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Bryce Young connects with Adam Thielen for the first time
Bryce Young’s 7-yard pass finds Adam Thielen securing the catch and going down first.
Week 2 of preseason games for the 2023 NFL season kicked off Thursday night with a matchup between the defending NFC champions. Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns.
On Friday, the New York Giants hosted the Carolina Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals were on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.
There are 11 games on Saturday and one every Sunday and Monday. The Saturday roster has several interesting games, including Jacksonville in Detroit, Buffalo in Pittsburgh, and New England in Green Bay. Action ends Monday night on ESPN with Baltimore in Washington.
Here are the top points earned from the first two games, along with the rest of the Week 2 pre-season schedule.
Quick links:
full table | Depth charts | PickCenter
Friday matches
leopards: Rookie quarterback Bryce Young needs some help.
He needs it from his offensive line, which for the second consecutive week has allowed the first overall pick in the draft to take a few vicious blows (ex. Ikem Ekwonu gets hit twice) and continues to dish out exorbitant penalties (ex. catching right tackle for starters, Chandler Zavala sacking 15-yard catch, third down).
He needs it from his wide receivers, who are still sloppy with road runs. Last week Lavesca Chennault Jr. ran very deep in a match from third place. Rookie Jonathan Mingo blocked his way Friday night on a third down throw that was supposed to be completed.
The good news is that Young didn’t lose his temper or make costly mistakes. He completed 3 of 6 passes for 35 yards in 2 series (17 plays) and drove a 15-play, 62-yard drive for a field goal. Progress, but those around Young don’t play winning football. – David Newton
Next match: vs. the Lions (8 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 25)
Giants: This was considered a preseason dream for a Giants rookie, who coach Brian Daboll said he wanted to see at some point in the preseason. Quarterback Daniel Jones, making his first appearance since signing a four-year contract in March, looks like a $160 million player. He was near perfect on his one and only drive, completing 8 of 9 passes (including three to new tight end Darren Waller) for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Plus, wide receiver Paris Campbell had two receptions on the drive, which made everyone feel good. Second-year outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeau had a sack and pressure on a second-quarter play, and rookie wide receiver Jalen Hiatt, a third-rounder from Tennessee, used his blistering speed to connect on a deep ball for a 33-yard touchdown from quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Overall, the Giants got nearly everything they could have hoped for from their starting lineup in limited action against the Panthers. It’s unlikely we’ll see most of them play again before Sunday, September 10th’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.Jordan Raanan
Next match: Versus the Jets (6 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 26)
Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons: 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday match
the Eagles: Linebacker Nakobe Dean offered some hope that the central defense is in good hands. One of the only starters to see action for Philadelphia was Dean, who made a turnover near the Eagles’ goal line when he shot downfield and hit linebacker John Kelly Jr., knocking the ball loose. Safety K’Von Wallace retrieved it for a Philly takeaway. The Eagles are facing linebacker uncertainty following the departures of starters TJ Edwards and Keizer White in free agency. Dean, a second-year out of Georgia player, is expected to secure linebacker MIKE’s spot, where he will be tasked with relaying calls and getting the defensive lineup. He’s been dealing with an ankle injury and has had a very quiet summer up to this point, but he showed some playmaking ability on Thursday that made him a star for the National Champion Bulldogs. – Tim McManus
Next match: vs. the Colts (8 p.m. ET, Thursday, Aug. 24)
Brown: Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson Robinson continued his preseason form with another impressive performance against Philadelphia. Playing the first half in his first professional start, Robinson-Thompson completed 13 of 25 passes for 164 yards. He also rushed for 18 yards on four carries. The Browns drove on three carries inside the Philly 25-yard line. The former UCLA star has positioned himself to become Cleveland’s long-term backup QB to the future behind superstar Deshaun Watson. DTR will probably be the No. 3 QB this season behind Watson and Joshua Dobbs. But he is on track to become the No. 2 QB by 2024. – Jake Trotter
Next match: At Chiefs (1 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 26)
NFL preseason games on Saturday
Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions: 1 p.m. EST, NFL Network
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans: 4 p.m. ET, NFL Network
Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers: 6:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts: 7 p.m. ET, NFL Network
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets: 7:30 p.m. ET
New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers: 8 p.m. ET
Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings: 8 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals: 8 p.m. ET
Denver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers: 8:30 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams: 9 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks: 10 p.m. ET, NFL Network
NFL preseason game on Sunday
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers: 7:05 p.m. ET, NFL Network
NFL preseason game on Monday
Baltimore Ravens at Washington Leaders: 8 p.m. EST, ESPN
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