franchise quarterback of the future for the G-Men.
Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins
Thursday August 8th – 7:30 PM ET
While it might not have the star power of some of the other games listed here, there is plenty of intrigue surrounding some of the new faces heading in to this matchup. Miami has a new head coach in Brian Flores and a new quarterback in Josh Rosen, who is fighting Ryan Fitzpatrick for the starting job. Rosen should feature heavily in to this contest. Meanwhile, the Falcons already had their first taste of exhibition game action in a Hall of Fame Game loss to the Denver Broncos. Rookie offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom and rookie defensive tackle John Kominsky showed plenty of positive signs in their NFL preseason debuts.