The Los Angeles Rams and the Green Bay Packers will meet on the fourth NFL preseason betting game, which is as essential as the fourth Indiana Jones movie. Rams quarterback Jared Goff will more than likely have the day off, which will be in stark contrast to Saturday when he had an off-day. Nonetheless, the young signal caller is confident that the offense is ready for primetime, though not everybody necessarily agrees with him.
- Date: Thursday, August 31st
- Time: 7:05 PM
- Venue: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Sportsbook NFL preseason odds: TBD
Startlingly, no starters
The third game of the preseason is considered a dress rehearsal for the regular season and as such most starters see some significant play. However, Rams head coach Sean McVay held out running back Todd Gurley and wide receiver Cooper Kupp as well as every projected defensive starter with the exceptions of cornerback Trumaine Johnson and safety Lamarcus Joyner. This is not likely to change for the inconsequential fourth game, seeing as how McVay’s ostensible purpose is to get the starters in one piece to the opener against the Colts – even at the expense of coordinator Wade Phillips’s 3-4 defense that has not been put to the test by many of the starters. The o-line remains another conundrum. In a Kafka-esque turn of events, Rob Havenstein was moved back to guard in the first week of the preseason after spending the offseason learning how to play guard. Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa had Havenstein’s number on Saturday, enabling him to sack Goff which resulted in a defensive touchdown.
By the time the preseason is done and gone, there is a pretty good chance that linebackers Mark Barron, Robert Quinn, defensive end Aaron Donald, cornerback Kayvon Webster, and wide receiver Tavon Austin will combine for a grand total of zero minutes of playing time.
Let’s give NFL preseason betting the old college try
Backup quarterback Brett Hundley relieved Aaron Rodgers earlier than expected on Saturday against the Broncos and ended playing three quarters and change. He went 20-of-30 passes for 186 yards with a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. “Great opportunity just because of the fact I haven’t had a chance to play a whole game since college,” Hundley told Packers.com. Hundley may not play his first full game since his days at UCLA – after all, head coach Mike McCarthy might want to use Joe Callahan or Taysom Hill as well – but he might start his first game with the Packers on Thursday against the Rams. On defense, Nick Perry’s ankle injury made Green Bay’s shortcomings at outside linebacker stand out even more – Perry has never played a full season on account of injuries while Clay Matthews has not posted double-digit sacks since 2014 and rookie fourth-round pick Vince Biegel is on the physically unable to perform list because of foot surgery. Which is why the Packers are entertaining the possibility of signing veteran Ahmad Brooks, whom the 49ers released on Friday.
The #49ers have released LB Ahmad Brooks.
Details: https://t.co/HBSAOmGrHx pic.twitter.com/zfn5k2WUiF
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 25, 2017
Will we see Brooks play in the Packer’s fourth and final NFL preseason betting game?