Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/25/2018

Saturday, August 25, 2018

TIAA Bank Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

TIAA Bank Field is the venue for the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, August 25, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Jacksonville as 1 point favorites. The total has been set at 42. The Jaguars were 11-8-0 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 9-10-0. The Falcons were 8-10-0 ATS and their over/under record was 5-13-0.

Valuable Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends

The Atlanta Falcons were 5-13-0 against the over/under last season

The Atlanta Falcons were 8-10-0 against the spread last year

Important Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Trends

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 9-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 11-8-0 against the spread last year

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Jacksonville Jaguars Injuries

07/25/18 TE David Grinnage Knee is out indefinitely
07/20/18 DE Dante Fowler Jr. Suspension 1 game suspension (eligible to return 9/16 vs New England)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Atlanta Falcons ran for 1,847 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 13th in the league. They ran 430 times, averaging 4.3 yards per rush as a unit. The Falcons were penalized on offense 102 times for 918 yards last season, which had them 20th in the NFL in penalties. They were 15th in the National Football League in points scored with 353. They ran 984 plays last year for 5,837 yards, which ranked them 8th in the NFL in total offense. The Falcons averaged 5.9 yards per play, which was 5th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 330 1st downs last season, ranking them 9th overall as an offensive unit. Matt Ryan completed 342 throws while attempting 529 passes for a completion percentage of 64.7% last year. He passed for 4,095 yards. He averaged 12 yards per completion and 7.7 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 91.4.

Defensive Statistics

The Falcons rush defense gave up 402 attempts for 1,665 yards last season, putting them in 9th place in the NFL against the run. They had 103 penalties for 880 yards on defense last year. That placed them 13th in the league. They allowed a score on 36% of possessions on defense, which was 21st in the NFL. Atlanta was 8th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 315. They gave up a total of 5,094 yards on D, which was 9th in the league. The Falcons were 13th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense allowed 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 10th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 362 throws on 553 attempts against the Atlanta Falcons defense last season, ranking them 25th and 16th in the league. The Atlanta pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,429 yards in the air, which was 12th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Atlanta Falcons tried 39 field goals last season and made 34, which was 8th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 87.2%. Atlanta Falcons kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 35 for 35 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,379 yards on 53 punts, averaging 44.9 yards per punt. That ranked them 16th in the NFL in punting average. Atlanta was 30th in the NFL in punt returns with 27 last year. They totaled 198 punt return yards and averaged 7.3 yards per return, which was 21st in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 27 yards. They returned 39 kicks for 871 yards on special teams, placing them 6th in kick return yardage. The Falcons averaged 22.3 yards per kick return and had a long of 61 yards last season. They were 5th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,062.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 5th in the NFL in points scored with 417 last season. They ran 1,078 plays last year for 5,855 yards, which ranked them 6th in the league in total offense. The Jaguars averaged 5.4 yards per play, which was 11th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 332 1st downs last year, placing them 7th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Jacksonville ran for 2,262 yards as a team, which ranked 1st in the NFL. They ran 527 times last year, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Jaguars were penalized on offense 112 times for 936 yards last season, which had them 11th in the league in penalties. Blake Bortles threw for 3,687 yards last season. He completed 315 passes on 523 attempts for a completion percentage of 60.2%. His quarterback rating last year was 84.7. He averaged 7 yards per pass attempt and 11.7 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Jacksonville was 2nd in the league in points allowed on defense with 268 last year. They surrendered a total of 4,578 yards on D, which was 2nd in the NFL. The Jaguars were ranked 1st in yards per play allowed with 4.6. Their pass defense gave up 4.8 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 1st in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 289 passes on 509 attempts against the Jacksonville defense last season, placing them 1st and 4th in the National Football League. The Jacksonville Jaguars pass defense also gave up a total of 2,718 yards through the air, which was 1st overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 429 attempts for 1,860 yards last year, putting them in 21st place in the league against the run. The Jaguars committed 112 penalties for 1,050 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 29th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 23.9% of possessions on defense, which was 1st in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Jacksonville was ranked 14th in the league in punt returns last season with 35. They accumulated 325 punt return yards and averaged 9.3 yards per return, which was 8th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 72 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 551 yards on special teams, ranking 29th in kick return yardage. The Jaguars averaged 22 yards per kick return and had a long of 68 yards last year. They were 9th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,854. The Jacksonville Jaguars attempted 35 field goals last season and made 30, which was 12th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 85.7%. Jacksonville kickers made 90% of their extra points, going 37 for 41 last year. Their punters totaled 3,835 yards on 88 punts, averaging 43.6 yards per punt. That placed them 26th in the NFL in punting average.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Jaguars -1

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