Thursday Night NFL Preseason Preview: Giants at Bengals

Through two weeks of the preseason play in 2019, it could be argued we have learned as little as ever about the 32 teams in the NFL. That will change in Week 3, when most teams play the majority of their starters in the early parts of exhibition matchups.

Much like last week, the games will be spread over several days. The action begins Thursday night with six contests, including a clash in Queen City between the Giants and the Bengals.

New York Giants at Cincinnati Bengals, 7 p.m. ET

The Giants have been picked by most pundits to finish at the bottom of the NFC East in 2019, in large part because of limited weapons on the outside and questionable quarterback play, but head coach Pat Shurmur’s squad has started out the preseason 2-0 behind an offensive attack that has posted a league-high 63 points.

Quarterback play still front and center for Giants

In their first game of the preseason, first-round pick Daniel Jones went 5-for-5 and threw a touchdown in his only series against the Jets, but it was mostly their third and fourth stringers (Kyle Lauletta and Alex Tanney) who led the Giants to a total of 31 points against their rival. The action in Week 2, though, was a bit more meaningful in terms of regular-season success, as Jones played considerably more and completed 11-of-14 passes for 161 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown to T.J. Jones, en route to a 32-13 victory against the Bears.

Veteran starter Eli Manning has only thrown five passes through the first two games, but he is likely to play quite a bit Thursday night in Cincinnati. The combination of Manning and Jones is considered one of the weaker quarterback tandems in the league, but given how they have played during the preseason, I expect them to once again move the ball consistently and find a way to score several times against a Bengals defense that will not remind anyone of the ‘85 Bears.

Dalton and Finley should put up points

Like the Giants the Bengals are a consensus pick to finish last in their division this season. Not only is the AFC North one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, but the Bengals have lost a few key players this summer, including wide receiver A.J. Green and first-round pick Jonah Williams from Alabama. They will need a lot to go right to avoid a losing season under first-year head coach Zac Taylor.

Despite the gloomy regular season outlook for the Bengals, quarterback play through their initial two exhibition games has been solid, especially from rookie Ryan Finley. Finley went 13-of-18 for 109 yards in Cincinnati's 38-17 loss to the Chiefs on August 10 and followed that up with a strong 20-for-26 performance for 150 yards and two touchdowns in a victory Thursday night in Washington.

With the expectation that starter Andy Dalton will play most of the first half and that Finley will play most if not all of the second, I feel good about the Bengals putting up 20-30 points once again against an average Giants defense.

Picking a winner in this contest is not an easy task, but I expect both offenses to play well in their dress rehearsal, which makes the total a much more desirable way of attacking this game.

Pick: Over 42 

Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons, 7:30 p.m. ET

 A significant line move has the Redskins favored by three, despite an 0-2 start to the preseason. It is tough to lay the points in this spot, but it's more difficult to endorse a Dan Quinn-coached team in August.

Pick: Redskins (-3)

Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots, 7:30 p.m. ET

The champs got great news when wide receiver Josh Gordon was reinstated by the NFL last week, but he is unlikely to play in this one. Cam Newton looks fully recovered after shoulder trouble in 2018.

Pick: Panthers (+3.5)

Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles, 7:30 p.m. ET

The oddsmakers opened this one up with Philly laying points, but key injuries for the Eagles at quarterback and Jim Harbaugh’s success in the preseason now has the Ravens as significant favorites.

Pick: Ravens (-4.5)

Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders, 8 p.m. ET

Not sure I have ever handicapped a football game in Winnipeg, but it sounds like the Raiders are likely to sit their starters in this spot, which makes them hard to endorse, especially if Aaron Rodgers gets some action.

Pick: Packers (-3)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins, 8 p.m. ET

The Jaguars are 0-2 and newly acquired quarterback Nick Foles has yet to take a snap, but the former Super Bowl MVP is ready to see his first action.

Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars (+3)

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Weekday NFL preseason action begins Thursday, but the weekend is also full of action. Check it all out at BetAmerica!