Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/10/2017

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Ford Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Arizona Cardinals head to Ford Field to play the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 10, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Detroit as 3 point favorites. The total has been set at 49. The Cardinals were 6-10-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 10-6-0. The Lions were 8-9-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 6-11-0.

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 Detroit Lions Betting Trends

The Detroit Lions were 6-11-0 against the over/under last season

The Detroit Lions were 8-9-0 against the spread last year

Key Arizona Cardinals Injuries

08/25/17 DT Robert Nkemdiche Calf "?" Sunday vs. Detroit

Key Detroit Lions Injuries

08/28/17 DT Jordan Hill Bicep IR
08/28/17 TE Cole Wick Chest "?" Sunday vs. Arizona
08/28/17 TE Eric Ebron Hamstring "?" Sunday vs. Arizona
08/28/17 DE Ezekiel Ansah Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Arizona
08/28/17 LB Tahir Whitehead Knee "?" Sunday vs. Arizona
08/28/17 T Taylor Decker Shoulder out indefinitely
08/27/17 DT Khyri Thornton Suspension 6-game suspension (eligible to return 10/29 vs. Pittsburgh)
08/18/17 DE Brandon Copeland Pectoral IR
08/15/17 DE Kerry Hyder Achilles IR
07/19/17 DE Armonty Bryant Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/8 vs. Carolina)

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Detroit Lions ran for 1,310 yards as a team last year, which ranked 30th in the NFL. They ran 350 times, averaging 3.7 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Lions were penalized on offense 100 times for 861 yards last season, which had them 24th in the league in penalties. They were 20th in the NFL in points scored with 346. They ran 981 plays last season for 5,421 yards, which ranked them 21st in the league in total offense. The Lions averaged 5.5 yards per play, which was 17th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 329 1st downs last year, placing them 15th overall as an offensive unit. Matthew Stafford averaged 7.3 yards per pass attempt and 11.2 yards per completion last season. He completed 388 passes on 594 attempts for a completion percentage of 65.3%. His QBR last year was 70.5 while is quarterback rating was 93.3. He threw for 4,327 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Lions rush defense allowed 389 attempts for 1,701 yards last year, putting them in 18th place in the league against the run. Detroit committed 122 penalties for 979 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 25th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 39.4% of possessions on defense, which was 25th in the league. They were 13th in the league in points allowed on defense with 358. They surrendered a total of 5,676 yards on D, which was 18th in the NFL. The Lions were ranked 28th in yards per play allowed with 5.9. Their pass defense gave up 6.9 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 27th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 399 passes on 549 attempts against the Detroit defense last season, placing them 29th and 12th in the National Football League. The Detroit Lions pass defense also gave up a total of 3,975 yards through the air, which was 19th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Detroit Lions attempted 36 field goals last season and made 31, which was 8th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 86.1%. Detroit kickers made 94% of their extra points, going 31 for 33 last year. Their punters totaled 3,010 yards on 62 punts, averaging 20 yards per punt. That placed them 2nd in the NFL in punting average. Detroit was ranked 31st in the league in punt returns last season with 20. They accumulated 246 punt return yards and averaged 12.3 yards per return, which was 3rd in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 85 yards. They returned 35 kicks for 793 yards on special teams, ranking 14th in kick return yardage. The Lions averaged 22.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last year. They were 21st in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,676.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Lions -3

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