Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers Week 5 NFL Picks & Predictions 10/7/2018

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Heinz Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Atlanta Falcons travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, October 7, 2018. The opening line for this game has Pittsburgh as 4 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 56.

The Falcons have an ATS record of 1-3-0 while their over/under record is 3-1-0. The Steelers have an over/under record of 3-1-0 and they are 1-3-0 against the spread.

Valuable Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends

The Atlanta Falcons are 3-1-0 against the over/under

The Atlanta Falcons are 1-3-0 against the spread

Important Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-1-0 against the over/under

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 1-3-0 against the spread

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

09/30/18 DE Derrick Shelby Groin is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
09/30/18 RB Devonta Freeman Knee is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
09/30/18 DT Grady Jarrett Ankle left last game, is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
09/30/18 CB Justin Bethel Knee is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
09/30/18 LB Vic Beasley Ankle injured last game, is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
09/25/18 S Ricardo Allen Achilles IR
09/19/18 G Andy Levitre Triceps IR
09/11/18 LB Deion Jones Foot IR
09/09/18 S Keanu Neal ACL IR

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

10/01/18 WR Darrius Heyward-Bey Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Atlanta
09/30/18 CB Mike Hilton Elbow is questionable Sunday vs Atlanta
09/30/18 S Morgan Burnett Groin is questionable Sunday vs Atlanta
09/16/18 RB Le'Veon Bell Holdout is out indefinitely
09/09/18 WR Eli Rogers ACL PUP
09/04/18 TE Jake McGee Achilles IR
09/04/18 LB Olasunkanmi Adeniyi Hamstring IR
09/04/18 TE Ryan Malleck Undisclosed IR
09/04/18 DB Trey Johnson Shoulder IR
08/03/18 T Jerald Hawkins Quad IR
08/03/18 LB Ryan Shazier Back IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Atlanta Falcons are 15th in the NFL in points scored with 116. They have run 251 plays this season for 1,643 yards, which ranks them 8th in the league in total offense. The Falcons average 6.5 yards per play, which is 5th in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 88 1st downs this year, placing them 9th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Atlanta has run for 384 yards as a team, which ranks 13th in the NFL. They've run 96 times, averaging 4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Falcons have been penalized on offense 32 times for 310 yards so far this season, which has them 20th in the league in penalties. Matt Ryan has thrown for 1,316 yards this season. He has completed 99 passes on 145 attempts for a completion percentage of 68.3%. His quarterback rating is 114. He averages 9.1 yards per pass attempt and 13.3 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Atlanta is 8th in the league in points allowed on defense with 122. They have surrendered a total of 1,612 yards on D, which is 9th in the NFL. The Falcons are ranked 13th in yards per play allowed with 5.9. Their pass defense has given up 6.4 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 10th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 120 passes on 170 attempts against the Atlanta Falcons defense this season, placing them 25th and 16th in the National Football League. The Atlanta pass defense has also given up a total of 1,136 yards through the air, which is 12th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 95 attempts for 476 yards this year, putting them in 9th place in the league against the run. The Falcons have committed 35 penalties for 325 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 13th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 47.7% of possessions on defense, which is 21st in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Atlanta is ranked 30th in the league in punt returns with 5. They've accumulated 26 punt return yards and average 5.2 yards per return, which is 21st in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 6 yards. They have returned 9 kicks for 219 yards on special teams, ranking 6th in kick return yardage. The Falcons average 24.3 yards per kick return and have a long of 53 yards this year. They are 5th in the league in all-purpose yards with 1,945. The Atlanta Falcons have attempted 6 field goals this season and made 6, which is 8th in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 100.0%. Atlanta Falcons kickers have made 91% of their extra points, going 10 for 11 this year. Their punters have totaled 722 yards on 17 punts, averaging 42.5 yards per punt. That places them 16th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers have run for 289 yards as a unit, which ranks 20th in the league. They've run 81 times, averaging 3.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Steelers have been penalized on offense 42 times for 401 yards so far this year, which has them 21st in the NFL in penalties. They are 8th in the National Football League in points scored with 102. They have run 276 plays this year for 1,644 yards, which ranks them 3rd in the NFL in total offense. The Steelers average 6 yards per play, which is 6th in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 94 1st downs this season, ranking them 3rd overall as an offensive unit. Ben Roethlisberger has completed 119 throws while attempting 186 passes for a completion percentage of 64%. He has passed for 1,414 yards this year. He averages 11.9 yards per completion and 7.6 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 90.2.

Defensive Statistics

The Steelers rush defense has given up 109 attempts for 463 yards this season, putting them in 10th place in the NFL against the run. They have had 39 penalties for 293 yards on defense this year. That places them 28th in the league. They've allowed a score on 35.7% of possessions on defense, which is 7th in the NFL. Pittsburgh is 7th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 116. They have given up a total of 1,682 yards on D, which is 5th in the league. The Steelers are 14th in yards per play allowed with 6. Their pass defense has allowed 7 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 9th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 96 throws on 160 attempts against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense this season, ranking them 3rd and 2nd in the league. The Steelers pass defense has also surrendered a total of 1,219 yards in the air, which is 5th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Pittsburgh Steelers have tried 6 field goals this season and made 3, which is 5th in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 50.0%. Pittsburgh kickers have made 82% of their extra points, going 9 for 11 this season. Their punters have accumulated 941 yards on 22 punts, averaging 42.8 yards per punt. That ranks them 30th in the NFL in punting average. Pittsburgh is 22nd in the NFL in punt returns with 8. They've totaled 81 punt return yards and are averaging 10.1 yards per return, which is 23rd in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 22 yards. They have returned 12 kicks for 237 yards on special teams, placing them 18th in kick return yardage. The Steelers average 19.8 yards per kick return and have a long of 35 yards this season. They are 6th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 2,021.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Falcons +4

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