Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/6/2018

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Lincoln Financial Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Atlanta Falcons travel to Lincoln Financial Field to take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, September 6, 2018 in Week 1 of the NFL season. The opening line for this game has Philadelphia as 5.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 46.5. The Falcons had an ATS record of 8-10-0 last season while their over/under record was 5-13-0. The Eagles had an over/under record of 9-9-0 and they were 12-6-0 against the spread.

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 Philadelphia Eagles Betting Trends

The Philadelphia Eagles were 9-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Philadelphia Eagles were 12-6-0 against the spread last year

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Philadelphia Eagles Injuries

08/31/18 RB Jay Ajayi Lower Body is probable Thursday vs Atlanta
08/31/18 S Chris Maragos Knee is out indefinitely
08/28/18 WR Alshon Jeffery Shoulder is out indefinitely
08/03/18 WR Shelton Gibson Concussion is questionable Thursday vs Atlanta
08/03/18 DT Tim Jernigan Back is questionable Thursday vs Atlanta
06/29/18 LB Nigel Bradham Suspension 1-game Suspension ( elgible to return 9/16 vs Tampa Bay)
04/21/18 QB Carson Wentz Knee is questionable Thursday vs Atlanta

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Philadelphia Eagles ran for 2,115 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 3rd in the league. They ran 473 times, averaging 4.5 yards per rush as a unit. The Eagles were penalized on offense 116 times for 962 yards last season, which had them 7th in the NFL in penalties. They were 3rd in the National Football League in points scored with 457. They ran 1,073 plays last year for 5,852 yards, which ranked them 7th in the NFL in total offense. The Eagles averaged 5.5 yards per play, which was 9th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 338 1st downs last season, ranking them 4th overall as an offensive unit. Carson Wentz completed 265 throws while attempting 440 passes for a completion percentage of 60.2% last year. He passed for 3,296 yards. He averaged 12.4 yards per completion and 7.5 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 101.9.

Defensive Statistics

The Eagles rush defense gave up 337 attempts for 1,267 yards last season, putting them in 1st place in the NFL against the run. They had 101 penalties for 917 yards on defense last year. That placed them 18th in the league. They allowed a score on 27.1% of possessions on defense, which was 2nd in the NFL. Philadelphia was 4th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 295. They gave up a total of 4,904 yards on D, which was 4th in the league. The Eagles were 9th in yards per play allowed with 5. Their pass defense allowed 5.7 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 8th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 363 throws on 601 attempts against the Philadelphia defense last season, ranking them 26th and 31st in the league. The Philadelphia Eagles pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,637 yards in the air, which was 17th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Philadelphia Eagles tried 34 field goals last season and made 29, which was 16th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 85.3%. Philadelphia kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 40 for 44 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,033 yards on 68 punts, averaging 44.6 yards per punt. That ranked them 18th in the NFL in punting average. Philadelphia was 24th in the NFL in punt returns with 29 last year. They totaled 259 punt return yards and averaged 8.9 yards per return, which was 12th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 76 yards. They returned 18 kicks for 354 yards on special teams, placing them 32nd in kick return yardage. The Eagles averaged 19.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 35 yards last season. They were 13th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,695.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Falcons +5.5

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