Thursday, August 20th

Las Vegas Raiders @ Houston Texans

Fernando Mendoza should not be the Week One starter

Unlike Week One, number-one overall pick Fernando Mendoza got the start for the Las Vegas Raiders this time around. He played the entire first half for Vegas, and it was... rough. The 22-year-old showed flashes of brilliance but struggled overall against Houston's backups, completing eight of 15 pass attempts for 86 yards. He also took an 11-yard sack and threw an interception that was returned 80 yards for a touchdown. Mendoza was constantly under duress and had a difficult time remaining poised with defenders in his face. The biggest positive is that he responded well after throwing the pick-six.

My main concern has as much to do with the Raiders as a whole as it does with Mendoza. Remember, most of Houston's best defenders were on the bench! I shudder to think about how the offense would've looked if Will Anderson Jr., Derek Stingley, and Danielle Hunter had been on the field.

I still believe that Fernando Mendoza has all the tools to become a franchise quarterback. However, we have to remind ourselves that this is a 22-year-old kid who still has a lot to learn before he takes the reins in Las Vegas. Based on what we saw on Thursday, it would be malpractice to name Fernando Mendoza the Raiders' starting quarterback for their regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Though he will eventually be ready to run the offense, that does not seem to be the case at the moment.

Woody Marks should be Houston's starting running back

It might be fair to call me a prisoner of the moment, but I believe Woody Marks should be the number-one running back in Houston. I was VERY impressed by the second-year back. With limited snaps, Marks rushed for 37 yards and a touchdown on just four carries. Even if it came against what will likely be a weak defense, Woody Marks looked like a top-tier NFL running back.

Though the Texans traded for David Montgomery, it would make a ton of sense for Houston to employ a one-two punch where Marks gets a few more carries each game than Montgomery. Woody Marks is younger and has more tread on the tires, which means he can take more punishment than Montgomery. Also, David Montgomery was best when he came in as the bruiser after Jahmyr Gibbs wore opposing defenses down. Marks will be the starter who tires opponents out, and then Houston can rely on Montgomery's strong running style to close games. Though I expect David Montgomery will probably win the starting running back job, it would make more sense for the Texans to start Marks before turning to Montgomery later in the game.

San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Chargers

There's no need to worry about the Chargers' rushing attack

This was a poor showing from Los Angeles on the ground. They ran the ball 20 times for 68 yards, but 37 of those yards came on a scramble by backup quarterback Trey Lance. If we take that single attempt off the board, then the Chargers only had 31 rushing yards on 19 carries, which comes out to 1.6 yards per attempt. Though the ground game was better in Week One, LA is still averaging 2.9 yards per carry. Even then, we're giving this team the benefit of the doubt because we're rounding up from 2.866.

Despite everything I just pointed out, it’s way too early to be seriously concerned about the Chargers' rushing attack. LA's was missing two of its five starting offensive linemen in this game: center Tyler Biadasz and tackle Rashawn Slater. Plus, projected starting running back Omarion Hampton and backup Keaton Mitchell have only combined for four carries so far in the preseason. What we're seeing from the Chargers on the ground isn't even the A or the B team; it's more like the C and D units. Until we get to the regular season and the Chargers struggle to get the rushing attack going, I'm not going to make any final judgments on how effective LA will be this year on the ground.

De'Zhaun Stribling will be a starting wide receiver this season

Following the Niners' Week One matchup against the Tennessee Titans, I wrote that De'Zhaun will be a major contributor in San Francisco's offense. After the performance he had on Thursday, though, I’m ready to name Stribling one of the top three wideouts in the Bay Area.

First of all, Stribling has the build of a number-one or number-two wide receiver. He's 6'2", weighs 207 lbs., and has excellent speed with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. Moreover, the kid has been making plays all over the field, which is why he already has 109 receiving yards in the preseason on 11 receptions. Last - and most importantly - Stribling is healthy! Ricky Pearsall is out for the season. Christian Kirk has a calf issue. Mike Evans is dealing with quad tightness. That means the 49ers' top-three wide receivers are all injured. You want to know who hasn't had any injuries limiting his production? De'Zhaun Stribling! If he can keep this up, there's no reason he can't be a top-three wideout in San Francisco.

