PHOTO USA Right this moment Sports activities Pictures Don’t really feel responsible for those who shunned watching the NFL preseason. We’re certain you had higher issues to do than watch Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Trey Lance get picked off 5 instances on a Saturday afternoon.
Lance had that dismal efficiency in Dallas’ preseason finale, a 26-19 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that dropped the Cowboys to 1-2.
Certain, the video games didn’t matter, however Dallas’ efficiency through the preseason actually didn’t encourage confidence for a workforce that now has a washed-up Ezekiel Elliott in its backfield and watched star extensive receiver CeeDee Lamb miss all of camp as a consequence of a contract dispute.
However loads of groups did make headway this preseason, and listed below are three which will have made essentially the most:
Denver Broncos
Possibly Denver actually does have one thing particular in quarterback Bo Nix.
Time will inform, and powerful performances in two preseason video games don’t make Nix a Corridor of Famer by any means.
Nevertheless, the No. 12 total decide on this 12 months’s draft accomplished 23 of his 30 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns in these video games. He was by no means intercepted, serving to the Broncos put collectively an ideal 3-0 preseason.
On the very least, Nix provides Denver some hope, one thing that an ageing Russell Wilson sucked proper out of the franchise.
The Broncos aren’t going to exit and make the playoffs this season. In the event that they do, we’d be shocked. However, as of proper now, Denver does seem like heading in the right direction because it makes an attempt to rebuild itself into the titan that it was within the mid-2010s, when it reached two Tremendous Bowls in three years.
Nix isn’t Peyton Manning, and the Broncos’ protection is way from what it as soon as was, so hopefully Denver followers appreciated the stellar preseason as a result of issues gained’t be almost as easy this fall.
New York Jets
Apr 26, 2023; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) (middle) is launched through the introductory press convention alongside common supervisor Joe Douglas (left) and head coach Robert Saleh (proper) at Atlantic Well being Jets Coaching Middle. credit: Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports activities No Aaron Rodgers, no downside.
Regardless of Rodgers not suiting up this preseason, New York didn’t lose a recreation. And even when Rodgers did play, he most likely wouldn’t have been capable of steal the highlight from the Jets’ protection.
That unit held opponents to a median of 11.7 factors throughout three video games, and it smothered the rival New York Giants in a 10-6 victory to shut the preseason. The Giants totaled simply 199 yards of offense whereas going 3-for-14 on third down within the loss.
Hopefully Rodgers’ spotlight tape this season is longer than a 25-second clip of him working out of the tunnel with an American flag, however with or with out the veteran signal-caller, the Jets are going to go far due to their protection.
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a move within the first quarter of the NFL Preseason Week 2 recreation between the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Discipline in downtown Chicago on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. The Bears led 10-3 at halftime. We saved the perfect for final right here.
And you understand what? We’re going to name our shot, too. Chicago is profitable the NFC North this 12 months.
The Bears performed the Houston Texans on Aug. 1 within the Corridor of Fame recreation, so that they had 4 preseason video games on their ledger, and so they gained all 4. These weren’t simply low-cost victories, both. Chicago was rolling by groups, posting a plus-68 level differential.
Caleb Williams will likely be dwelling a lifetime of luxurious in 12 months 1 with the weapons he has on this offense. All of the protection must do is maintain groups to 20-25 factors per recreation, and Williams, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and D’Andre Swift ought to be capable to maintain the remainder.
In fact, a preseason like this implies completely nothing if the success doesn’t translate over to the common season, so let’s see simply how a lot noise the Bears could make.