NFL Handicapper Report - 8/13

[Jeff Grant]

AFC East Division

New York Jets
-Practiced the Wildcat extensively in practice
-Antonio Cromartie took snaps at WR
-Santonio Holmes will miss his second straight preseason game
-Joe McKnight likely has a leg up on the No. 2 RB spot behind Shonn Greene

Buffalo Bills
-First team offense passed the ball 15 consecutive times without a run
-Made this week the week we are going to come back and work on the run game
-Vince Young expected to be the No. 2 QB this week, Thigpen (3)
-Important to stress the running game in the remaining three games (new left tackle and two starters returning from injury)
-14 penalties versus the Redskins, fifth-fewest in 2011

New England Patriots
-Ran 11 plays in the first half with a fullback in the starting unit (ran five times)
-Backup QB position is up for grabs
-RB Danny Woodhead appears to be in the lead for kickoff return duties
-OT Logan Mankins and LB Brandon Spikes are back in action on the practice field

Miami Dolphins
-Second round pick Jonathan Martin played well at right tackle into the third quarter
-Spent an hour working on special teams Sunday due to first preseason game performance
-CB Vontae Davis is battling for a starting sport, after starting 36 games the past three seasons

[Jeff Grant]

AFC North Division

Baltimore Ravens
-RB Bobby Rainey is having a solid preseason, gained 4,542 yards during his time at Western Kentucky
-Offense had zero first downs and totaled nine yards in the first quarter
-QB Joe Flacco is developing better timing on fade passes, could be handy in red zone situations

Cincinnati Bengals
-Suffered their first significant injury in preseason since 2009 (LG Travelle Wharton)
-Wharton was signed due to his main strength of run blocking, Bengals have been in the lower quarter of the league in average yards per carry the last two seasons

Cleveland Browns
-CB Joe Haden may be suspended for the first four games, would have matched up with DeSean Jackson and A.J. Green in the first two weeks
-Injuries/Suspensions may test any improvement the team was planning to make in finishing 30th in run defense a year ago

Pittsburgh Steelers
-No deep passes, a lot of dinks and dunks in the opener
-Didn’t run any no-huddle, something they’d like to use more often
-Already shuffling the offensive line, used a league-high 25 different combinations in 2011
-Outgained Philadelphia by a 101-49 margin in the first half, 3-for-3 in red zone opportunities overall
-Winless in its last two preseason contests against Indianapolis, decided by a total of four points
-Won their last nine preseason home games, including four openers

Read up on tonight's contest between the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders