The NFL’s preseason has reached the midpoint with Week 2, which serves as a de facto “dress rehearsal” for first-timers to prepare for the start of the regular season — which is only three weeks away. For teams that don’t have joint training this week, week 2 of pre-season is essential.
The Carolina Panthers won’t play Mayfield Baker and Sam Darnold against the New England Patriots Friday, however, New England will play its incumbents after joint training this week. Jordan love will start for Green Bay Packers against the New Orleans Saintswho will be without James Winston (foot). To crown the night will be the Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams.
Below, we’ll follow all the must-see highlights of Friday’s action, the main course appetizer for the games this weekend.
Program
Thursday
Bear 27, sea hawks 11 (take away food)
Friday
Patriots 20, Panthers 10 (Take away food)
Packers 20, Saints 10 (to sum up)
Rams 20, Texans 17 (Fourth Quarter – game tracking)
Saturday
Broncos at Invoices1 p.m. ET (game tracking)
the Lions at Foals1 p.m. ET (game tracking)
Commanders at Chiefs4 p.m. ET (game tracking)
Steelers at jaguars7 p.m. ET (game tracking)
Raiders at dolphins7 p.m. ET (game tracking)
49ers at vikings7 p.m. ET (game tracking)
Buccaneers at Titans7 p.m. ET (game tracking)
Cowboys at Chargers10 p.m. ET (game tracking)
Sunday
Eagles at Browns1 p.m. ET (game tracking)
bengals at giants7 p.m. ET (game tracking)
crows at Cardinals8 p.m. ET (game tracking)
Monday
Falcons at Jets8 p.m. ET (game tracking)
Catch of the night!
The Houston Texans played their starters for the first half of this preseason contest against the Los Angeles Rams, and were able to take a 7-6 halftime lead thanks to that precise hold of nico collins in the end zone. Collins just eclipsed Called Kendrick for the ball and walked away with the score.
Collins is going to play a role in the Texans offense in 2022. Plays like this will allow him to have more targets.
What makes this Etling touchdown special? The game took place during an interview with Aaron Rodgers on the Packers show. Rodgers’ excitement with Etling’s score makes this game even more exciting.
Jordan Love run
Love was like a NFL quarterback Friday night, finishing with 113 yards and a touchdown pass. He also showed his running ability with that 11-yard run for a first down.
Chris Olave scores his first touchdown
Olave gives Saints fans a taste of what to expect when he lines up alongside him Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry this autumn. The first-round pick connected with Ian Book on a 20-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first half — his first in a Saints uniform.
Olave had just one catch for four yards last week, but had two in the first half of this one.
Patriots Quarterback Bailey Zappe made a dangerous throw rolling to his left, and Hayes read the pass to take the ball the other way and tie the game. Zappe hasn’t been so sharp in his second outing this preseason, the one in which Matt Patricia calls the plays.
Landing of Romeo Doubs
There’s a place for Doubs to earn snaps with the first team this year, and this Jordan Love touchdown shows why. Doubs came on with that impressive four-yard touchdown reception on Brian Allen to put the Packers up, 10-3, over the Saints in the second quarter. Love begins to trust the fourth-round rookie.
59-yard field goal Will Lutz
Lutz missed all of 2021 with a core muscle injury as the Saints missed his reliability in the kicking department. He certainly looked like his old self with that 59-yard field goal to close out the first quarter.
Only 13 of 23 for 50+ yards in his career, Lutz hitting that kick is very encouraging.
Romeo Doubs make his case to move up the depth chart
Doubs was one of the Packers quarterback’s young wide receivers Aaron Rodgers criticized during the week, so he was in the spotlight with the second team members participating in the majority of it. A 17-yard catch on the first drive on a throw from Jordan Love makes a big impression, even though Doubs failed to match a third pass earlier.
No longer a quarterback for the Saints, Hill focused on the tight end for the 2022 season. The No. 2 tight end at New Orleans, Hill made an early impact by catching a 10 assist meters of Ian Book. Hill adds an extra dimension to the Saints offense in his new role and can still play wide receiver and running back in short-range situations.
The Patriots averaged just 1.9 yards per game in the first quarter with just 21 yards on offense, but Nelson Agholor changed that with that 45-yard catch on an impressive throw from McJones. Going against a second-team defense or not is what Patriots fans want to see from their new offense.
New England scored a touchdown – a two-yard run from Ty Montgomery — three games later.