Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/26/2017

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Arizona Cardinals travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday, August 26, 2017. The opening line for this game has Atlanta as 4 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 45. The Cardinals had an ATS record of 6-10-0 last season while their over/under record was 10-6-0. The Falcons had an over/under record of 15-2-1 and they were 12-6-0 against the spread.

Valuable Arizona Cardinals Betting Trends

The Arizona Cardinals were 10-6-0 against the over/under last season

The Arizona Cardinals were 6-10-0 against the spread last year

Important Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends

The Atlanta Falcons were 15-2-1 against the over/under last season

The Atlanta Falcons were 12-6-0 against the spread last year

Key Arizona Cardinals Injuries

07/22/17 LB Deone Bucannon Ankle PUP

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

08/06/17 CB Jalen Collins Suspension 10-game suspension (eligible to return 11/26 vs. Tampa Bay)
07/30/17 WR Devin Fuller ACL out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Arizona Cardinals were 6th in the NFL in points scored with 418 last season. They ran 1,086 plays last year for 5,868 yards, which ranked them 9th in the league in total offense. The Cardinals averaged 5.4 yards per play, which was 19th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 368 1st downs last year, placing them 3rd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Arizona ran for 1,732 yards as a team, which ranked 18th in the NFL. They ran 399 times last year, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Cardinals were penalized on offense 104 times for 889 yards last season, which had them 20th in the league in penalties. Carson Palmer threw for 4,233 yards last season. He completed 364 passes on 597 attempts for a completion percentage of 61.0%. His QBR last year was 58.9 while is quarterback rating was 87.2. He averaged 7.1 yards per pass attempt and 11.6 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Arizona was 14th in the league in points allowed on defense with 362 last year. They surrendered a total of 4,883 yards on D, which was 2nd in the NFL. The Cardinals were ranked 2nd in yards per play allowed with 4.8. Their pass defense gave up 5.7 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 3rd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 344 passes on 547 attempts against the Arizona Cardinals defense last season, placing them 10th and 9th in the National Football League. The Arizona pass defense also gave up a total of 3,365 yards through the air, which was 4th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 424 attempts for 1,518 yards last year, putting them in 9th place in the league against the run. The Cardinals committed 123 penalties for 1010 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 27th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 32.5% of possessions on defense, which was 9th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Arizona was ranked 9th in the league in punt returns last season with 38. They accumulated 230 punt return yards and averaged 6.1 yards per return, which was 30th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 32 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 544 yards on special teams, ranking 24th in kick return yardage. The Cardinals averaged 21.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 51 yards last year. They were 13th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,931. The Arizona Cardinals attempted 28 field goals last season and made 21, which was 27th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 75.0%. Arizona Cardinals kickers made 92% of their extra points, going 43 for 47 last year. Their punters totaled 3,269 yards on 80 punts, averaging 38 yards per punt. That placed them 32nd in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Atlanta Falcons ran for 1,928 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 5th in the league. They ran 421 times, averaging 4.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Falcons were penalized on offense 104 times for 848 yards last season, which had them 19th in the NFL in penalties. They were 1st in the National Football League in points scored with 540. They ran 995 plays last year for 6,653 yards, which ranked them 2nd in the NFL in total offense. The Falcons averaged 6.7 yards per play, which was 1st in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 379 1st downs last season, ranking them 2nd overall as an offensive unit. Matt Ryan completed 373 throws while attempting 534 passes for a completion percentage of 69.9% last year. He passed for 4,944 yards. He averaged 13.3 yards per completion and 9.3 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 117.1 and his QBR was 83.3.

Defensive Statistics

The Falcons rush defense gave up 370 attempts for 1,672 yards last season, putting them in 17th place in the NFL against the run. They had 113 penalties for 974 yards on defense last year. That placed them 24th in the league. They allowed a score on 39.2% of possessions on defense, which was 23rd in the NFL. Atlanta was 27th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 406. They gave up a total of 5,939 yards on D, which was 25th in the league. The Falcons were 22nd in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Their pass defense allowed 6.2 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 14th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 422 throws on 655 attempts against the Atlanta defense last season, ranking them 31st and 32nd in the league. The Atlanta Falcons pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,267 yards in the air, which was 28th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Atlanta Falcons tried 37 field goals last season and made 34, which was 5th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 91.9%. Atlanta kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 56 for 57 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,244 yards on 48 punts, averaging 24 yards per punt. That ranked them 7th in the NFL in punting average. Atlanta was 26th in the NFL in punt returns with 24 last year. They totaled 273 punt return yards and averaged 11.4 yards per return, which was 5th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 73 yards. They returned 23 kicks for 484 yards on special teams, placing them 29th in kick return yardage. The Falcons averaged 21 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last season. They were 2nd in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,645.

Who will win tonight's Cardinals/Falcons NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Cardinals +4

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn