Category: NFL

It only took one possession for veteran play-by-play man Al Michaels to get into midseason form during Amazon Prime Video's preseason "Thursday Night Football" broadcast.

The broadcast was coming back from a commercial after the Browns opened the game with a touchdown from Dillon Gabriel to Luke Floriea. It showed an aerial shot of Huntington Bank Field, which abuts Lake Erie.

Michaels used that opportunity to crack a joke about U.S. president Donald Trump's order to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America" amid an ongoing trade dispute with Canada.

"That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie – we're not quite sure at this point," Michaels said. "But we'll be by Lake something like Ontario or whatever it's going to be called by the time we get to Buffalo. Anyway, you know what I'm talking about, some of you do. Read the news."

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With a full slate of NFL football on deck, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 27, here are my NFL moneyline picks for Week 3 of the preseason.

Let's navigate these murky waters together, break down the quarterback battles, and find our edges in my this week's NFL picks.

Week 3 preseason NFL moneyline picks

Matchup	Pick	Result
PIT vs. BUF	58%
NE vs. CLE	57%
SF vs. LV	60%
LAR vs. LAC	40%
WAS vs. BAL	59%
ATL vs. MIA	65%
HOU vs. CAR	45%
TB vs. JAX	58%
NYG vs. NYJ	60%
CIN vs. PHI	56%
ARI vs. GB	55%
SEA vs. KC	48%
NO vs. DAL	58%
MIN vs. DEN	71%
DET vs. IND	63%
CHI vs. TEN	57%

Lines courtesy of Kalshi as of 8-27.

Expert Week 3 preseason NFL moneyline picks

Steelers vs Bills: Bills (58%)

Buffalo Bills' Kyle Allen will likely get significant run in the final week of the preseason after he went 10 of 12 for 128 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Will Howard and Drew Allar will go for the Pittsburgh Steelers; those two totaled 144 yards with two interceptions and four sacks against the New York Jets. I'm placing my money on the vet.

• It was all Shane Buechele in this one, as Allen - despite reports saying the contrary - sealed up QB2 duties last week. Regardless, the pick was sound, as he outplayed Howard and Allar. His two-point conversion was the cherry on top.

Grade: B

Patriots vs Browns: Patriots (57%)

Neither Deshaun Watson nor Shedeur Sanders will play in this game, leaving me to side with Tommy DeVito, who's thrown for 289 yards and two touchdowns across two weeks of the preseason. Easy money here.

49ers vs Raiders: Raiders (60%)

Chalk me up as one of the guys who got killed by Aidan O'Connell's final drive against the Houston Texans a week ago — I won't make that mistake again, especially when the San Francisco 49ers will likely remain cautious with their starters before the season.

Rams vs Chargers: Rams (40%)

Stetson Bennett IV has the inside track on Ty Simpson to win the QB2 battle, but both will get their final chance to make a name for themselves in Week 3. On the other side, don't expect many starters to play for the Los Angeles Chargers, and I'll take the Los Angeles Rams' depth every time. 

Commanders vs Ravens: Ravens (59%)

Dan Quinn said Jayden Daniels will get his reps during joint practices, leaving me to believe he won't be seeing the field in Week 3. With Lamar Jackson sidelined before the regular season, Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano will be getting the reps, and I trust them more than Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis.

Falcons vs Dolphins: Falcons (65%)

Kevin Stefanski said Atlanta Falcons starters will be seeing some reps as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. However, Tua Tagovailoa will be behind center in the first quarter. Jeff Hafley confirmed Quinn Ewers will get a ton of work, but the lack of depth for the Miami Dolphins is concerning, so we'll ride with the Falcons.

Texans vs Panthers: Panthers (45%)

Kenny Pickett was 15 of 25 last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and will likely get the most run with Bryce Young and Haynes King sidelined before the regular season. C.J. Stroud will play a series but leave most of the work to Davis Mills, who couldn't move the ball whatsoever a week ago. I'll throw my belief in Pickett to give us a cushion.

Buccaneers vs Jaguars: Buccaneers (58%)

We won't be seeing Baker Mayfield in this one; it feels like Jake Browning might be playing for his job against Jalon Daniels, who was getting snaps ahead of Browning in Tuesday's joint practice. That competition should bear fruit this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars' backups.

Giants vs Jets: Giants (60%)

John Harbaugh didn't say whether or not Jaxson Dart will play, but in Jameis Winston we trust, nonetheless. The three-quarterback rotation for the New York Jets didn't do much of anything behind Geno Smith last week, so I'll give the New York Giants the benefit of the doubt here.

Bengals vs Eagles: Eagles (56%)

I'm in the business of fading Josh Johnson as well as the Cincinnati Bengals' bench (Zac Taylor confirmed starters won't play), and will do so this week against Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cardinals vs Packers: Cardinals (55%)

With the Green Bay Packers likely sitting their starters here, I'm relying on Gardner Minshew for the Arizona Cardinals, who's been throwing the ball pretty damn well in the preseason. He's thrown just six incomplete passes on 39 attempts alongside two touchdowns and a pick. We'll ride with him against the Packers' bench.

Seahawks vs Chiefs: Seahawks (48%)

With Patrick Mahomes unlikely to play and the combo of Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe throwing virtually every pass for the Seahawks in the preseason, I'm all over Seattle in this spot. Lock has been solid over two weeks, too, completing 21 of 27 passes for 134 yards. Don't overthink this one.

Saints vs Cowboys: Cowboys (58%)

If it ain't broke, don't fix it - the Cowboys have been a cash cow for us in the preseason with Joe Milton at the helm. With him looking to lock up QB2 duties, I'm sticking with Dallas.

Vikings vs Broncos: Broncos (71%)

It'll be Sam Ehlinger vs. Jarrett Stidham in a QB2 battle in Week 3, which usually bodes well for our wallet. I'll fade J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings as a result.

Lions vs Colts: Lions (37%)

We won't see many starters for the Detroit Lions or Indianapolis Colts in Week 3; it'll be Josh Dobbs against Anthony Richardson Sr. After the latter did next to nothing against the Falcons last week, I'll lean on Dobbs and Co. to get the job done.

Bears vs Titans: Titans (57%)

Head coach Robert Saleh has trotted Cam Ward out there each week so far in the preseason, and we'll likely see him one more time against the Chicago Bears. With serviceable quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Will Levis waiting in the wings, I'll take that depth one more time.

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The Rams and Chargers wrap up their respective preseasons at SoFi Stadium tonight, with the Chargers sitting as 59% favorites at Kalshi.

Rams coach Sean McVay never plays his starters in preseason, and that won’t change here. The Chargers starters, meanwhile, will see six to nine plays.  

My Rams vs. Chargers predictions and NFL picks believe a drive and change with the regulars isn’t going to be enough to tilt things the Chargers' way on August 27, so look the Rams' offense to lead the way to a win and an Over.

Rams vs Chargers prediction

Pick	Probability
Rams moneyline	41%
Over 37.5	52%

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps.

Who will win Rams vs Chargers: Rams

Kalshi probability: 41%

Prediction markets seem to be putting a great deal of weight on the news about the starters playing for the Chargers.

This will be the first time their entire offensive line has played together this preseason. That probably isn’t enough to change what we’ve seen on the field through the first two exhibition games, however.  

The Los Angeles Rams have posted the highest point differential through two games, +42, without a single starter seeing the field this preseason. Only the Bills have scored more than their 54 points on offense, and only the Ravens have allowed fewer than their 12. 

The Los Angeles Chargers have been outscored through two preseason games, including a 41-17 beatdown at the hands of the 49ers. 

 TOP PICK
Rams vs Chargers Over/Under pick: Over 37.5

Kalshi probability: 52%

Neither team has had trouble scoring.

Rams rookie Ty Simpson will likely get the start and go most of the way. The first-round draft pick appears to have lost the backup job to veteran Stetson Bennett, and McVay has hinted that Bennett may not play at all. 

That’s no problem for the Rams offense, as Simpson has had the better passer rating in both games so far. He had two touchdowns and 190 yards on 21 of 25 passing in the first game, and was 8 of 12 for 73 in the second. 

The Chargers have gotten 476 passing yards and 44 points from the quarterback tandem of DJ Uiagalelei and Trey Lance.

That, coupled with a defense that's allowed 48 points in two games, should help this game reach the Over.  

Rams vs Chargers live odds

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Dome.

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The Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers meet in their shared home Thursday night in the final preseason game for both teams.

Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers will serve as the home team against coach Sean McVay and the Rams.

The Chargers are looking to bounce back from a 41-17 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 20.

The Rams enter the final preseason game with momentum, having beaten the New Orleans Saints 34-0 on Aug. 22.

USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live coverage with updates, highlights and analysis for Thursday's preseason finale between the Rams and Chargers.

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When the Dolphins released All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill this past February following a catastrophic knee injury, the NFL world assumed a long, quiet rehabilitation.

Instead, Hill has turned his free agency into a public spectacle. From cryptic social media posts at Hard Rock Stadium to highly publicized meet-and-greets in Missouri, the rumors are flying.

Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: Top Contenders

“Tyreek Hill's Next Team” prediction markets are reacting to every single hint, creating a wildly volatile trading environment.

This market isn’t simply pricing in medical clearance; it’s pricing in narrative momentum, quarterback fits, and active player recruitment.

