Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/20/2017

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Heinz Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Atlanta Falcons head to Heinz Field to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, August 20, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh as 3 point favorites. The total has been set at 42. The Falcons were 12-6-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 15-2-1. The Steelers were 11-8-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 7-12-0.

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 Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 7-12-0 against the over/under last season

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 11-8-0 against the spread last year

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

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

07/30/17 WR Canaan Severin Undisclosed PUP
07/30/17 WR Martavis Bryant Suspension out indefinitely
07/30/17 WR Sammie Coates Knee PUP

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Atlanta Falcons were 1st in the National Football League in points scored with 540 last year. They ran 995 plays 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. On the ground Atlanta ran for 1,928 yards as a unit, 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 year, which had them 19th in the NFL in penalties. Matt Ryan passed for 4,944 yards last year. He completed 373 throws while attempting 534 passes for a completion percentage of 69.9%. His quarterback rating last season was 117.1 and his QBR was 83.3. He averaged 13.3 yards per completion and 9.3 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Atlanta was 27th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year 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 Falcons defense last season, ranking them 31st and 32nd in the league. The Atlanta pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,267 yards in the air, which was 28th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 370 attempts for 1,672 yards last season, putting them in 17th place in the NFL against the run. The Falcons 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.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers ran for 1,760 yards as a team last year, which ranked 14th in the NFL. They ran 409 times, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Steelers were penalized on offense 112 times for 1,068 yards last season, which had them 10th in the league in penalties. They were 11th in the NFL in points scored with 399. They ran 1,026 plays last season for 5,962 yards, which ranked them 7th in the league in total offense. The Steelers averaged 5.8 yards per play, which was 8th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 336 1st downs last year, placing them 12th overall as an offensive unit. Ben Roethlisberger averaged 7.5 yards per pass attempt and 11.6 yards per completion last season. He completed 328 passes on 509 attempts for a completion percentage of 64.4%. His QBR last year was 66.3 while is quarterback rating was 95.4. He threw for 3,819 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Steelers rush defense allowed 369 attempts for 1,600 yards last year, putting them in 13th place in the league against the run. Pittsburgh committed 109 penalties for 920 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 14th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 34.5% of possessions on defense, which was 12th in the league. They were 10th in the league in points allowed on defense with 327. They surrendered a total of 5,482 yards on D, which was 12th in the NFL. The Steelers were ranked 14th in yards per play allowed with 5.5. Their pass defense gave up 6.2 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 12th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 381 passes on 590 attempts against the Pittsburgh defense last season, placing them 26th and 23rd in the National Football League. The Pittsburgh Steelers pass defense also gave up a total of 3,882 yards through the air, which was 16th overall in total pass defense.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Steelers -3

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