New England Patriots at Detroit Lions Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/25/2017

Friday, August 25, 2017

Ford Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Detroit Lions host the New England Patriots at Ford Field on Friday, August 25, 2017. The opening line for this game has New England as 1 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 45.5. The Lions had an over/under record of 6-11-0 and they were 8-9-0 against the spread last year. The Patriots had an ATS record of 15-3-0 while their over/under record was 8-10-0.

Valuable New England Patriots Betting Trends

The New England Patriots were 8-10-0 against the over/under last season

The New England Patriots were 15-3-0 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 New England Patriots Injuries

07/30/17 DL Alan Branch Undisclosed PUP
07/30/17 LB Dont'a Hightower Undisclosed PUP

Key Detroit Lions Injuries

08/18/17 DE Brandon Copeland Pectoral out for season
08/15/17 DE Kerry Hyder Achilles out for season
07/19/17 DE Armonty Bryant Suspension expected to miss weeks 1-4

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New England Patriots ran for 1,872 yards as a team last year, which ranked 7th in the NFL. They ran 482 times, averaging 3.9 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Patriots were penalized on offense 93 times for 819 yards last season, which had them 28th in the league in penalties. They were 3rd in the NFL in points scored with 441. They ran 1,056 plays last season for 6,180 yards, which ranked them 4th in the league in total offense. The Patriots averaged 5.9 yards per play, which was 5th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 351 1st downs last year, placing them 5th overall as an offensive unit. Tom Brady averaged 8.2 yards per pass attempt and 12.2 yards per completion last season. He completed 291 passes on 432 attempts for a completion percentage of 67.4%. His QBR last year was 83.0 while is quarterback rating was 112.2. He threw for 3,554 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Patriots rush defense allowed 368 attempts for 1,417 yards last year, putting them in 3rd place in the league against the run. New England committed 113 penalties for 930 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 17th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 26.8% of possessions on defense, which was 1st in the league. They were 1st in the league in points allowed on defense with 250. They surrendered a total of 5,223 yards on D, which was 8th in the NFL. The Patriots were ranked 8th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense gave up 6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 6th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 368 passes on 596 attempts against the New England Patriots defense last season, placing them 17th and 26th in the National Football League. The New England pass defense also gave up a total of 3,806 yards through the air, which was 12th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The New England Patriots attempted 32 field goals last season and made 27, which was 14th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 84.4%. New England Patriots kickers made 94% of their extra points, going 46 for 49 last year. Their punters totaled 3,218 yards on 72 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That placed them 22nd in the NFL in punting average. New England was ranked 2nd in the league in punt returns last season with 45. They accumulated 309 punt return yards and averaged 6.9 yards per return, which was 25th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 30 yards. They returned 29 kicks for 542 yards on special teams, ranking 25th in kick return yardage. The Patriots averaged 18.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 73 yards last year. They were 6th in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,179.

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 defense last season, ranking them 29th and 12th in the league. The Detroit Lions 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 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.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Patriots -1

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