Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/10/2017

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Soldier Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Chicago Bears host the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field on Sunday, September 10, 2017. The opening line for this game has Atlanta as 6 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 51. The Bears had an over/under record of 8-8-0 and they were 7-9-0 against the spread last year. The Falcons had an ATS record of 12-6-0 while their over/under record was 15-2-1.

Valuable 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

Important Chicago Bears Betting Trends

The Chicago Bears were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The Chicago Bears were 7-9-0 against the spread last year

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

08/28/17 RB Devonta Freeman Concussion probable Sunday vs. Chicago
08/28/17 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

Key Chicago Bears Injuries

08/28/17 LS Patrick Scales Knee out indefinitely
08/28/17 LB Pernell McPhee Knee "?" Sunday vs. Atlanta
08/27/17 WR Cameron Meredith Knee out indefinitely
08/25/17 RB Ka'Deem Carey Wrist expected to miss 6-8 weeks
08/12/17 C Eric Kush Hamstring IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Chicago Bears were 29th in the National Football League in points scored with 279 last year. They ran 967 plays for 5,704 yards, which ranked them 15th in the NFL in total offense. The Bears averaged 5.9 yards per play, which was 6th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 324 1st downs last season, ranking them 17th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Chicago ran for 1,735 yards as a unit, which ranked 17th in the league. They ran 380 times, averaging 4.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Bears were penalized on offense 110 times for 967 yards last year, which had them 13th in the NFL in penalties. Mike Glennon passed for 75 yards last year. He completed 10 throws while attempting 11 passes for a completion percentage of 90.9%. His quarterback rating last season was 125.4 and his QBR was 96.9. He averaged 7.5 yards per completion and 6.8 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Chicago was 24th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 399. They gave up a total of 5,548 yards on D, which was 15th in the league. The Bears were 18th in yards per play allowed with 5.5. Their pass defense allowed 6.3 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 17th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 342 throws on 530 attempts against the Chicago defense last season, ranking them 9th and 4th in the league. The Chicago Bears pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,598 yards in the air, which was 7th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 445 attempts for 1,950 yards last season, putting them in 27th place in the NFL against the run. The Bears had 103 penalties for 959 yards on defense last year. That placed them 22nd in the league. They allowed a score on 42% of possessions on defense, which was 31st in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Chicago was 24th in the NFL in punt returns with 27 last year. They totaled 215 punt return yards and averaged 8 yards per return, which was 19th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 65 yards. They returned 42 kicks for 897 yards on special teams, placing them 7th in kick return yardage. The Bears averaged 21.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 64 yards last season. They were 11th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,986. The Chicago Bears tried 23 field goals last season and made 18, which was 30th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 78.3%. Chicago kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 31 for 32 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,995 yards on 68 punts, averaging 27 yards per punt. That ranked them 25th in the NFL in punting average.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Falcons -6

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