Friday, August 21st

New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Geno Smith looked like a competent quarterback

On Friday evening, quarterback Geno Smith made his 2026 Preseason debut for the New York Jets, and he was actually really good. He passed the eye test and finished the game with seven completions on seven pass attempts for 65 yards and a touchdown to tight end Jelani Woods. If we're being completely honest, it might have been the best offensive possession the Jets have had in over a year! Smith did everything you want to see from a veteran NFL quarterback. He stood firmly in the pocket and completed passes even with defenders barreling down on him. He fit the football into all types of windows, converted two third-down attempts through the air, and capped the drive off with an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown. Not to toot my own horn, but Smith already appears to be surpassing expectations as the new starting quarterback in the Big Apple.

Drew Allar has already surpassed Will Howard

Will Howard has a full year of professional football under his belt, yet rookie quarterback Drew Allar has already overtaken him as the Steelers' potential QB of the future. Allar and Howard both played for Pittsburgh on Friday night, but Howard looked completely overwhelmed, while Allar seemed more composed.

Will Howard struggled mightily. He ran into a sack on a third-down attempt, didn't lead the offense on any scoring drives, and threw two interceptions. He would've been better served throwing the football into the dirt on every single play because that would have resulted in a better passer rating (39.6) than what he ended up posting (38.6). Meanwhile, Drew Allar took a step back compared to his fantastic Week One performance, but he still had some excellent flashes. The play of the game came in the third quarter, when Allar completed an off-balance 38-yard pass on the run while taking a hit to get the team into the red zone. Though the drive didn't yield any points, it was easily the most impressive play that either quarterback made.

When scouting and determining if a young quarterback has what it takes to be an NFL starter, you want to see things that jump off the screen and wow you. In just two preseason games, Drew Allar has more of those moments than Will Howard has in his entire professional career. If I were the coach of the Steelers, Drew Allar would undoubtedly be the number-three quarterback on my depth chart after Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.

Carolina Panthers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Bryce Young was much better

This marked the second consecutive preseason start for former number-one overall pick Bryce Young, and this time around, he looked much better compared to what we saw in Week One. Against the Buffalo Bills, Young orchestrated three three-and-outs after completing just three of his five pass attempts for 18 yards. Last week, though, Young was able to shake off the rust and played much better against what might end up being a better defense.

Young went five of six for 49 yards on two offensive possessions. More importantly, he led the Panthers on a seven-play, 58-yard drive that ended in a touchdown. Young was effectively avoiding pass rushers, finding receivers for long catches, making good reads, and taking care of the football. Granted, this came against Jacksonville's B-squad, but if this is the Bryce Young that the Panthers get during the regular season, then they could emerge as early favorites to win the NFC South.

Trebor Peña earned himself a roster spot

This is a clear sign that the Jaguars didn't give us a whole lot to talk about. Regardless, former Syracuse wide receiver Trebor Peña looked like an NFL-level player for the second week in a row. Against the New Orleans Saints, he made three catches for 58 yards. This time around, Peña upped those totals, finishing the game with four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown catch. Amongst all players, Peña is fourth in the NFL in receiving yards (130), which is outstanding from an undrafted rookie who is simply trying to make the team. While playing against third-and fourth-stringers, Trebor Peña played like an NFL starter, which means that he should probably make the roster as the Jaguars' fifth or sixth wide receiver. With projected starters Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers dealing with injuries, wide receiver depth is a top priority for Jacksonville before the regular season begins.

Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos

Bo Nix is one of the most important quarterbacks in the NFL

Bo Nix only played two drives for Denver, but he was fantastic on both offensive possessions. On the Broncos' opening series, he completed three of five passes for 60 yards and a perfect touchdown to running back RJ Harvey that Green Bay had no answer for. Not only did that TD come on a third-down attempt, but Nix did that against Green Bay's starting secondary! The next possession was also solid as Nix led the Broncos on a nine-play, 25-yard drive that ended in a field goal.

