Blake Bortles threw very well in his start against the Bucs last week, finishing with a 99.4 QB rating. Whether that success continues remains to be seen, but Jag’s coach Gus Bradley is standing firm that Chad Henne will be the starter for the 2014 season. No doubt Jacksonville has high expectations for Bortles, but it’s likely we’ll see some regression here. Word out of camp is that Bortles’ footwork is slow and he has long way to go before becoming the starter. He’s also faced with having to learn from Chad Henne, who is far from a desired mentor.
The Bears looked good on the offensive side of the ball while beating the Eagles 34-28. Jay Cutler was strong, going 9 for 13 with 85 yards and a TD. Big things are expected from Cutler this year, and he appeared focused and seemed to have good chemistry with the first team. Backup QB Jimmy Clausen also looked sharp.
Both Marc Trestman and Gus Bradley have strong track records for hitting the “OVER” in their preseason games, so this one could turn into a shootout. I generally don’t like to lay more than 3 in a preseason contest, but given the talent disparity, especially with the 2nd and 3rd teamers, gives me enough confidence that the Bears will cover the number.