Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints Week 16 NFL Picks & Predictions 12/24/2017

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, December 24, 2017. The opening line for this game has New Orleans as 5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 52. The Saints have an over/under record of 8-6-0 and they are 8-6-0 against the spread. The Falcons have an ATS record of 6-8-0 while their over/under record is 5-9-0.

Valuable Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends

The Atlanta Falcons are 5-9-0 against the over/under

The Atlanta Falcons are 6-8-0 against the spread

Important New Orleans Saints Betting Trends

The New Orleans Saints are 8-6-0 against the over/under

The New Orleans Saints are 8-6-0 against the spread

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

12/18/17 G Andy Levitre Triceps is "?" Sunday vs New Orleans
12/18/17 RB Tevin Coleman Concussion is "?" Sunday vs New Orleans
10/31/17 LB Jordan Tripp Concussion IR
10/03/17 DE Jack Crawford Biceps IR

Key New Orleans Saints Injuries

12/17/17 LB A.J. Klein Ribs is "?" Sunday vs Atlanta
12/17/17 WR Ted Ginn Jr. Ribs is "?" Sunday vs Atlanta
12/17/17 DE Trey Hendrickson Ankle is "?" Sunday vs Atlanta
12/17/17 G Larry Warford Concussion left last game, is "?" Sunday vs Atlanta
12/17/17 TE Michael Hoomanawanui Concussion left last game, is "?" Sunday vs Atlanta
12/08/17 DT David Parry Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return for 2018 season)
12/02/17 TE Coby Fleener Concussion IR
11/20/17 DE Alex Okafor Achilles is out for season
11/13/17 RB Daniel Lasco Back IR
10/04/17 LB Alex Anzalone Arm IR
10/03/17 T Zach Strief Knee IR
09/24/17 DE Mitchell Loewen Ankle IR
09/08/17 LS Jon Dorenbos Illness out indefinitely
09/05/17 CB Delvin Breaux Fibula IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Atlanta Falcons have run for 1,720 yards as a team, which ranks 8th in the NFL. They've run 384 times, averaging 4.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Falcons have been penalized on offense 85 times for 767 yards so far this season, which has them 25th in the league in penalties. They are 15th in the NFL in points scored with 318. They have run 851 plays this season for 5,135 yards, which ranks them 9th in the league in total offense. The Falcons average 6 yards per play, which is 4th in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 295 1st downs this year, placing them 7th overall as an offensive unit. Matt Ryan averages 7.8 yards per pass attempt and 12 yards per completion. He has completed 292 passes on 448 attempts for a completion percentage of 65.2%. His quarterback rating is 92. He has thrown for 3,490 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Falcons rush defense has allowed 347 attempts for 1,492 yards this year, putting them in 9th place in the league against the run. Atlanta has committed 95 penalties for 815 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 17th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 37.1% of possessions on defense, which is 21st in the league. They are 9th in the league in points allowed on defense with 282. They have surrendered a total of 4,531 yards on D, which is 9th in the NFL. The Falcons are ranked 14th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense has given up 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 9th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 327 passes on 491 attempts against the Atlanta Falcons defense this season, placing them 28th and 23rd in the National Football League. The Atlanta pass defense has also given up a total of 3,039 yards through the air, which is 12th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Atlanta Falcons have attempted 32 field goals this season and made 27, which is 12th in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 84.4%. Atlanta Falcons kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 33 for 33 this year. Their punters have totaled 1,912 yards on 43 punts, averaging 44.5 yards per punt. That places them 21st in the NFL in punting average. Atlanta is ranked 30th in the league in punt returns with 20. They've accumulated 151 punt return yards and average 7.6 yards per return, which is 20th in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 27 yards. They have returned 37 kicks for 826 yards on special teams, ranking 4th in kick return yardage. The Falcons average 22.3 yards per kick return and have a long of 61 yards this year. They are 5th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,238.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New Orleans Saints are 3rd in the National Football League in points scored with 401. They have run 882 plays this year for 5,621 yards, which ranks them 1st in the NFL in total offense. The Saints average 6.4 yards per play, which is 1st in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 299 1st downs this season, ranking them 5th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground New Orleans has run for 1,892 yards as a unit, which ranks 5th in the league. They've run 387 times, averaging 4.9 yards per rush as a unit. The Saints have been penalized on offense 95 times for 899 yards so far this year, which has them 14th in the NFL in penalties. Drew Brees has passed for 3,850 yards this year. He's completed 343 throws while attempting 478 passes for a completion percentage of 71.8%. His quarterback rating this season is 104. He averages 11.2 yards per completion and 8.1 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

New Orleans is 10th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 282. They have given up a total of 4,598 yards on D, which is 11th in the league. The Saints are 19th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense has allowed 6 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 17th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 279 throws on 467 attempts against the New Orleans defense this season, ranking them 6th and 12th in the league. The Saints pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,988 yards in the air, which is 7th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 358 attempts for 1,610 yards this season, putting them in 18th place in the NFL against the run. The New Orleans Saints have had 96 penalties for 744 yards on defense this year. That places them 8th in the league. They've allowed a score on 33.8% of possessions on defense, which is 13th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

New Orleans is 16th in the NFL in punt returns with 29. They've totaled 182 punt return yards and are averaging 6.3 yards per return, which is 24th in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 24 yards. They have returned 29 kicks for 586 yards on special teams, placing them 15th in kick return yardage. The Saints average 20.2 yards per kick return and have a long of 39 yards this season. They are 4th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,510. The New Orleans Saints have tried 32 field goals this season and made 27, which is 13th in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 84.4%. New Orleans kickers have made 93% of their extra points, going 42 for 45 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,369 yards on 50 punts, averaging 47.4 yards per punt. That ranks them 6th in the NFL in punting average.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Falcons +5

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