After that, Bo Nix's day was done, and for the most part, Denver's offensive hopes died when he was replaced by Jarrett Stidham. We can just look at the statistics for proof. Nix had a 129.9 passer rating, while the Broncos' other QBs posted a combined passer rating of 54.0. Once Nix left the game, the Broncos only scored three more points as the offense managed to gain just 111 yards the rest of the way. Jarrett Stidham threw an interception and almost fumbled the ball away, while Sam Ehlinger was sacked twice and put the football on the ground. Even against Green Bay's backups and guys who will eventually be cut, Denver could not get anything going offensively after Bo Nix left the game.

I don't want this statement to be misconstrued. I'm not saying that Bo Nix is going to be in the MVP race this season or anything like that. However, the drop-off from him to the other quarterbacks on Denver's roster is substantial. Nix's health and his ability to stay on the field could be one of the most important yet underappreciated storylines in the AFC this year.

Green Bay's special teams could actually be a positive

If you’re not a Green Bay Packers fan, then you don't know that this team has been plagued by historically bad special teams over the last few years. According to The Ringer's Anthony Dabbundo, since the start of the 2020s, the Packers have the second-worst special teams unit in the NFL based on expected points lost due to mistakes. Thankfully, though, Green Bay's special teams have not only been serviceable through the first two weeks of the preseason, but the unit has actually been one of the Packers' strengths thus far.

I have to talk about rookie kicker Trey Smack, who has answered the call in a big way for the Green and Gold. Smack has made every kick he has attempted in the preseason, which would explain why he has the third-most points scored of all players in the NFL (24). After hitting a 58-yarder during Week One, Smack outdid himself on Friday night by knocking a 59-yard field goal through the uprights. As I said last week, we still need to wait and see if this positive momentum can carry over to the regular season, but the rookie has given us plenty of reasons to believe that he is the guy to come in and make clutch kicks when called upon in Green Bay.

I also have to mention the return game. Veteran wide receiver Skyy Moore had a 16-yard punt return on Friday night. Though that seems inconsequential, that would have actually been tied for the second-longest punt return by a Green Bay Packers player last year! Considering the Packers are dead last in average yards per punt return over the previous three seasons, Skyy Moore could be a revolution in the kicking game since he averages 9.7 yards per return over his career.

Between Smack's efficiency and Skyy Moore's viability as a returner, the Packers may be able to avoid finishing ranked towards the bottom of the league in special teams. Hell, if they can even finish the year as the 24th-best team in that area, it would be a huge improvement that makes life easier for the offense.

Saturday, August 22nd

Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions

It's idiotic to call Sonny Styles a draft bust

In just his second NFL game, the seventh overall pick from the 2026 NFL Draft is already being labeled a draft bust. After an uninspired performance in Week One, Styles struggled to make his presence felt last weekend with just one tackle on 15 snaps. As a result, some people are already calling Styles a draft bust, which is completely idiotic.

Sonny Styles might not have the type of gaudy stats you expect from a starting inside linebacker, but he is also learning how to play at the NFL level. He has been given tremendous responsibilities for a 21-year-old. Not only has he been dubbed the franchise savior on the defensive side of the ball, but he also has green dot responsibilities, which means he has to relay play calls to the rest of the defense. In all likelihood, Styles is more concerned with getting the play call right rather than making every single tackle. That's why he's playing in the preseason after all. You want to build up his confidence as the leader of the defense. It's more important that he knows how to run the defense before the regular season begins.

The tackles and sacks will come eventually. Styles is basically guaranteed a starting role, so it doesn't make sense for him to go full speed in the preseason. Now is the time to learn how to call defensive plays. Plus, the defense has actually played quite well when he has been on the field. They have allowed two touchdowns, but they have also forced a fumble, an interception, and a turnover on downs. At the end of the day, we shouldn't care that Sonny Styles only has one tackle when the defense is actually performing better and creating takeaways!

