NFL Preseason Betting: No Michael Vick but Falcons Win
Warrick Dunn and the Falcons are going to have to get used to life without No. 7. (AI Wire photo)
On the day their best player pleaded guilty to felony charges that will likely land him in jail, the Atlanta Falcons started to look to the future. What they saw wasn’t awful and in some ways pleasantly surprising.
Joey Harrington, thrust into the starter’s job because of Michael Vick’s legal troubles related to illegal dogfighting, quarterbacked Atlanta to a 24-19 win over the visiting Cincinnati Bengals in the lone NFL preseason game on Monday night.
Harrington was 13-for-21 for 162 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t throw an interception and played into the third quarter in the Falcons’ first home game of the preseason. The Falcons beat the point spread, which favored the Bengals by a field goal, and the betting total went over 38.
Harrington will be under the spotlight as he takes over for one of the game’s most exciting players. He got familiar with his receivers on Monday, but veteran running back Warrick Dunn saw limited action and tight end Alge Crumpler, Vick’s favorite target, only caught two passes for 15 yards.
On the other side of the field, the Bengals fell to 0-3 in the preseason and their defense, which was the league’s worst last year, failed to show much improvement. Carson Palmer was sharp as usual, going 15-for-22 for 136 yards, two touchdowns and no picks.
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