NFL Preseason: Trio of Stellar Clashes Takes Place on Friday (Aug 8)

• The first full week of the NFL Preseason continues on Friday
• Three more intriguing matchups take place to close the week.
• The Chargers defeated the Lions, 34-7, in the first Preseason game.

The first full week of the NFL Preseason continues on Friday with a trio of great games. We’ll break down the matchups and provide a pick for Lions vs Falcons, Browns vs Panthers, and Commanders vs Patriots.

Detroit Lions vs Atlanta Falcons

The Lions were embarrassed by the Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game, raising some concerns about the depth of their defense. A poor performance from backup QB Kyle Allen (9/14, 91 yards, 2 INT) certainly didn’t help, but the defense was equally subpar against Chargers backup Trey Lance. Preseason only presents a tiny piece of the puzzle, but Detroit will no doubt be looking for a bounce back win against the Falcons.

Atlanta is one of the more intriguing teams in the NFL. They fully rebuilt the offense in past years, but are still struggling to find the perfect QB situation. The dual QB setup of Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. was less than ideal last season, and yet the Falcons intend to rest both in this game. It’s an odd choice to opt out of having that competition, but expect the 3rd-stringer to struggle here against the win-hungry Lions.

Cleveland Browns vs Carolina Panthers

The Browns are once again the laughingstock of the NFL, hoping that they can take a step forward this season. The Deshaun Watson era has been an unmitigated disaster in Cleveland, leaving 5th-round QB Shedeur Sanders to try and break their funk. His best opportunity to show off his ability to start will come in the Preseason, so keep an eye on Sanders to try and make some big plays. He’s the lone light in Cleveland.

Carolina’s decision to forgo C.J. Stroud for Bryce Young puts them in a similar camp to the Browns, especially since the trade-up also cost them Caleb Williams (and Jayden Daniels). Young is entering his make-or-break 3rd season after a slow start to his career. The Panthers are likely to treat this game with some seriousness as they test things out, but it would be surprising to see them run away with it entirely.

Washington Commanders vs New England Patriots

Washington had the biggest rise of any team last year, thanks to rookie QB Jayden Daniels. It’s unlikely that Daniels faces a sophomore slump, though he may not fully repeat his results from last season. Even more in the spotlight will be the Commanders defense, which was their fatal flaw in the NFC Championship game last year. Going up against the Patriots here gives them a chance to test out their defensive depth.

The Patriots continue to rebuild the offensive line for young QB Drake Maye, who is expected to take big steps forward this season. He’ll face his first test in the Preseason, before the stakes are raised. Already drawing comparisons to Josh Allen, Maye has a lot of weight on his shoulders as the bonafide successor to Tom Brady in New England. Even with Belichick gone, expect the Patriots to play this one competitively.