Right now, traders at Kalshi are trying to separate legitimate front-office smoke from pure online hype.

Key Takeaways

• The Favorite: Retirement/stays with Miami was the favorite at 30 cents two weeks ago, but it has since dipped. to 26 cents. Hill back to the Chiefs is again the favorite.
• The Momentum: Hill back to the Chiefs surged from 10 cents to 35 cents over the past two weeks, likely because of encouraging workout videos that Hill posted on social media.
• Retirement A Growing Option: 'Staying with Miami or retiring' is a serious option as Hill said in July that he has "no power" in his injured left leg.

Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: Where The Smart Money Is Moving

Prediction markets aren’t just about picking the eventual winner. The sharpest traders find value where the public has overreacted or underpriced a highly probable outcome.

Kansas City | “Yes” 35¢ | 29% Chance

Value is about catching the pendulum when it swings too far.

The public saw Hill in Missouri and aggressively bought KC up to near 50%. Patrick Mahomes needs a proven deep threat, and Hill clearly wants a reunion.

This was bad value at 43 cents but has since reset down to 35¢: this is a market to watch very closely and consider trading into.

Stays with Miami or Retires | “Yes” 26¢ | 26% Chance

"Stays with Miami or retires" is priced at 26% for 'Yes' right now, but this may grow and grow over time with unfortunate news shared by Adam Schefter on Hill's progress in his return from injury:

Free-agent WR Tyreek Hill said he still has “no power” in the left leg he injured in week 4 last season against the New York Jets.https://t.co/HpHqc56lsP

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 23, 2026

One thing to bear in mind with this market is the closing date: if Hill doesn't have full mobility yet and must complete his rehab before returning to the field...could he miss the closing date for this market of December 31, 2026?

It's looking more and more unlikely we'll see the Cheetah on the field in 2026.

BUY: Baltimore | “Yes” 2¢ | 1% Chance

If you want a logical scheme-fit sleeper, Baltimore at 1% is a prime value play.

The Ravens are consistently discussed as the perfect spot for a speed-dependent receiver alongside Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers.

Buying in at 2¢ gives you leverage if real contract talks leak.

Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: What’s Driving the Volatility?

The Kalshi board for Tyreek Hill's next team is a masterclass in narrative whiplash.

In June: “Stays with Miami or Retires,” was sitting at 29%. While the Dolphins return chatter was basically nonexistent, the retirement angle is starting to gather pace with reports coming out about his rehab from serious injury proving much slower than expected.

Vegas' Rise and Fall

The most compelling story is Las Vegas. The Raiders exploded from the basement to a 25% implied probability in June, jumping 23¢ almost overnight.

What changed?

Defensive superstar Maxx Crosby. He has used his platform to pitch Vegas as a premier landing spot, and prediction markets always respect a star-driven recruitment drive.

It was a fleeting moment on the Kalshi board, though, as all has been quiet on the Vegas front. Vegas is now at just 6 cents.

Expert Context: Why the Markets are Shifting

The defining gravitational force is medical clearance. Tyreek Hill suffered a devastating dislocated knee with torn ligaments, including the ACL, last season. This isn’t a standard free-agency negotiation; it’s a tense waiting game.

General managers are holding out for medical green lights, which creates a vacuum of hard news. In prediction markets, when there’s no hard news, social media fills the void.

That’s why a Snapchat post can spike the Miami price, or why Maxx Crosby’s online commentary can launch the Raiders up 23¢.

Right now, traders are betting on where Hill wants to go, not necessarily where the medicals and contracts align.

Eventually, an aging speedster coming off a catastrophic injury signs where guaranteed money and contender status meet—often leaving fan-driven rumors behind.

Strategic Considerations for Traders

• Watch the medical cycle: This market stays speculative until Hill passes a physical. Track concrete rehab timeline reports before taking heavy positions.
• The flip strategy: You don’t have to hold until Hill signs. If you buy the Chiefs at 16¢ and a rumor spikes them to 40¢, you can sell “Yes” shares for a quick profit.
• Fade PR stunts: Hill is an elite showman who understands leverage. Don’t overreact to every video. Use hype spikes to buy “No” shares on temporarily overvalued teams.

How to Trade Tyreek Hill on Kalshi

Trading NFL futures on prediction markets like Kalshi is a different analytical experience than traditional sportsbooks.

• Account setup: Fund your Kalshi account via bank transfer or wire so you have capital ready for breaking news.
• Navigate: Go to Sports → Pro Football and locate the “Tyreek Hill's Next Team” market.
• Execute: Buy “Yes” shares on a team or buy “No” shares to fade the public narrative.
• Monitor: Markets are fluid. You can sell your position at any time before Hill signs.

