Sunday Night NFL Preseason: San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys Betting Preview

San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, 8/21/11, 8:00 PM EST, TV: NBC
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -1
Current Betting Line: Dallas -1
Opening Total: 37.5
Current Total: 38
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Bengals Chargers NFL Preview — San Diego Chargers WR Vincent Jackson is one of many weapons QB Philip Rivers will be targeting Sunday night

San Diego will be out for revenge after dropping a 16-14 home game against the Dallas Cowboys during the Week 2 preseason of last year. The Chargers dropped that contest as 2.5-point home favorites despite out-gaining the Cowboys by a 294-194 margin. Head coach Norv Turner brought his team into the Dallas area early this week to participate in dual-team practics, as both teams found them useful. “You can’t beat this work especially from the young guys getting to see different offenses and defense,” commented Turner. “We came here with the mindset to get better and I think we got better.” San Diego is 22-16 ATS as preseason underdogs, including covering the number in three of the last four opportunities under Turner.

The Chargers offense is absolutely loaded against for the 2011 season and quarterback Philip Rivers has his three main targets healthy and available. Wide receivers Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson are vertical threats on the outside, while tight end Antonio Gates is as good as it gets in the middle. San Diego is likely to be able to control the game through the air with Dallas suffering through numerous injuries in the secondary. It’s important to note that the team attempted just 28 passes a week ago.

Dallas is preparing for its first full year under the direction of head coach Jason Garrett and opened up its exhibition season with a 24-23 home win over the Denver Broncos last week. Third-string quarterback Stephen McGee was the star of the show, completing 14-of-24 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns. “It’s always fun to win no matter how it comes,” commented McGee after the game. “For me, this is my regular season.” He will get more playing time after starting quarterback Tony Romo gets his work in, as he returned to action last week for the first time since suffering a broken collarbone in Week 6 of the 2010 campaign. Dallas is 2-3 ATS as a preseason favorite over the last two-plus years.

The Cowboys will likely not have the services of wide receiver Miles Austin, who has sat out multiple practices this week with a hamstring injury. Dallas’ offensive front has also been hampered by nagging problems that will likely cause Garrett to lessen the snaps taken by Romo in this contest. Defensively, the secondary will also be missing some key players, including veteran Terence Newman. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan wan not pleased with his unit allowing 357 yards of total offense last week.