The final week of NFL preseason action gets underway on Thursday as football teams are making their final cuts. Brady Quinn, Rex Grossman, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler will all be in the spotlight as the regular season looms. Here's a look at a pair of key Thursday matchups. Cleveland at Chicago (-4)
This will be the final test for Brady Quinn as the Cleveland Browns head to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears, who have one of the best defenses in the league. The Browns' brass has been saying that the rookie quarterback is not going to open the season as a starter, but Quinn has made the decision more difficult with two sparkling performances against the Detroit Lions and the Denver Broncos. The Bears have been attempting to correct their own woes at the quarterback position, and Rex Grossman has looked like he has improved over last season. But the young quarterback is still having troubles with taking the snap cleanly from the center, which is something that must drive head coach Lovie Smith nuts. An important note about the Bears is that they have won all three of their preseason games by three points or less, and those types of wins are the kind that could send them to their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The total for this game is sitting at 37.
Arizona at Denver (-4.5) The Arizona Cardinals put on a show last week in their loss to San Diego, and face another AFC West team when they travel to Invesco Field to meet the Broncos. Although they are 0-3, the Cardinals have been part of some exciting games during this preseason, and the offense appears as though it could be ready to join the NFC's elite. Matt Leinart looks like he has been in the league for years, not just one season, and Anquan Boldin is perhaps the league's most underrated wide receiver. If their defense can manage to hold opponents to less than 20 points, the Cardinals are going to be competitive. The Broncos have lost two straight, but their fans shouldn't worry as Jay Cutler is coming into his own at quarterback. Travis Henry should have no problems in the Broncos' ground system, and rookie Selvin Ross has also looked impressive taking carries. Still, the focus of this game will be Leinart versus Cutler, as fans and experts alike are still looking back at last year's draft and wondering who will prove to have been the better selection. The total for this contest is listed at 39.5. NFL betting odds at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook
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