The final week of the NFL preseason is upon us, which means it’s almost time for the real games to begin at long last. The final round of exhibition matches will also be the last chance for each team to get an overall feel of their respective rosters before they get set for the real battle ahead.
A pair of NFC North teams will play host this Thursday, beginning with a showdown in Lambeau Field between the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears will lie in wait for the arrival of the Cleveland Browns.
Read on as we break down these two pivotal games on tap. To complete your Week 4 preseason needs, head on over here for our predictions and picks for all of the games on the slate this coming Thursday.
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New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
When: Thursday, September 3, 2015 7:00 PM ET
Line: New Orleans Saints (-1.5) vs. Green Bay Packers (+1.5); total: 40.0 – view all NFL lines
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Green Bay Packers can’t wait for the preseason to end, especially as more and more of their key players are going down to injuries in these meaningless games.
After losing wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the season in Week 2 of the preseason due to a right knee injury, it’s Nelson’s fellow wideout, Randall Cobb, who has now been bit by the injury bug. Cobb landed hard on his right shoulder after making a catch near the sidelines during Green Bay’s opening drive when they took on the Philadelphia Eagles this past Saturday. Luckily for the Packers, Cobb’s injury does not look as serious as Nelson’s season-ender.
On the bright side, Green Bay’s starting defensive unit finally played its first preseason game as a whole. Star linebacker Clay Matthews and defensive lineman Mike Daniels took their first snaps of the year after staying away from full contact for the past two matches. Both Matthews and Daniels’ presence will be much needed if the Packers were to defeat the power-packed New Orleans Saints this Thursday.
However, the Saints have not been in sync this entire preseason themselves. A 27-13 home loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday proved that the team’s defense has not improved as much as expected. New Orleans surrendered 26 or more points to the opposition in all three of its preseason games, and rookies Tavaris Barnes and Tyeler Davison needed a collaborative effort to put up the Saints’ first sack of the preseason this past weekend.
At least New Orleans’ offense still looks deep. Fifth-string running back Edwin Baker torched the Texans with a 45-yard run, while reserve wideout Willie Snead caught four catches for 56 yards, including a dazzling 23-yard that was capped-off by a nasty spin move to get past a defender. In spite of the loss, the Saints outgained the Texans by over 100 yards on offense this Sunday. However, the Saints also committed 11 costly penalties for 148 yards.
Writer’s Prediction
New Orleans finally notches a preseason win, 27-24.
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Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago
When: Thursday, September 3, 2015 8:00 PM ET
Line: Cleveland Browns (+1) vs. Chicago Bears (-1); total: 38.0– view all NFL lines
The special teams unit is what’s keeping the Chicago Bears alive this postseason. The Bears have five field goals and no touchdowns coming from their starting offense through three games, so Saturday’s 21-10 loss to the Bengals was not a total socker. In fact, Chicago’s lone touchdown from that game came from a blocked punt that was returned the other way for an eight-yard touchdown by undrafted rookie Ify Umodu.
To be fair, starting quarterback Jay Cutler played rather well as he completed 13 of his 17 passes on Saturday for 98 yards. He even didn’t get picked off that day, but he also failed to find the end zone. Chicago’s starting offense gained just 123 yards and six first downs in 29 plays in Week 3 of the preseason. The Windy City faithful have got to be nervous about their beloved team’s offense when Week 1 of the regular season rolls around.
On the other hand, a team that looks to have an equally inept offense in the Cleveland Browns actually got it going with their commanding 31-7 win this past weekend over the Buccaneers. Projected starting quarterback Josh McCown played two rather lengthy drives and passed for a touchdown in each of those series. He finished the game with 117 yards on 17-of-23 passing.
Even Cleveland’s defense is getting its act together. The Browns sacked Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston four times and picked off one of his passes too, thanks to the presence of Pro Bowlers Joe Haden and Tashaun Gipson on the field. Both Haden and Gipson played their first preseason game this past weekend.
Writer’s Prediction
Cleveland wins its second and final preseason game on the road, 14-9.