Joshua Dobbs has still got it

It's hard to ignore the giveaways that Dobbs had in this contest. After all, he turned the ball over on two straight possessions to start the game. However, he regained his composure and finished strong, which is what you want to see out of a backup quarterback.

Following the first-quarter interception he threw, Dobbs led the Lions on a remarkable seven-play, 90-yard drive that ended with him executing a perfect read option play for a 50-yard touchdown run. On that series, he had multiple third-down conversions and also made a great pass to wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. for a 17-yard pickup.

With the unexpected retirement of projected backup QB Teddy Bridgewater, Joshua Dobbs was signed by the Lions a little over two weeks ago. Since then, he has emerged as Detroit's best option for the team's QB2 role. I'm not saying that he should overtake Jared Goff as the starter, but if Goff were to miss some time due to injury, I have faith that Joshua Dobbs would be able to lead the Lions to a win or two. He has a rocket for an arm and can still make plays on the ground. That combination makes him a trustworthy backup.

Buffalo Bills @ Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson sucks

The quarterback battle in Cleveland has been decided. Deshaun Watson will be the Browns' Week One starter even though he was unforgivably bad against the Bills.

Watson didn't take the field until the third quarter of Saturday's game, when the Bills were starting numerous backups and players who will not end up earning a roster spot. Despite that working in his favor, Deshaun Watson was atrocious. The eighth-year veteran only connected on five of his 12 pass attempts for 36 yards, an interception, and no touchdowns. This resulted in a laughable 14.6 passer rating.

To make matters worse, Watson took no accountability for his bad performance. In fact, he called out fans for booing. During the postgame press conference, Watson claimed fans were being "disrespectful" instead of owning up to the fact that he was terrible!

Deshaun Watson should not be a starter in the National Football League. Amongst QBs who have started at least five games since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, Watson has the 10th-lowest passer rating (81.4). Every other quarterback on that list outside of Bryce Young is now either a backup or a third-stringer. However, Watson is once again slated to be the starting QB in Cleveland. Then again, I don't expect that experiment to last long. He'll be replaced by Shedeur Sanders before the end of October.

Atlanta Falcons @ Indianapolis Colts

A missed opportunity for Anthony Richardson

Unlike Week One, Anthony Richardson did not start the game for the Colts. Instead, that honor went to second-year QB Riley Leonard, who was fine. He completed 50% of his passes for 74 yards and led Indy on back-to-back scoring drives after a three-and-out to open the game. Unfortunately for the Colts, the game was out of reach by the time Anthony Richardson took the field since Indianapolis was down 31-7 in the third quarter. Normally, this would be an ideal time to try some things out with Anthony Richardson and see where he is after a good showing against the Patriots. What followed was disastrous for Richardson's future.

Despite playing against cut candidates and future practice squad players, Richardson was awful. He went three of nine passing for 24 yards and also recorded three runs for another 15 yards. He also suffered two sacks and was held to zero touchdowns. That is unacceptable for the former number-four overall pick. Richardson has the talent to smoke the guys he was going against! Instead, he played like the draft bust he has been labeled as.

Just when it seemed like Richardson was ready to turn a corner, he took another step backwards. Now, instead of looking like a reliable backup, we have to legitimately wonder who will be the number-two quarterback in Indy.

Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

J.J. McCarthy was still unimpressive

For the first time during the 2026 preseason, J.J. McCarthy got the start for the Vikes at the quarterback spot. This would have been a perfect opportunity for the young buck to cement himself as Minnesota's backup QB. Unfortunately, he failed to meet expectations once again.

McCarthy played the first four offensive possessions for the Vikes, and they had zero points to show for their efforts. His biggest blunder came on a fourth-and-goal at the Ravens' one yard line when he badly overthrew a wide-open receiver and missed an easy touchdown. We can't even give him full credit for his best play of the afternoon, a 50-yard completion to wideout Tai Felton. Though the pass might have looked nice, McCarthy actually underthrew the receiver. Felton had to come back to the ball and make a fantastic mid-air catch while heavily covered for the pass to be completed.

