Preseason bettors are back in the building as the NFL kicks off exhibition play with eight games spread across Thursday and Friday. Each matchup breakdown below covers what matters, who is playing, and where the odds stand.
Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals
(DET +7, o/u 37.5, +230/-285)
Wondering why the Cincinnati Bengals are such heavy favorites in a Week 1 preseason game? It’s because head coach Zac Taylor confirmed several stars will play. QB Joe Burrow, WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, RB Chase Brown, and DT Dexter Lawrence will play limited snaps. Taylor noted that some starters are dealing with minor injuries and will sit, but nothing that will carry into the regular season.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said quarterback Jared Goff will not play and that he does not see many of his guys playing. First-round rookie tackle Blake Miller will play. Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are both expected to miss large portions of the season with injuries, and veteran Chuck Clark has stepped into that group.
My picks: DET +7, u37.5, CIN -285
Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
(GB -2.5, o/u 40.5, -155/+130)
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur plans to play quarterback Jordan Love and some starters for at least a short stretch.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy had not announced whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers or the starters will play. McCarthy said whoever starts gets about two series before the second unit enters. Rodgers said he is willing to play if McCarthy asks but called the preseason not real football. Pittsburgh’s rookie first-round offensive tackle is out with an injury. The Steelers quarterback room behind Rodgers includes Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and third-round rookie Drew Allar.
My picks: GB -2.5, u40.5, GB -155
Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
(IND -3, o/u 37.5, -166/+140)
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed quarterback Daniel Jones will not play after tearing his Achilles in December. Anthony Richardson Sr. gets the first half, and Riley Leonard takes over in the third quarter as the two compete for the backup job.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said the expectation is that quarterback Drake Maye gets the night off, though he left room for that to change. Maye finished second in MVP voting last season. Both teams held a joint practice Tuesday in Foxborough, so the starters already got live work against outside competition.
My picks: IND -3, u37.5, NE +140
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans
(HOU -1.5, o/u 36.5, +105/-125)
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh laid out a full preseason plan. Roughly 15 veterans and starters will go through pregame warmups but will not play against Houston. About 27 players will handle the snaps. Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei are competing for the primary backup job behind quarterback Justin Herbert. Multiple linemen will rotate at left guard, including Branson Taylor, Kayode Awosika, and Jake Slaughter. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel arrives from Miami.
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said a select group of guys will not play but did not name them.
My picks: HOU -1.5, u36.5, HOU -125
Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders
(ARI +2.5, o/u 43.5, +120/-142)
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur will play his starters for one drive, two at most. They already sat out the Hall of Fame Game against Carolina. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett gets the start, and Gardner Minshew II will relieve him. Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 pick and the highest-drafted back since Saquon Barkley, makes his NFL debut. James Conner has yet to participate in 11-on-11 work.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak coaches his first game as an NFL head coach. No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is expected to see plenty of snaps. Kirk Cousins remains the projected Week 1 starter.
My picks: ARI +2.5, u43.5, ARI +120
Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers
(TEN -6, o/u 39.5, -258/+210)
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh said the team will play everyone, including starters on both sides of the ball, for more than a few plays. Quarterback Cam Ward runs the offense under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Fourth overall pick Carnell Tate makes his debut at wide receiver.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said there will not be many starters playing. He added that this does not mean none will. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Nick Bosa are among more than 20 San Francisco players dealing with injuries. Tuesday’s joint practice turned chippy, with two Titans offensive linemen ejected for fighting.
My picks: TEN -6, o39.5, TEN -258
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Jets
(NYJ -6, o/u 35.5, +220/-270)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed quarterback Baker Mayfield will not play. Jake Browning was scheduled to start but left Tuesday’s joint practice early with a back injury and did not practice Wednesday. Bowles has not ruled him out. If Browning cannot go, Connor Bazelak is expected to start, with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels out of Kansas handling the rest.
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said his starters will play, including quarterback Geno Smith and center Josh Myers. Smith threw two interceptions in Tuesday’s joint practice, one of which was returned for a touchdown, as the offense installs new coordinator Frank Reich’s system.
My picks: NYJ -6, u35.5, NYJ -220
Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Commanders
(WAS +3.5, o/u 35.5, -175/+145)
Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said everybody on the team needs to be ready to play and has not ruled out starters. Malik Willis takes over at quarterback after signing a three-year, $67.5 million contract in March, when Miami released Tua Tagovailoa and absorbed roughly $99 million in dead money. The wide receiver depth chart is an open competition, with rookie third-round pick Caleb Douglas, Malik Washington, and Jalen Tolbert all competing.
It isn’t clear whether Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has been making headlines for the wrong reasons, is expected to play, but fans want to see it. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a triceps injury Saturday that will sideline him for the foreseeable future, putting Brandon Coleman on Daniels’ blind side. The two teams held a joint practice Wednesday in Ashburn.
My picks: WAS +3.5, u35.5, WAS +145
Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons
(ATL +4.5, o/u 39.5, -218/+180)
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the starters will play about 15 snaps, but quarterback Bo Nix will not play as he returns from a fractured right ankle that sidelined him for the final 10 games of the 2025 season, including the AFC Championship Game. Nix will travel with the team and play in the final two preseason games. Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger each get a half.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski named Tua Tagovailoa the starter. Michael Penix Jr. has not been cleared for full contact after ACL surgery in November and will not play. The game is on artificial turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, so erring on the side of caution seems the wisest choice for all involved.
My picks: ATL +4.5, u39.5, ATL +180