We are one week away from making it through the preseason and officially kicking off the 2024 NFL regular season. Before we turn the page, let's take a look back at the week 2 preseason action, and cover some of the top headlines and key takeaways from the week.
From a sports bettors' perspective, the under stole the headline once again. We've been giving out unders as best bets throughout the preseason, which has paid off time and time again. Teams seem as resistant as ever to show anything this preseason, with some coaches stating they are sticking to a 15-play playbook.
Looking beyond just the betting action, what else stood out from last week? Here are our key takeaways:
The Bears have come a long way from where they were five or even ten years ago. Hard Knocks may showcase the highlights of their training camp and Caleb Williams' offseason progress, but this team is far more than just a few standout moments.
With three potential Pro Bowl wide receivers, an underrated defense featuring elite talent both in the secondary and on the front line, and a dynamic running back duo that ranks among the best in the NFL, the Bears are poised for a resurgence. Their quarterback has shown flashes of a young Patrick Mahomes during preseason snaps, further fueling optimism.
Though they face stiff competition in the NFC North from strong Lions and Packers teams, the Bears are back. Whether or not they make the playoffs, this season should be seen as a victory for Chicago. This preseason they are 3-0 with their last two victories coming by 27 and 24 points respectively.
Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury have something in common. They’ve gone through the ups and downs early on in their respective playing and coaching careers to figure out who they are as a football mind. This pairing is incredible and with Terry McLaurin, Austin Ekeler, Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson, and Ben Sinott as Daniels’ targets during his rookie season, I’m expecting a top 12 fantasy football finish for the Commander who provides a dual-threat playstyle each and every game.
While the defense has their holes and concerns, there is no reason this offensive unit can’t light up NFC East squads for 25-30 week to week as each and every team in the division has their own concerns. Through two preseason games, JD is 12-of-15 passing with all three drives ending in points.
The Rams are similar to the OKC Thunder. These guys just know how to draft playmakers. Los Angeles picked up Jordan Whittington in the sixth round of the 2024 draft and during his preseason campaign, he’s made a splash.
With the Rams searching for a solidified WR3 next to Kupp and Nacua, Jordan has put together his case with 11 catches for 126 yards during a two game stretch this August. With the Rams’ success rate throwing rookie wideouts into the fire early in the season, I wouldn’t be shocked if JW splits WR3 reps in Week 1.
For the past two seasons, I’ve been strongly opposed to drafting any Broncos players in fantasy, betting on Denver to hit their win total, or buying into the Sean Payton experiment. The fit just didn’t seem right. But as we head into 2024, the outlook in Mile High feels much brighter.
Bo Nix has delivered two impressive preseason performances, and the Broncos still boast a talented core of skill players—Javonte Williams, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, and Greg Dulcich—all of whom have shown flashes of potential.
The big question remains: can this team find the right chemistry on both sides of the ball? Defensively, they’ll continue to lean heavily on Pat Surtain, their standout in the secondary, but overall cohesion will be key to their success.
If this were the NBA, Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb would have already secured lucrative contracts, their futures locked in with smiles on their faces as they prepare for the season. But in the NFL, things work differently.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, seems hesitant to pay CeeDee Lamb the top-tier money he clearly deserves, despite Lamb’s back-to-back top-five seasons at just 25 years old. Similarly, Ja’Marr Chase, who played a crucial role in leading the Bengals to a Super Bowl during his rookie season, is entering his fourth year, aiming for yet another 1,000-yard season at 24 years old.
In the NBA, players of this caliber would have been signed the moment the 2024 season ended. Instead, these NFL teams are playing with fire, risking the loss of their star players on either side of the football.
For the Cowboys, if Lamb chooses to sit out the start of the season and Dak Prescott struggles offensively, the blame will fall squarely on Jerry Jones. His decisions as an owner, GM, and so-called Cowboys “fan” is already costing the team but this scenario with Lamb could be the domino that ends Dallas’s consistent inconsistency.