We are back with Week 2 of the preseason, which, in some cases, might be a dress rehearsal for Week 3 as in years past. However, this week, with two games Thursday, three on Friday, 10 on Saturday and one on Sunday, is still about competition and players trying to make a roster. Let’s take an inside look at Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s matchups.

Friday’s games

NY Jets at Pittsburgh (NFL Network), 7pmET. 

Odds: NY Jets -1.5

Total:  36.5

Line Moves: Pittsburgh opened at -3.5 on Aug 18 and moved to NY Jets -1.5 by Wednesday.

Last week: Pittsburgh (+3) handled Green Bay 28-9 at home; The NY Jets (-5.5) lost at home to Tampa Bay 24-16.

Notes: Mike McCarthy is 33-4 SU but had gone 5-8 SU in his last 13 games in Dallas before winning last week. Aaron Glenn is 1-3 SU.

QB Rotations: Geno Smith (ankle) missed last week and has struggled in training camp so he might need the reps. If he doesn’t play, rookie Cade Klubnik should get plenty of time as he’s been playing well in camp. They also have Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook in the mix. Aaron Glenn does want to play the starters with or without Smith. As for Pittsburgh, no Aaron Rodgers or Mason Rudolph. That means the first half of Will Howard and a second half of rookie Drew Allar, who played well last week.

Carolina at Jacksonville (ESPN Unlimited), 7:30pmET

Odds: Carolina -1.5

Total: 37.5

Line Moves: Jacksonville opened at -2.5 on Aug 18 and moved to Carolina -1.5 on Wednesday night.

Last week: Carolina (+3) fell on the road to Buffalo 29-14; Jacksonville (+2.5) edged New Orleans 24-20 on the road.

Notes: Liam Coen is 1-2 SU in preseason. Dave Canales and Carolina won the HOF game, but he’s still just 2-5 SU in the preseason. 

QB Rotations: Starters are expected to play for a “couple of drives” for the Jags, including Trevor Lawrence. Carolina is expected to play their starters 10-20 snap inclduing QB Bryce Young. Young went 3 of 5 for 18 yards last week.

Green Bay at Denver (NFL Network), 9pmET

Odds: Denver -6

Total: 41.5

Line Moves: The line opened on Aug 17 at Denver -4.5 and moved to 6 by Aug 19.

Last week: Green Bay (-3) fell at Pittsburgh 28-9; Denver (-3) beat Atlanta 27-7 on the road.

Notes: Sean Payton is 37-33 SU overall in preseason and 6-1 his last 7 in Denver. Matt LaFleur is 9-11 SU overall, but 6-4 SU the last 10 in Green Bay.

QB Rotations: Jordan Love played a little last week and will play at least a series this week against Denver along with the starters. Tyrod Taylor will be the backup again. Denver will play QB Box Nix and the starters some time after not playing last week. But expect Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger to continue to battle for the backup job.

Saturday’s games

Washington at Detroit (ESPN), 12pmET: 

Odds: Detroit -1.5

Total: 36.5

Opened at Detroit -2.5 and 36.5.

Last week:  Detroit (+6.5) lost on the road to Cincinnati 16-14, but covered; Washington (+3.5) beat Miami 20-7 at home.

Notes: Dan Campbell (Det) is 5-11 SU in preseason. Dan Quinn (Was) is 8-19 SU and 2-4 with Washington. 

QB Rotations: Campbell usually rests his starters. No Jared Goff, but newly-signed Josh Dobbs will get the start at QB, ahead of rookie Luke Altmyer. Both are competing for the backup job with Teddy Bridgewater retiring last week (again). Quinn has not decided on whether Jayden Daniels will start, but most of the starters are expected to play. Backup QB Marcus Mariota (knee) is out, which means Sam Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis will get most of the time.      

Buffalo at Cleveland, 1pmET (NFL Network):

Odds:  Cleveland -3

Total: 37

Opened: Cleveland -1.5/39.5.

Last week: The Bills (-3) beat Carolina 29-14 at home; the Browns (-3) lost at Chicago 34-10.

Notes: Todd Monken is 0-1 SU and Joe Brady is 1-0 SU in preseason.

QB Rotations:  Cleveland will start Shedeur Sanders, and Deshaun Watson is expected to play the 2nd half. After playing last week, Josh Allen will sit, and the starters are not expected to play.

Atlanta at Indianapolis, 1pmET. 

Odds: Indy -3.5

Total:  36

Opening Lines: Indy -1.5/37.5

Last week: Indianapolis (-3) tied New England 13-13; Atlanta (+3) lost at home to Denver 27-7.

Notes: Kevin Stefanski is 7-8 SU in preseason and 2-4 SU in his last 6 games. Shane Steichen (Indy) is 5-4-1 SU.

QB Rotations: Stefanski will not play his starters this week and with Michael Penix Jr. still out with an injury, Jack Strand will take over first-team reps, while Cooper Rush will likely play the 2nd half. The Colts will go with Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson will be the backup. Daniel Jones will not play at all in preseason.

Baltimore at Minnesota (ESPN Unlimited), 1pmET

Odds: Minnesota -3.5

Total: 36.5

Opening Lines: Minnesota -2.5/37.5.

Last week: Baltimore (+3.5) beat Philadelphia at home 24-7; Minnesota (-1) edged the NY Giants on the road 13-10.

Notes: Jesse Minter is 1-0 SU in preseason. Kevin O’Connell is 5-8 SU, but is 5-2 SU in his last 7 games. 

QB Rotations: Baltimore will not play Lamar Jackson in preseason and most of their starters will sit as well. Tyler Huntley had just seven passing attempts last week as rookie Joe Fagnano received most of the reps at QB. J.J. McCarthy will start, and most Minnesota starters will sit. Starter Kyler Murray threw just three passes last week. The Vikes also played Carson Wentz (9 of 14) and Max Brosmer (1 of 2). 

