Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/26/2018

Sunday, August 26, 2018

AT&T Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

AT&T Stadium is the venue for the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, August 26, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Dallas as 3 point favorites. The total has been set at 42.5. The Cowboys were 8-7-1 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 6-10-0. The Cardinals were 6-9-1 ATS and their over/under record was 6-10-0.

Valuable Arizona Cardinals Betting Trends

The Arizona Cardinals were 6-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Arizona Cardinals were 6-9-1 against the spread last year

Important Dallas Cowboys Betting Trends

The Dallas Cowboys were 6-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Dallas Cowboys were 8-7-1 against the spread last year

Key Arizona Cardinals Injuries

08/10/18 LB Gabe Martin Achilles IR
08/07/18 C A.Q. Shipley ACL IR
08/03/18 TE Jermaine Gresham Achilles is questionable Sunday vs Washington
08/03/18 LB Markus Golden Knee is questionable Sunday vs Washington

Key Dallas Cowboys Injuries

08/20/18 S Xavier Woods Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Carolina
08/19/18 G Zack Martin Knee is questionable Sunday vs Carolina
08/03/18 DT Maliek Collins Foot is questionable Sunday vs Carolina
06/15/18 DL David Irving Suspension 4- game suspension (elgible to return 10/7 vs Houston)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Arizona Cardinals ran for 1,386 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 30th in the league. They ran 409 times, averaging 3.4 yards per rush as a unit. The Cardinals were penalized on offense 110 times for 880 yards last season, which had them 14th in the NFL in penalties. They were 25th in the National Football League in points scored with 295. They ran 1,059 plays last year for 5,026 yards, which ranked them 22nd in the NFL in total offense. The Cardinals averaged 4.7 yards per play, which was 30th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 310 1st downs last season, ranking them 17th overall as an offensive unit. Sam Bradford completed 32 throws while attempting 43 passes for a completion percentage of 74.4% last year. He passed for 382 yards. He averaged 11.9 yards per completion and 8.9 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 124.4.

Defensive Statistics

The Cardinals rush defense gave up 406 attempts for 1,434 yards last season, putting them in 6th place in the NFL against the run. They had 129 penalties for 1128 yards on defense last year. That placed them 32nd in the league. They allowed a score on 31.5% of possessions on defense, which was 9th in the NFL. Arizona was 19th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 361. They gave up a total of 4,975 yards on D, which was 6th in the league. The Cardinals were 5th in yards per play allowed with 4.9. Their pass defense allowed 5.9 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 14th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 343 throws on 564 attempts against the Arizona Cardinals defense last season, ranking them 18th and 25th in the league. The Arizona pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,541 yards in the air, which was 14th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Arizona Cardinals tried 40 field goals last season and made 32, which was 10th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 80.0%. Arizona Cardinals kickers made 89% of their extra points, going 23 for 26 last season. Their punters accumulated 4,159 yards on 88 punts, averaging 47.3 yards per punt. That ranked them 6th in the NFL in punting average. Arizona was 4th in the NFL in punt returns with 41 last year. They totaled 288 punt return yards and averaged 7 yards per return, which was 22nd in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 20 yards. They returned 29 kicks for 592 yards on special teams, placing them 24th in kick return yardage. The Cardinals averaged 20.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 55 yards last season. They were 24th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,245.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Dallas Cowboys were 14th in the NFL in points scored with 354 last season. They ran 1,005 plays last year for 5,311 yards, which ranked them 14th in the league in total offense. The Cowboys averaged 5.3 yards per play, which was 14th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 314 1st downs last year, placing them 13th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Dallas ran for 2,170 yards as a team, which ranked 2nd in the NFL. They ran 480 times last year, averaging 4.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Cowboys were penalized on offense 97 times for 939 yards last season, which had them 24th in the league in penalties. Dak Prescott threw for 3,324 yards last season. He completed 308 passes on 490 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.9%. His quarterback rating last year was 86.6. He averaged 6.8 yards per pass attempt and 10.8 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Dallas was 13th in the league in points allowed on defense with 332 last year. They surrendered a total of 5,089 yards on D, which was 8th in the NFL. The Cowboys were ranked 11th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense gave up 5.7 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 7th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 371 passes on 559 attempts against the Dallas defense last season, placing them 31st and 22nd in the National Football League. The Dallas Cowboys pass defense also gave up a total of 3,425 yards through the air, which was 11th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 403 attempts for 1,664 yards last year, putting them in 8th place in the league against the run. The Cowboys committed 107 penalties for 880 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 12th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 31.6% of possessions on defense, which was 10th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Dallas was ranked 21st in the league in punt returns last season with 31. They accumulated 275 punt return yards and averaged 8.9 yards per return, which was 11th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 83 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 620 yards on special teams, ranking 20th in kick return yardage. The Cowboys averaged 24.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 61 yards last year. They were 18th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,391. The Dallas Cowboys attempted 29 field goals last season and made 22, which was 22nd in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 75.9%. Dallas kickers made 92% of their extra points, going 36 for 39 last year. Their punters totaled 2,908 yards on 66 punts, averaging 44.1 yards per punt. That placed them 24th in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Cardinals/Cowboys NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Cowboys -3

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