When all was said and done, McCarthy completed five of 10 passes for 81 yards and a sack. That's not what you want to see from a guy who is desperately trying to prove that he is still a capable starter in this league. It's beginning to look more and more likely that McCarthy will be the QB3 on this roster because Carson Wentz is actually playing well in the preseason and can be relied on during the regular season if Kyler Murray were to suffer any type of injury.

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams

We should've gotten more Ty Simpson

I understand that the Rams need to have a reliable backup on the roster if Matthew Stafford were to suffer any injury, but I don't like how LA approached this game. Stetson Bennett, who is the presumed number-two quarterback on the roster, took all of the first-half snaps in this contest. First-round draft pick Ty Simpson didn't even take the field until halfway through the third quarter of the game. By that time, this thing was completely out of reach for the New Orleans Saints, who were down 27-0 when Simpson took over the offense. He only attempted 12 passes in the game, completing eight of them for 73 yards.

I understand the idea behind playing Bennett for the entirety of the first half. He’s the backup quarterback, and you want to get him as many reps as possible before the regular season starts so that he can come in and feel confident if he has to replace Matthew Stafford at any point. Then again, Ty Simpson is the quarterback of the future. Wouldn't you rather have him take more snaps and give him the chance to overtake Bennett as the QB2? I get that Bennett has been in the league longer, but neither he nor Simpson has played a single regular-season snap. In that case, Simpson should get more chances because we know that Bennett can play well against backups and third-stringers. That's why he has been on an NFL roster for four years. We still need to know where Simpson is in his progression and if he could actually outperform Bennett as the backup QB in Los Angeles. The only way he can do that is by getting more snaps and more playing time during the preseason.

New York Giants @ Miami Dolphins

The 'Phins need a veteran backup QB

Unlike Week One, projected starting quarterback Malik Willis did not play in this game. Therefore, Miami gave snaps to former sixth-round pick Cam Miller and undrafted rookie Mark Gronkowski.

To say that the offense was terrible would be an understatement. Miami only accumulated 102 total yards of offense, including 50 on the ground. That means the Dolphins managed to pick up just 52 yards through the air over the course of an entire NFL game. That is offensively bad, especially when you realize that 30 of those yards came on a single completion. If we take away that lone completion, the offense generated three points, 72 total yards, and four fumbles.

Simply put, most of that offensive inefficiency stems from disjointed quarterback play. If the Dolphins had a reliable veteran backup who knows how to run NFL offenses, then they would be in a much better position if Malik Willis were to miss any time. It would greatly behoove Miami to pick up the phone and make a call to Jimmy Garoppolo or even Russell Wilson.

The Giants might have solved their kicking issues

Last year, Big Blue's struggles in the kicking game were well-documented. The Giants were only one for three on attempts of 50 yards or more. And, of course, Younghoe Koo had the most embarrassing field goal attempt in NFL history. Over the weekend, though, the G-Men seemed to have found some relief for their woes after utilizing two young kickers.

First, they went with undrafted free agent rookie Dominic Zvada. Not only did he make an extra point, but he was also successful on his 43-yard and 32-yard field goal attempts. Hell, one of them even came at the end of the half, which shows that the rookie can make kicks in high-pressure situations. New York started Ben Sauls in the second half, and he was just as good, making field goals of 27 and 37 yards.

Now, the Giants have two young kickers on the roster vying for the starting job. In all likelihood, one of these young fellas will emerge as the starter, and the other will be relegated to the practice squad. Either way, the G-Men have two options they can go with at their kicker spot, which should instill some confidence in the fans. If one guy doesn't work out, the Giants can always just go with the other option and make him the starter.

Chicago Bears @ Cincinnati Bengals

I expected more from the Bears' offense

It's certainly possible that Chicago didn't deploy the best possible game plan for this matchup. After all, this was Caleb Williams' first start of the 2026-27 campaign. Still, it would have been nice to see a touchdown on their opening possession.

