It’s finally the third week of the 2015 NFL preseason, giving us more things to be excited about in the coming days in sports. Kicking things off in Week 3 is the Friday night showdown between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots. Another marquee clash is in the cards this coming Saturday when the St. Louis Rams host the Indianapolis Colts in a battle of winless teams.
Who will reign supreme in these two matchups? Read on below for our breakdown of these two preseason games and while you’re at it, you can check out our complete NFL Preseason Week 3 preview.
[sc:Football ]New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
When: Friday, August 28, 7:30 PM ET
Line: New England Patriots (+1) at Carolina Panthers (-1); total: 44.0 – view all NFL lines
The Carolina Panthers preserved their unbeaten record in the preseason with a nerve-wracking 31-30 win over the Miami Dolphins. The Panthers erased an early 14-point deficit to record their second consecutive victory. Quarterback Cam Newton struggled in his first game without wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, completing just 4 of 10 passes for 42 yards with an interception. Benjamin is out for the season after tearing his ACL in practice on Wednesday.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Unfortunately for head coach Ron Rivera, nobody really stepped up for the Panthers at the wide receiver position in this game. Corey Brown dropped two passes, including one in the end zone, while Jerricho Cotchery didn’t receive a single pass. Ted Ginn Jr. had two catches for 19 yards and rookie Devin Funchess didn’t suit up at all because of a hamstring injury.
The Panthers will look to get their passing game in order when they host the New England Patriots this coming Friday. The Pats are 15th in the league in passing defense, allowing 199.5 yards per game this preseason. The Patriots are fresh off a thrilling 26-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Saturday night. Backup QB Jimmy Garappolo was superb for the Pats, leading five scoring drives to help New England record its first preseason win.
Garoppolo completed 28 of 33 passes for 269 yards and one touchdown. Garoppolo’s improved play is a welcome development for head coach Bill Belichick as they continue to adjust to life without star quarterback Tom Brady. The four-time Super Bowl champion will miss the first four games of the season after being suspended because of his role in the now infamous Deflategate scandal.
Writer’s Prediction
Carolina wins, 27-14.
Indianapolis Colts vs. St. Louis Rams
Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis
When: Saturday, August 29, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Indianapolis Colts (+1.5) at St. Louis Rams (-1.5); total: 42.5 – view all NFL lines
Indianapolis’ preseason woes continued on Saturday with a disappointing 23-11 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Colts have now lost seven straight exhibition games since beating the Cleveland Browns on August 24, 2013. For the second game running, the Colts struggled mightily on the offensive end. They were held down by the Bears to just 11 points and 229 total yards. The Colts are averaging just 10.5 points per game this preseason, third-worst in the entire league.
For the Colts to snap their losing skid this coming Saturday, they need to sort out their offensive line. Andrew Luck was sacked once, hit upon release another time, and was pressured by the Bears on three of his first five dropbacks. He finished 5 of 9 for 71 yards and also rushed in for a touchdown. The Colts will look to get their offense going against a St. Louis defense that has conceded 22.5 points per game this preseason, 10th-worst in the entire NFL.
Just like the Colts, the Rams are still winless this preseason after absorbing a 27-14 setback to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Nick Foles had a rough outing for the Rams, completing just 3 of 7 passes for a measly 18 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He finished with an abysmal passer rating of 10.7.
Writer’s Prediction
Indianapolis wins, 21-14. Create a betting account now and cash in on all the NFL action.
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