Thursday Preseason Games Recap 8/13/2026
NFL Preseason Recap: Unders Dominate as Backup Quarterbacks Decide Thursday’s Slate
The NFL preseason returned in full force Thursday night, giving football fans—and bettors—their first six-game slate of the 2026 season.
While the final scores will not count once the regular season begins, these games offered valuable information about quarterback depth, coaching philosophy, roster battles and potential betting opportunities moving forward.
The biggest story for bettors was impossible to miss: scoring stayed low across the entire slate.
Thursday Night’s Final Scores
Cincinnati Bengals 16, Detroit Lions 14
Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Green Bay Packers 9
Indianapolis Colts 13, New England Patriots 13
Los Angeles Chargers 27, Houston Texans 7
Arizona Cardinals 27, Las Vegas Raiders 14
Tennessee Titans 19, San Francisco 49ers 13
All six games stayed under the widely available pregame totals listed for Thursday’s slate. The Cardinals and Raiders came the closest, finishing with 41 points against a listed total of 41.5. NFL results, pregame odds
That is the first major betting lesson from the night: early-preseason offense can be extremely difficult to trust.
Bengals Survive, but the Lions Cover
Cincinnati defeated Detroit 16–14 after Joe Burrow made a brief appearance and veteran Joe Flacco threw a touchdown pass in relief.
The Bengals were favored by approximately a touchdown before kickoff, but Detroit’s reserves refused to go away. Rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer led an 80-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter and added a two-point conversion to bring the Lions within two.
Cincinnati recovered the ensuing onside kick and escaped with the victory, but the Lions covered the spread comfortably. Altmyer finished with 130 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. ESPN game recap
Betting takeaway: Laying a large preseason spread is dangerous. Cincinnati had the early quarterback advantage, but once the starters left, the game became a battle between unfamiliar reserve units.
Steelers Crush the Packers Behind Drew Allar
Pittsburgh delivered the most impressive performance of the early games, beating Green Bay 28–9.
Rookie quarterback Drew Allar accounted for three touchdowns—two passing and one rushing—while throwing for 154 yards. Mason Rudolph was also sharp, completing 10 of 11 passes for 95 yards.
The Steelers entered the game as a small underdog at some sportsbooks, making Pittsburgh one of the strongest moneyline and spread results of the night.
However, the performance was not flawless. Pittsburgh accumulated 143 penalty yards, something that could become costly against a stronger or more experienced opponent.
Betting takeaway: Quarterback depth remains one of the most important preseason handicapping factors. Pittsburgh received competent production throughout its rotation, while Green Bay struggled to match it.
Patriots and Colts Finish in a Rare Tie
New England and Indianapolis finished in a 13–13 tie, producing one of the lowest-scoring results of the slate.
With Drake Maye resting, Tommy DeVito completed 13 of 22 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown for New England. The Patriots’ defense forced four turnovers, but kicker Andy Borregales missed three field-goal attempts from at least 49 yards. Patriots game analysis
Those missed opportunities prevented New England from turning a solid defensive performance into a victory.
Betting takeaway: Preseason kicking and special teams can create major variance. Unders may benefit from inexperienced offenses, but missed field goals and unconventional fourth-down decisions can be just as important.
Chargers Roll Over the Texans
Los Angeles defeated Houston 27–7 in one of Thursday’s biggest surprises.
Houston scored on its opening possession, but its offense struggled for the remainder of the game. The Texans crossed midfield only twice after that touchdown drive.
Chargers running back Amar Johnson scored twice, while Trey Lance threw for 164 yards. Los Angeles also benefited from turnovers and multiple defensive stops.
Houston quarterback Graham Mertz left the game after reinjuring his knee, forcing Davis Mills to return and play the entire second half. Houston Chronicle recap
Betting takeaway: Preseason quarterback plans can change instantly. An injury to a reserve quarterback can completely alter the second-half matchup, especially when a team must use a player longer than intended.
Cardinals Spoil Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders Debut
Arizona defeated Las Vegas 27–14 despite entering the game as an underdog.
The Raiders were receiving plenty of attention because of Fernando Mendoza’s professional debut, but Arizona’s experience from already playing in the Hall of Fame Game appeared to help its reserve units.
The Cardinals were playing their second preseason game, while Las Vegas was making its debut. That extra week of preparation and game-speed experience may have contributed to Arizona’s stronger performance.
Betting takeaway: Teams playing their second preseason game can hold an advantage over teams making their first appearance. It is not an automatic betting system, but it should be included in the handicap.
Titans Control the 49ers
Tennessee finished the night with a 19–13 victory over San Francisco.
Cam Ward led an early 95-yard touchdown drive, although he finished only 5 of 12 for 57 yards. Tennessee received encouraging production from its running backs, including Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and Julius Chestnut.
The Titans did not dominate statistically throughout the entire game, but they did enough to cover the spread and secure the win in Robert Saleh’s preseason coaching debut. Titans game recap
Betting takeaway: A productive rushing rotation is extremely valuable during the preseason. Teams capable of running effectively can shorten the game, protect inexperienced quarterbacks and maintain an advantage against deeper defensive rotations.
What Bettors Should Learn From Thursday Night
1. The unders were the story
Every game stayed under its listed total. The six matchups produced an average of just 33.3 total points.
One night does not guarantee that the trend will continue, but early-preseason games often include conservative play-calling, unfamiliar offensive lines and limited preparation.
2. Large favorites remain risky
Cincinnati won but failed to cover its large spread. Once starting quarterbacks and skill-position players leave, the talent difference between teams can change quickly.
3. Quarterback depth matters more than team power ratings
A team’s regular-season expectations are not nearly as important when its starters play only a few possessions. Evaluating the second, third and sometimes fourth quarterbacks is essential.
4. Coaching intentions matter
Some coaches prioritize evaluation. Others prioritize winning. Playing time, fourth-down decisions and two-point attempts can reveal a great deal about each team’s preseason approach.
5. Monitor injuries and late lineup reports
Mertz’s injury changed Houston’s quarterback rotation immediately. Preseason betting markets can shift dramatically when a team announces that a quarterback will sit, play an entire half or receive fewer snaps than expected.
Final Thoughts
Thursday night was a reminder that preseason football requires a completely different handicapping process.
The best NFL team is not always the best preseason bet. Depth charts, quarterback rotations, coaching plans and roster motivation often matter more than regular-season power ratings.
The cleanest result from the opening slate belonged to totals bettors: six games and six unders. We will continue tracking whether that trend carries into Friday and Saturday or whether sportsbooks quickly adjust their numbers.
MoonPicks98 will continue breaking down the preseason schedule, searching for the strongest data-backed opportunities and remaining selective with every official play.
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Bet responsibly. Preseason markets can be highly volatile, and no wager is guaranteed to win.
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