The drive looked good to start with a pair of 10+-yard passes from Williams to wide receiver Rome Odunze and tight end Colston Loveland. However, both of those were fairly easy passes to wide-open targets. Once Chicago was penalized for holding in the red zone, though, it completely derailed the drive. Caleb Williams threw three straight incompletions, which led to a field goal.

Sure, they got points on the board, but that was Chicago's starting offense out there. And they were going against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Granted, the Bengals have more talent on that side of the ball than they had last season, but an offensive mastermind like Ben Johnson should've been able to get a touchdown after his team made it into the red zone. There's no reason to be worried about the Bears offensively, but, at the same time, I expected more from that side of the ball with starters in the game.

Another good defensive showing by Cincy

As I just mentioned, Ben Johnson is an offensive guru. He proved that in Week One when the Bears ran all over the Cleveland Browns for 34 points. However, the Cincinnati Bengals played very well defensively in a game where they didn't give up a touchdown!

Cincy's run defense was much better. After giving up 129 yards on the ground, the Bengals held the Bears to 86 yards on 22 carries (3.9 yards per attempt). Doing that against a team that had the third-best rushing attack in the NFL is cause for celebration.

Cincinnati also played the pass quite well. They might have allowed 236 yards through the air, but they also didn't give up a touchdown. Considering this group allowed the third-most passing TDs in the league last season, fans should feel good that they held a well-coached team to zero touchdowns. It would've been nice to see an interception, but two sacks will suffice.

The Bengals have put together strong defensive performances in back-to-back weeks. Now, we just need to see how this unit will look when things actually count during the regular season.

Philadelphia Eagles @ New England Patriots

The third-string QBs just made things interesting for both teams

Going into this game, it seemed like the QB2 spots for the Eagles and Patriots were both locked up. Andy Dalton is a very experienced veteran who will be able to run Philly's offense if worse comes to worst. The same could also be said for Tommy DeVito in New England.

However, there might be some questions about who wins those jobs after this contest because both Tanner McKee and Behren Morton were great. McKee was much better than Andy Dalton, who went three for 10 with just 44 passing yards. Meanwhile, Tanner McKee was the star of the show, completing 16 of 22 passes for 173 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 125.8. On the other side, Tommy Devito was good, but Behren Morton was arguably better. DeVito took three sacks and only completed eight of his 15 pass attempts, while Morton went 13 of 17 for 129 yards and a TD.

I'm not saying that Tanner McKee and Behren Morton will win the backup jobs for either one of these teams. If we're being realistic, the Eagles and Pats are going to go with experienced veterans as their backups. But we should give both McKee and Morton their flowers for solid outings over the weekend.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rueben Bain Jr. might make us all look foolish

Rueben Bain Jr. was one of the most polarizing players in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was obviously one of the best players in college football last season, but there were a lot of concerns about how he would adapt to the NFL, especially with shorter arms, which can be a dealbreaker for many defensive end prospects trying to make it in the pros. After this weekend, though, we can begin to put some of those concerns to rest.

The soon-to-be 22-year-old rookie made his NFL debut over the weekend, and he was phenomenal. Despite being limited to just six snaps, Bain made his presence felt immediately. He dropped into coverage and defended receivers well. More importantly, he had an excellent pass rush snap in which he got pressure on the opposing QB. When all was said and done, Bain finished the game with the second-highest defensive grade amongst all Buccaneers players, according to PFF.

Tampa Bay has been lacking a star pass rusher for some time now. In fact, they haven't had a player finish a season with at least 10 sacks since Shaquil Barrett did it in 2021. Though I don't know if Bain will be a double-digit sack player as a rookie, he has all the tools to be a force in this league for years to come. I guess the short arms issue was not as important as scouts made it out to be.

Dallas Cowboys @ Arizona Cardinals

Joe Milton deserves to be a starter somewhere

For the second week in a row, quarterback Joe Milton had the NFL world buzzing with yet another strong performance. Against the Seahawks, Milton was 12 of 15 for 107 yards, a touchdown, and 10 rushing yards. Over the weekend, he was even better with 179 passing yards and three total touchdowns. The only negative play he had came on a failed fourth-down conversion, and he hit his receiver in the hands with the football!

