A taste of what’s in store for the NFL’s 32 teams this coming regular season will be served with the upcoming NFL preseason. Week 1 kicks things off with a matchup between a blossoming team from the AFC in the Miami Dolphins set to take on the feisty Chicago Bears from the NFC.
Read on as we break down some key points heading into Miami and Chicago’s introductory tune-up game of the year. Get the most out of your NFL preseason viewing and betting by checking our previews for the preseason Hall-of-Fame Game of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings on August 9, as well as the Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills.
[sc:Football ]Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago
When: Thursday, August 13, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears – view all NFL lines
Why This Game Matters
It’s an early litmus test for two teams that come in with varied expectations heading into the regular season. The Dolphins aimed high with all of their offseason moves, but their depth will be tested outside of their marquee free agency acquisitions.
Meanwhile, the Bears will have to get their offense and defense in sync playing under new head coach John Fox and the rest of the revamped coaching staff. Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler will be working with a new offensive coordinator yet again in Adam Gase, while the defense will need to adjust to recently hired Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defensive scheme.
Betting on the Miami Dolphins
After making a big splash in the offseason, it’s now time to put the Miami Dolphins’ latest additions to the test.
[sc:NFL240banner ]However, they’ll have to be cautious with a couple of their new offensive weapons. One of those players is Former Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron, who’s coming off of a 10-game season with the Browns after suffering multiple concussions during that span.
Miami’s first round pick from the draft, wide receiver Devante Parker, is also questionable to participate this preseason as he continues to rehabilitate from his latest left foot surgery.
Former Green Bay standout Greg Jennings should relish the opportunity to get more snaps in Parker’s absence, as well as provide a leadership role to the rest of the Dolphins’ promising receiver corps. Jennings will also benefit from once again working with head coach Joe Philbin – the 31-year old wideout’s offensive coordinator back in Green Bay.
Receivers Rishard Matthews and Jarvis Landry should get more reps in the game against the Bears, as should second and third-string tight ends Dion Sims and Arthur Lynch. Testing out quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s other options downfield will be critical in living up to the expectations of Miami’s stellar offensive lineup on paper.
On the defensive side, rookie Jordan Philips should be able to show what he’s made of in the preseason as the backup to starting defensive tackle and marquee free agent pickup Ndamukong Suh. While Suh is undoubtedly Miami’s most feared and talented juggernaut on the front line, he still has the propensity to be over-aggressive at times. Remember those suspensions and fines during his time with the Detroit Lions?
Philips should see extended playing time during the regular season should Suh flip out and go on another head-stomping rampage. The second-round pick from this year’s draft out of Oklahoma will battle for the reserve role against 11-year journeyman veteran C.J. Mosely.
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Betting on the Chicago Bears
It’s hard to tell whether or not the Chicago Bears’ front office will continue to work around their supposed franchise quarterback Jay Cutler after the massive coaching staff overhaul during the offseason.
Cutler – who has been inconsistent to say the least throughout his six-season tenure with the Bears – will be working with his fifth offensive coordinator in Chicago, and third head coach and general manager since 2009. If things don’t go as planned with Cutler under center this year, GM Ryan Pace may finally pull the trigger on trading their main playmaker by the end of the season.
However, outside of Cutler, the Bears have no other viable candidate in the QB spot. Chicago may get to see what Jimmy Clausen – Cutler’s current backup in the depth chart – can really do in this upcoming preseason game against Miami. Clausen played four games for the Bears in 2014, going 26-for-48 with 223 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Prior to last season, however, Clausen’s last regular season stint was back in 2010 when he played 13 games for the Carolina Panthers.
Rookie Kevin White will look to alleviate Cutler and the Bears’ offensive woes for the past few years. The wideout from West Virginia who was the seventh-overall pick in this year’s draft will get his first crack at the big leagues. He had 109 receptions for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final year with the Mountaineers.
With new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio onboard, Bears players will have to adjust to their new roles in Fangio’s 3-4 defense. Five-time Pro Bowler Jared Allen will move from his natural defensive end position to outside linebacker, which actually complements Allen’s speed on the outside while no longer having to fight his way through massive opposing offensive linemen in the trenches as he was accustomed to in his former DE position.
Fellow defensive end and former first-round pick Shea McClellin could also see an improvement in his otherwise lackluster career. McClellin will likely start the season from the inside linebacker position, and should be comfortable enough in this spot, having played the position during his time in Boise State. He’ll have to prove that he deserves this slot during the preseason, though, as a similarly capable linebacker in Mason Foster is waiting in the wings to take his starting job.
Writer’s Prediction
Chicago wins, 19-10.
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