2022 NFL Preseason Week 3 Odds, Overview & Picks
The final week of the NFL preseason is upon us and there are still many jobs to be one with none more important than at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers between Mitchell Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett.
Top 2022 NFL Preseason Week 3 Matchups and Expert Picks
Last week of preseason. ????
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2022
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Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys
- When: Friday, August 26th, 2022. 8:00pm EST.
- Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
- NFL Odds: Seahawks (-3) // Cowboys (+3)
Seattle coach Pete Carroll hasn’t named his regular-season starting quarterback yet between Drew Lock, acquired in the Russell Wilson trade, and last year’s backup Geno Smith. There should be clarity after this game. Smith and Lock both played pretty well in the preseason opener. They were to split time in the second game, but Lock had to miss it due to COVID.
Geno Smith completed 10-of-18 passes for 112 yards and no touchdowns against the Bears. Smith received mixed reviews as he and the Seahawks went into halftime down 17-0. He saw three of his passes dropped on the night, including a beautifully thrown ball to Freddie Swain that resulted in a punt on the following play. His biggest play of the night came on a 41-yard pass to wide receiver Penny Hart down the left sideline, but Smith and Seattle had an underwhelming half.
In four total games last regular season, Smith threw for 702 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He also had one rushing touchdown. Decent numbers given the circumstances, but the team also went 1-3 in that stretch.
Lock is feeling better and might start against Dallas. Lock practiced Sunday for the first time since testing positive, and while maybe not as crisp as he was before, was able to make a positive impression on Carroll. Asked if things had changed over the last week, Carroll was short.
“The plan has been adjusted,” Carroll said. “I’ll talk to you more about it later in the week or I won’t. I’m not sure.”
None of the Cowboys’ key players has taken the field yet this preseason. One would think the coaching staff would prefer to get them a series or two with a two-week break for the opener. Elliott, though, has said he’d prefer not to play.
The backup job to Prescott is still ongoing behind incumbent No. 2 Cooper Rush and new addition Will Grier. Grier was absent from the preseason opener against the Broncos due to a groin injury but his preseason debut for Dallas against the Chargers in Week 2 served as a reminder of what he’s building in training camp.
The 27-year-old entered the game once Rush’s evening was complete and immediately got to work – finding rookie tight end Jake Ferguson for a first down and going on to finish with six completions on 10 attempts for 98 passing yards, no interceptions, a passer rating of 92.9 and nine rushing yards. Grier spent his first two seasons with Carolina.
“I’ll tell you man, what a gritty performance,” said head coach Mike McCarthy following the victory. “I thought he did great. Just a gritty performance. It was good to see him in command and running the offense. It was his first real opportunity in this offense, and I thought he did a really nice job.”
2022 NFL Preaseson Week 3 Pick: Seahawks
Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- When: Sunday, August 28th, 2022. 4:30pm EST.
- Where: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
- NFL Odds: Lions (+4) // Steelers (-4)
Perhaps it’s fitting this is the final preseason game of 2022 because it’s probably the most important. Free-agent addition Mitchell Trubisky has been the frontrunner to be the Steelers’ Week 1 starting QB since he was signed as a free agent in March. But rookie Kenny Pickett has made a late charge by playing incredibly well.
Trubisky started in each of Pittsburgh’s first two preseason games. He went a combined 9 of 15 for 123 yards with one touchdown while being sacked one time. He hasn’t yet turned the ball over and has 14 rushing yards on two scrambles; he also showed off his mobility on his lone touchdown pass to Gunner Olszewski. The one qualm with Trubisky is that he has only led the Steelers to that one score in five preseason drives.
The 20th overall pick in this year’s draft, Pickett went 19 of 22 for 171 yards with three touchdowns while being sacked three times in his first two preseason games. What has stood out about Pickett thus far is his ball placement and accuracy. He has routinely made the right read and found his receivers in stride. Pickett has climbed the Steelers’ depth chart from No. 3 overall to No. 2.
Coach Mike Tomlin has stressed that this week will be “significant” in determining who will start at quarterback in the regular season.
“A lot of spots are going to come down to this work,” Tomlin said of Pittsburgh’s preseason finale. “This work is weighted differently, and appropriately so. The in-stadium work is significant, and increasingly so with the more stadium exposure you get. So make no mistake, this is a significant game for a lot of people.”
Trubisky continues to take most of the first-team reps in practice. Furthermore, the Steelers’ offensive line is still a work in progress, which likely leads to Pittsburgh going with the veteran over the rookie early on. According to Pro Football Focus, the Steelers have ranked among the bottom in pass protection during the preseason, posting a 51.8 grade and ranking 28th among all teams.
2022 NFL Preaseson Week 3 Pick: Steelers
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