It was worth the wait, and the NFL is set to return for the preseason of 2024. The first game in the preseason will be the Hall of Fame Game between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans. It marks the beginning of the preseason with little consequences for the overall standing of any of the 32 teams. However, there's still a lot to observe and learn from it.
In this article, we'll go into what you need to know about the preseason. We'll especially focus on how the preseason games can be used to gauge what will happen when the season starts.
What is the Preseason?
The NFL preseason is the name for the three weeks of exhibition games between the league's 32 teams. The games don't count towards the official scores and ranking of the teams involved. They are often played between teams from different conferences – meaning that such matchups are rarely seen otherwise.
When does the Preseason start?
The preseason traditionally begins with the annual Hall of Fame Game at Canton, Ohio's Pro Football Hall of Fame. This year, the game between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans will take place on August 1st.
The rest of the games will start on August 18th. They'll take place at various NFL stadiums around the country and continue for three consecutive weekends leading up to the regular season kickoff. The game schedule is decided on by both the league executive and teams individually, as it's a bit looser than the official one.
What to Watch For in the 2024 NFL Preseason?
There are a few important trends to watch for during the preseason games, as they predict how the teams and the players may do when the season starts.
New Players
The preseason will be the first time the fans can see the rookies in action. The top players usually don't want to risk an injury during the preseason, as it's not worth it, and that's the chance for the rookies to shine. It's also an opportunity for the teams to try to get rookies out during the games with lower steaks. For rookies, it's a chance to fight for the roster spot.
For the Chicago Bears, the rookie to look for is Caleb Williams. The rookie out of USC will not play an extensive amount of snaps, but it's a chance for him to show what earned him the spot. Rome Odunze will have a bigger impact on the preseason because it shows that the Bears have high-quality pass-catchers to work with Williams.
University Of Washington Athletics
For the Texans, chances are that Davis Mills, the backup quarterback, could see a lot of time in Thursday's game. The signal-caller is hoping that this is his chance to prove he deserves more time on the field.
The Quarterback
For some franchises, there's no doubt who the starting quarterbacks will be once the season starts. Others, however, may use the preseason to decide on their starting quarterback. This year, in particular, there are many teams that have doubts.
The New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh Steelers have a number of quarterbacks fighting for the starting role. Chances are, many of those teams will be rotating their quarterback throughout the preseason to test the players out.
Players Recovering from Injuries
Last season was one of the worst when it comes to how many players have suffered injuries. Some of these were serious and resulted in players having to sit out for the rest of the season. This is what has happened to Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Daniel Jones, and Anthony Richardson, to count quarterbacks alone.
The preseason is, therefore, a good time for them to get back on the horse. When players are out for so long, it may take a few games to regain their confidence. Coaches and fans should be on the lookout for their performance as it may indicate a change in the lineup.
New Coaches
A lot of coaches have changed teams during the offseason. In fact, every NFC South team has a different offensive coordinator in 2024. The Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons have changed their head coaches, however.
The preseason is, therefore, the time for the new coaches to prove themselves to the fans and the teams. The steaks are lower on the face of things, but they can still be pretty tense for the new coaches who want to showcase their strategies early on.
The Odds for the Preseason
Even though the results don't count in terms of league scores, many fans still wager on the results using crypto sports betting sites. Using cryptocurrencies to place bets allows players worldwide to take part and ensures that the winnings are automatically paid with smaller fees.
The most popular type of bet for preseason games is the so-called moneyline bet. It’s a wager where the player chooses who will win the game outright. Crypto sports betting platforms have already come up with odds for all the upcoming matchups. Remember that preseason games are always tricky to predict since teams are not giving their best and never go all in on such wagers. According to most betting sites, these are the following:
Friday 9th August 2024
Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots
Panthers: 16/11
Patriots: 13/19
Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants
Lions: 17/11
Giants: 4/7
Saturday 10th August 2024
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins
Falcons: 3/4
Dolphins: 11/9
Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Texans: 6/5
Steelers: 10/13
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens
Eagles: 16/11
Ravens: 5/8
Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills
Bears: 11/10
Bills: 13/15
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings
Raiders: 17/16
Vikings: 7/9
New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saints: 1/1
Cardinals: 5/6
San Francisco 49ers vs. Tennessee Titans
49ers: 8/5
Titans: 4/7
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Seahawks: 9/11
Chargers: 42/41
Washington Commanders vs. New York Jets
Commanders: 5/6
Jets: 11/10
Saturday 11th August 2024
Green Bay Packers vs. Cleveland Browns
Packers: 6/4
Browns: 11/17
Sunday 12th August 2024
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Chiefs: 6/5
Jaguars: 13/16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Buccaneers: 8/5
Bengals: 8/15
Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts
Broncos: 14/19
Colts: 15/13
Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Cowboys: 8/15
Rams: 13/8
To Sum Up
To sum up, the 2024 NFL preseason offers a sneak peek into what fans can expect during the regular season. It's a chance to see new players, especially rookies, in action and observe how teams handle their quarterback situations.
Players recovering from injuries will be tested, and new coaches will start implementing their strategies. While the games don't count towards the season standings, they provide valuable insights into each team's potential performance. So, keep an eye on these critical elements to get a sense of how the NFL season might unfold.