Joe Milton is a raw player who just needs a chance to shine. He has more than enough skills to make any roster in the NFL. We have seen what this kid can do in the preseason. Hell, he has even been solid when called upon during regular season games (37 of 53 for 424 passing yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, 66 rushing yards, and a rushing TD in two starts). A smart team with a murky future at the quarterback position should make a low-risk, high-reward move to acquire Milton. If the trade doesn't work out, then you at least have a good backup. Then again, if Milton does pan out, then you have found a new starting quarterback! If I were running the Browns, Steelers, Cardinals, or Jets, I would be banging down the door to get Joe Milton on my team.

Arizona's defense is awful

It's easy to forget about the Cardinals' defense. We’re so consumed with quarterback play and who is going to be the starter that we sometimes completely ignore the other side of the football. Over the weekend, though, it was very apparent that Arizona will be one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL.

The Cardinals are allowing 27 points per game in three preseason contests. However, their best performance came against the Las Vegas Raiders, who were starting an incredibly young rookie quarterback, which would explain why they managed to hold Vegas to 14 points. Against teams with offensive talent, like the Panthers and Cowboys, Arizona is allowing 395.5 yards per game. They had no answer for what the Cowboys were doing this weekend. They allowed 175 rushing yards and 238 passing yards. There was even a point where Dallas scored on five straight drives if we discount the kneel-down the 'Boys ran to end the first half.

A lot has been made of the offensive questions in the desert and rightfully so. There is an ongoing quarterback battle, offensive line worries, and a new running back that will hopefully set the league on fire. However, we should expect the Cardinals to be one of the worst defensive teams in the league based on their performances in the preseason and the fact that they were 29th in points allowed last season (28.7 points per game allowed).

Sunday, August 23rd

Seattle Seahawks @ Tennessee Titans

The Titans should be worried about their defense

The Titans should be better this season than they were last year with a completely revamped coaching staff and many new players on both sides of the ball. Regardless, Tennessee will still be one of the worst teams in the NFL, as demonstrated by the issues they had defensively in this game.

Even though Seattle was starting mostly backups and third-stringers, the Seahawks easily carved up the Titans' defense. Seattle scored two touchdowns on their first two drives of the game and amassed 158 yards of offense on just 11 plays. What's even more concerning is that Tennessee gave up two long touchdowns. First, they allowed a 36-yard touchdown pass thanks to a mistake in the secondary. On the next possession, running back Jacardia Wright took a handoff right up the middle for a 69-yard TD run that had the Titans looking foolish.

This was a poor performance from Tennessee defensively, which almost allowed four straight scoring drives to start the game had it not been for a missed 44-yard field goal. This was just a harsh reminder that, even though the Titans did a lot of work to revamp the team, they are still a very long way from being able to go toe-to-toe with some of the best squads in the NFL.

Who will replace Bud Clark?

This is not a takeaway necessarily, but it is an important question we are left asking after this preseason game. Unfortunately, the Seahawks' projected starting safety, Bud Clark, suffered a broken right ankle on Sunday that will sideline him for "multiple months," according to Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald. This is a huge blow to a secondary that lost two key contributors to free agency in Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant.

Though just a rookie, the Seahawks had high hopes for Clark, who they took in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. His ability to generate turnovers and tackle opposing players was going to help make up for the loss of Coby Bryant. Now, though, somebody else is going to have to start in the backend to shore up the defense.

The good news is that this team has versatility in the secondary. Ty Okada is an experienced safety who played in 17 games for the Seahawks last season. Plus, he finished the year ranked sixth on the team in total tackles, so he could step in and fill the void. Then again, if Mike Macdonald is feeling bold, he could move cornerback Nick Emmanwori to the safety spot and have one of the other corners on the team fill in as the starting nickelback. It might be easier to replace a nickel corner than it is to find a fill-in at safety.