New Orleans at LA Rams (ESPN Unlimited), 4pmET

Odds: New Orleans -2

Total: 37

Opening Lines: New Orleans -2/Total 37.5

Last week: New Orleans (-2.5) lost at home to Jacksonville 24-20;  The LA Rams (+1.5) beat Kansas City on the road 20-12. 

Notes: Kellen Moore (NO) is 0-3 SU in preseason; Sean McVay is 12-16 SU.

QB Rotations: NO starter Tyler Shough will sit this one out. Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson will split time. The first stringers will also sit. As for the Rams, McVay is consistent with not playing his starters in preseason. Rookie Ty Simpson shined last week with 25 pass attempts, while Stetson Bennett IV had just six. Bennett is vying for the backup spot with Simpson, so he should play more this week.

NY Giants at Miami, (NFL Network), 4pmET

Odds: NY Giants -3

Total: 37

Opening Lines: NY Giants -1.5/37.5

Last Week: The Giants (+1) lost to Minnesota at home 13-10; Miami (-3.5) lost at Washington 20-7.

Notes: Jeff Hafley (MIA) is 0-1 SU in preseason; John Harbaugh is 48-17 SU.

QB Rotations: The Giants signed QB Jake Haener last week after Joe Webb retired. They do need another body and Jaxson Dart, who took a big hit last week, might not play, though Harbaugh has not announced anything as of Thursday night. Expect a lot of Jameis Winston and Brandon Allen behind most second- and third-stringers. Quinn Ewers didn’t practice Monday, so Miami could be thin at QB, even if Malik Willis plays a series or two (hasn’t been announced). Willis completed 4 of 5 passes for 43 yards last week. Expect a lot of Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski. 

Chicago at Cincinnati, 7pmET

Odds: Chicago -1.5

Total: 36.5

Opening Lines: Cincinnati -2/40.5.

Last week: Chicago (+3) crushed Cleveland 34-10 at home; Cincinnati (-6.5) beat Chicago 16-14 at home but didn’t cover.

Notes: Ben Johnson (Chi) is 3-0 SU in preseason; Zac Taylor is 5-14 SU.

QB Rotations: Chicago is expected to play their starters in Game 2, including QB Caleb Williams and Case Keenum will get the rest of the snaps, although Tyson Bagent (hamstring) was hurt last week and is “week-to-week”. Joe Burrow played 13 snaps for the Bengals last week, but the starters will not play for the rest of preseason. That means a lot of Joe Flacco and Josh Johnson. 

Philadelphia at New England (NFL Network), 7pmET

Odds: Philadelphia -2.5

Total: 36.5

Opening Lines: Philadelphia -1/37.5

Last week: Philadelphia (-3.5)  lost at Baltimore 24-7; New England (+3) tied Indianapolis 13-13 at home.

Notes: Nick Sirianni is 5-9 SU in preseason; Mike Vrabel (NE) is 9-10 SU in preseason.

QB Rotations: Considering the fact that Jalen Hurts played a lot in joint practices with the Patriots this week, he’s not going to start this week. They started Andy Dalton, who is battling Tanner McKee for the backup job. The Pats used Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton last week and expect them to play them again, with Drake Maye having nothing to prove. 

Kansas City at Tampa Bay (ESPN Unlimited), 7:30pmET

Odds: Tampa Bay -5

Total: 37

Opening Lines: Kansas City -1.5/36.5

Last week: KC (-1.5) lost to the LA Rams at home 20-12; Tampa Bay (+5.5) beat the NY Jets 24-16 on the road.

Notes: Andy Reid is 46-54 SU in preseason and 0-7 SU in his last 7 games. Todd Bowles is 14-15 SU and 7-3 SU in his last 10 games. 

QB Rotations: Normally, Patrick Mahomes would play in preseason, but he’s coming off a major injury, so Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier will get most of the reps at QB. Chris Oladokun could also get time. As for Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield will get the start this week along with the starters. Jake Browning was hurt in practice and didn’t play in Game 1. Jalon Daniels impressed last week and should get more time again. 

Dallas at Arizona (NFL Network), 10pmET

Odds: Arizona -1

Total: 38

Opening Lines: Arizona -1.5/37.5.

Last week: Arizona (+3) beat Las Vegas 27-14 on the road; Dallas (+1.5) beat Seattle 17-7 on the road.

Notes: Mike LaFleur is 1-1 SU in preseason; Brian Schottenheimer is 2-2 SU.

QB Rotations: Dak Prescott won’t play, but Joe Milton and Sam Howell are battling for the backup role. Milton completed 12 of 15 for 107 yards last week, while Howell was solid, completing 8 of 12 for 94 yards with a TD. Rookie RB Jermiyah Love is out. Arizona has a pretty good QB rotation even if Jacoby Brissett doesn’t play and he’s out. Gardner Minshew will start and Kedon Slovis will mop up. Rookie Carson Beck is also hurt. 

Sunday, August 23

Seattle at Tennessee, 8pmET (Fox).

Odds: Tennessee -4.5

Total: 38

Opening Lines: Tennessee -2.5/38.5

Last week: Seattle (-1.5) lost to Dallas 17-7 at home; Tennessee beat San Francisco (-6.5) 19-13 on the road last week, but didn’t cover.

Notes: Mike Macdonald is 3-3 SU in preseason. Robert Saleh is 11-2 SU in preseason, mostly with the Jets.

QB Rotations: Tennessee has issues at QB as Mitch Trubisky was injured in practice on Monday. Starter Cam Ward has struggled thus far in practice and is expected to play as long as one half in this game. As for Seattle, Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe will see extended playing time. Expect Seattle to rest most of their starters.