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NFL Preseason Pick – Week 2

Game Overview

In one of the ugliest NFL games you could ever watch, even for the preseason, Dallas outlasted Oakland last Monday night 3-0 as a 1.5-point road underdog with the total set at 35. The Cowboys managed just 202 yards of total offense including a paltry 54 yards through the air. Of bigger concern is the potential loss of tight end Jason Whitten, who injured his spleen in this game. Right now it looks as if he will just miss the rest of the preseason but he could be out much longer if any kind of operation is required.

Look for the Cowboys’ offensive starters to possibly play into the second half of this game if things fail to click again. With all the pressure in the world on his back, Tony Romo is going to need some playing time to work his way into regular season form.

Another team that comes into this season under tremendous pressure is San Diego. After sitting out the playoffs the last two seasons, patience by both the fans and the front office to turn things around may be wearing thin. The Chargers beat Green Bay 21-13 in their first preseason game as 2.5-point home favorites. Philip Rivers got off to a strong start with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates mid-way through the first quarter. He finished the night 3-for-5 for 37 yards and one touchdown, but was also intercepted once.

San Diego’s starters should remain in the game for most of the first half, but head coach Norv Turner will take a more cautious approach to this game after starting running back Ryan Matthews went down last week with a broken collarbone that will keep him out of the lineup for four to six weeks. This could open the door for veteran back Ronnie Brown to prove he still has something left in the tank.

Prediction

Given last weeks’ performances by both teams, the Cowboys suddenly have much more to prove in this game than the Chargers do. Look for the increased effort to have a direct impact on the scoreboard with Dallas coming away with the win. Dallas 20 San Diego 17