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Week 3 of the preseason is treating Atlanta like a full-blown dress rehearsal, which is why we're riding them hard in our Falcons vs. Dolphins picks.

Atlanta rolls into Friday as 61% favorites at Kalshi over Miami, and they should steamroll right through the -3.5 spread. Smash the Falcons, lock in the value, and cash the check before kickoff.

Let's dive into my NFL picks and build our bankroll before the regular season begins.

Falcons vs Dolphins prediction

For help understanding Kalshi probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Pick	Probability
Falcons -3.5	52%
Under 36.5	53%

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps.

 TOP PICK

Who will win Falcons vs Dolphins: Falcons -3.5

Kalshi probability: 52%

Kevin Stefanski said that the Atlanta Falcons starters will get their reps in Week 3 as a regular-season dress rehearsal, though Tua Tagovailoa is slated to play the first quarter against his old team.

Behind him, Cooper Rush and Jake Strand will see playing time. The duo combined for 298 yards after going 22 of 28 passing — they might see 300-plus in this matchup.

Meanwhile, Jeff Hafley confirmed Quinn Ewers will see heavy action, and the Miami Dolphins' lack of depth is a concern — making the Falcons the safer pick.

Falcons vs Dolphins Over/Under pick: Under 36.5  

Kalshi probability: 53%

The lack of depth on the Dolphins is alarming — as is its inability to move the ball through two weeks; there's a chance that unit doesn't find the end zone after putting up just 10 points through two games.

I see this being mostly one-sided, with Rush doing most of the damage for the Falcons.

The Under is 3-1 between these two teams as the preseason finale approaches, and we shouldn't have an issue seeing a fourth hit.

Falcons vs Dolphins live odds

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Falcons vs Dolphins weather

It'll be a perfect night for football in Miami, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures reaching 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The weather should have no impact before or during the game. 

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Reserves will be in the spotlight in the preseason finale.

Don't expect to recognize the names as the Patriots meet the Browns in both teams' preseason finale. The Browns just ended their quarterback competition, picking Deshaun Watson to start over Shedeur Sanders. Neither will see the field in the game, however, as both teams are opting out of playing starters.

With much of the playing time relegated to players that face cuts in three days, individual props are scarce. There's plenty of team-related prop action, however.

Here are my Patriots vs Browns props for both teams, along with more of our NFL picks and Patriots vs Browns predictions. 

Patriots vs Browns prop picks

Pick	Probability
Patriots to win first quarter by over 2.5 points	63%
Patriots to win fourth quarter by 6.5 points	46%

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps.

Patriots to win first quarter by over 2.5 points (63%)

Not playing starters probably hurts the Cleveland Browns more than the New England Patriots. Cleveland has outscored opponents 14-7 in the first quarters of its first two preseason games. They've been outscored 58-3 the rest of the way. Meanwhile, New England has had a 3-0 edge in the opening periods of its two games.

With the only Browns that have been able to move the ball or stop opponents wearing street clothes, look for the Patriots to jump on a Browns team that has not been able to run the ball in the preseason with reserve quarterbacks and running backs looking to win roster spots.

Patriots to win fourth quarter by 6.5 points (46%)

The difference in depth between the two teams should become more pronounced as the game goes on. Cleveland plans to play two quarterbacks. The Browns will start Dillon Gabriel, who started several games for Cleveland last season. Then they'll turn to Taylen Green, a sixth-round draft pick as a run-first quarterback. Green has not played in the preseason and had originally been tabbed as a likely position switch candidate in the NFL. Now, in the final 15 minutes of his first NFL training camp, he'll finally get the ball. It's a recipe for disaster.

Meanwhile, Behren Morton, who has been a standout for the Patriots, will likely be throwing passes in the fourth quarter for New England. He led the game-winning drive against the Eagles and also filled in when the punter got hurt, booting a 43-yarder.

Patriots at Browns weather

The weather in Cleveland will be in the low 70s for the night game. There's a chance of thunderstorms with winds gusting to 20 mph.

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The Los Angeles Rams are adding a familiar face to the fold ahead of the 2026 NFL season as they look to emerge as a top Super Bowl 61 contender.

The Rams are acquiring veteran receiver Tutu Atwell from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for running back Jarquez Hunter.

Atwell, 26, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Rams after being selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The 5-9, 165-pound wide-out served as a situational speed threat for Los Angeles and generated 105 catches for 1,535 yards and five touchdowns across 64 games (27 starts) with the franchise.

Atwell signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Dolphins in 2026 free agency after his most recent deal with the Rams expired. Now, he will return to Los Angeles to provide Sean McVay experienced depth at the receiver position.

Here's everything to know about the Atwell trade and how he fits with the Rams.