While there are two matchups with more high-profile teams playing on Thursday that may get more attention, ESPN is televising a game between the New York Jets (1-0) and Washington Redskins (0-1) to start Week 2 of the NFL preseason.
The Jets were impressive in a 17-0 rout of the Atlanta Falcons as four-point home favorites last Friday, and they are small road underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com this time versus the Redskins.
New York’s current quarterback situation works in its favor more than many teams, with no clear-cut starter at this point. Rookie Sam Darnold looked good for the Jets in limited action against the Falcons, completing 13-of-18 passes for 96 yards with one touchdown, while veteran Teddy Bridgewater was 7-of-8 for 85 yards and a score.
Last year’s starter Josh McCown also completed his lone pass for four yards and figured to have an advantage heading into training camp, although that remains to be seen.
Washington is coming off a 26-17 loss to the New England Patriots as a 2.5-point road underdog in its preseason opener last Thursday, blowing an early 17-0 lead and seeing rookie running back Derrius Guice go down with a torn ACL. Guice will miss the rest of the year, opening the door for Chris Thompson or Samaje Perine to win the starting job with a strong showing this preseason. That is definitely one position battle to watch.
Speaking of the Patriots (1-0), they will also playing on Thursday when they host the Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) as 3.5-point home favorites in a Super Bowl LII rematch. Of course Philadelphia upset New England 41-33 to claim its first Vince Lombardi Trophy, but do not expect to see the same level of motivation from either side here. However, Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson anticipates the Patriots to be fired up a bit following his comments about them being a “fear-based organization” after the big win.
In addition, the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) visit the Green Bay Packers (1-0) on Thursday as 5.5-point road underdogs, the biggest line in Week 2. The Packers opened as 2.5-point home favorites, so the public is obviously backing them strongly in early betting.
Five more games will take place on Friday with seven on Saturday and one on Monday. The Baltimore Ravens (2-0) will close out Week 2 by visiting the Indianapolis Colts (1-0) as one-point road underdogs on Monday Night Football. The Ravens have won 10 straight games in the preseason under head coach John Harbaugh, going 9-1 against the spread during that stretch, according to the OddsShark NFL Database.
