Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/31/2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

New Era Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Detroit Lions head to New Era Field to play the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, August 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Buffalo as 2.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 38. The Lions were 8-9-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 6-11-0. The Bills were 6-10-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 12-4-0.

Valuable 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

Important Buffalo Bills Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bills were 12-4-0 against the over/under last season

The Buffalo Bills were 6-10-0 against the spread last year

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)

Key Buffalo Bills Injuries

08/28/17 QB T.J. Yates Concussion "?" Sunday vs. NY Jets
08/28/17 T Seantrel Henderson Suspension 5-game suspension (eligible to return 10/22 vs. Tampa Bay)
08/28/17 WR Walter Powell Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/8 vs. Cincinnati)
08/27/17 QB Tyrod Taylor Concussion "?" Sunday vs. NY Jets
08/20/17 WR Anquan Boldin Retired out for season
08/14/17 WR Jordan Matthews Sternum "?" Sunday vs. NY Jets
07/30/17 S Colt Anderson Foot PUP

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Buffalo Bills ran for 2,630 yards as a team last year, which ranked 1st in the NFL. They ran 492 times, averaging 5.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Bills were penalized on offense 112 times for 960 yards last season, which had them 9th in the league in penalties. They were 10th in the NFL in points scored with 399. They ran 1,012 plays last season for 5,666 yards, which ranked them 16th in the league in total offense. The Bills averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 12th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 328 1st downs last year, placing them 16th overall as an offensive unit. Tyrod Taylor averaged 6.9 yards per pass attempt and 11.2 yards per completion last season. He completed 269 passes on 436 attempts for a completion percentage of 61.7%. His QBR last year was 68.2 while is quarterback rating was 89.7. He threw for 3,023 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Bills rush defense allowed 469 attempts for 2,130 yards last year, putting them in 29th place in the league against the run. Buffalo committed 106 penalties for 884 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 10th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 38.8% of possessions on defense, which was 22nd in the league. They were 16th in the league in points allowed on defense with 378. They surrendered a total of 5,712 yards on D, which was 19th in the NFL. The Bills were ranked 20th in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Their pass defense gave up 6.5 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 19th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 306 passes on 511 attempts against the Buffalo defense last season, placing them 1st and 1st in the National Football League. The Buffalo Bills pass defense also gave up a total of 3,582 yards through the air, which was 6th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Buffalo Bills attempted 25 field goals last season and made 19, which was 28th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 76.0%. Buffalo kickers made 89% of their extra points, going 40 for 45 last year. Their punters totaled 3,183 yards on 75 punts, averaging 28 yards per punt. That placed them 31st in the NFL in punting average. Buffalo was ranked 21st in the league in punt returns last season with 28. They accumulated 314 punt return yards and averaged 11.2 yards per return, which was 6th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 43 yards. They returned 39 kicks for 829 yards on special teams, ranking 10th in kick return yardage. The Bills averaged 21.3 yards per kick return and had a long of 45 yards last year. They were 9th in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,023.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Bills -2.5

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