NFL Preseason Week 2 Game Preview: Chicago Bears @ New York Giants

Online Betting Overview

The second week of the preseason is often used to try and get a good look at second and third-string players that have a chance of making an NFL roster. Teams like to make decisions on fringe players in the second week because they can then release the players and give them a chance to sign on somewhere else. The Chicago Bears looked decent in their preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, but the offensive line was suspect. The Bills picked up nine sacks on the Bears’ offense and held the first-string offense to no points. It is only preseason, but the Bills had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last year. Yes, Buffalo has made some minor improvements to its defensive unit. But the Bears should be trying out a lot of offensive players in this game.

Any NFL betting lines on the New York Giants are split into two halves. The Giants excel in the first half of the regular season, but they fall apart in the second half. Unfortunately, one of the reasons the Giants choke in the second half of the season is quarterback Eli Manning. Since Manning isn’t going anywhere, the Giants need to focus on discipline as that is the second reason New York crumbles in the second half of the season. The plays that worked so well in the first eight games fall apart in the second set of eight games because receivers give up on routes, tight ends drop the ball and running backs miss their blocking assignments. The Giants will also be using this game as a chance to find some more consistent offensive players to avoid the second-half collapse.

Chicago Bears
Quarterback Jay Cutler did look leaner and more athletic in the preseason opener. Cutler had worked on his throwing delivery and his conditioning all summer long, and it shows. But he still makes bad decisions when it comes to throwing the football, and that may be something that the Bears can do nothing about. The Bears offensive line was weak and the running game did the best it could to push the Bills back. The Bears’ defense did not look like one of the best in the NFL as the Bills were the only team that scored points in the first quarter. But the Bears’ defense has the leadership to improve, which is something the offense lacks.

New York Giants
Even though the Giants lost their preseason opener to the Carolina Panthers 20-10, the first-team offense and defense looked good. The Giants’ defense picked off Carolina quarterback Jimmy Clausen early, and then went toe-to-toe with an extremely determined Panthers’ offensive line. The Giants’ offense moved the ball, scored points and avoided mistakes. If the Giants keep this up, they may be able to break their second-half curse.

The Bottom Line
The betonline reviews of the Chicago Bears were not encouraging. The Bears looked just as inconsistent as they did last year. The Giants show some promise, and may be able to put together a 53-man roster that can make the playoffs this season.

Pick: New York Giants