Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/17/2018

Friday, August 17, 2018

FirstEnergy Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Buffalo Bills head to FirstEnergy Stadium to play the Cleveland Browns on Friday, August 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Cleveland as 4 point favorites. The total has been set at 37. The Bills were 10-6-1 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 8-9-0. The Browns were 4-12-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 7-9-0.

Valuable Buffalo Bills Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bills were 8-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Buffalo Bills were 10-6-1 against the spread last year

Important Cleveland Browns Betting Trends

The Cleveland Browns were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Cleveland Browns were 4-12-0 against the spread last year

Key Buffalo Bills Injuries

07/12/18 RB LeSean McCoy Possible Suspension is "?" Sunday vs Baltimore

Key Cleveland Browns Injuries

08/05/18 WR Josh Gordon Personal is out indefinitely
08/03/18 DB Howard Wilson Knee is out for season
08/03/18 OL Kevin Zeitler Calf is out indefinitely
07/25/18 DB Jabrill Peppers PUP is out indefinitely
07/25/18 WR Ricardo Louis Neck is out for season
06/15/18 T Donald Stephenson Suspension 2-games suspension (eligible to return 9/20 vs NY Jets)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Buffalo Bills were 22nd in the National Football League in points scored with 302 last year. They ran 1,010 plays for 4,842 yards, which ranked them 29th in the NFL in total offense. The Bills averaged 4.8 yards per play, which was 27th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 278 1st downs last season, ranking them 26th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Buffalo ran for 2,017 yards as a unit, which ranked 6th in the league. They ran 487 times, averaging 4.1 yards per rush as a unit. The Bills were penalized on offense 98 times for 872 yards last year, which had them 23rd in the NFL in penalties. A.J. McCarron passed for 66 yards last year. He completed 7 throws while attempting 14 passes for a completion percentage of 50%. His quarterback rating last season was 63.4. He averaged 9.4 yards per completion and 4.7 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Buffalo was 18th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 359. They gave up a total of 5,682 yards on D, which was 26th in the league. The Bills were 15th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense allowed 6.1 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 17th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 370 throws on 573 attempts against the Buffalo Bills defense last season, ranking them 30th and 29th in the league. The Buffalo pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,688 yards in the air, which was 20th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 466 attempts for 1,994 yards last season, putting them in 29th place in the NFL against the run. The Bills had 97 penalties for 873 yards on defense last year. That placed them 10th in the league. They allowed a score on 37.2% of possessions on defense, which was 25th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Buffalo was 31st in the NFL in punt returns with 24 last year. They totaled 213 punt return yards and averaged 8.9 yards per return, which was 10th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 40 yards. They returned 32 kicks for 640 yards on special teams, placing them 17th in kick return yardage. The Bills averaged 20 yards per kick return and had a long of 29 yards last season. They were 30th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 5,956. The Buffalo Bills tried 33 field goals last season and made 29, which was 14th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 87.9%. Buffalo Bills kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 29 for 29 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,528 yards on 79 punts, averaging 44.7 yards per punt. That ranked them 17th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cleveland Browns ran for 1,714 yards as a team last year, which ranked 18th in the NFL. They ran 384 times, averaging 4.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Browns were penalized on offense 110 times for 924 yards last season, which had them 13th in the league in penalties. They were 32nd in the NFL in points scored with 234. They ran 1,008 plays last season for 4,942 yards, which ranked them 24th in the league in total offense. The Browns averaged 4.9 yards per play, which was 23rd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 290 1st downs last year, placing them 22nd overall as an offensive unit. Tyrod Taylor averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 10.6 yards per completion last season. He completed 263 passes on 420 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.6%. His quarterback rating last year was 89.2. He threw for 2,799 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Browns rush defense allowed 467 attempts for 1,566 yards last year, putting them in 7th place in the league against the run. Cleveland committed 101 penalties for 906 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 16th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 36.2% of possessions on defense, which was 22nd in the league. They were 31st in the league in points allowed on defense with 410. They surrendered a total of 5,250 yards on D, which was 14th in the NFL. The Browns were ranked 10th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense gave up 6.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 24th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 360 passes on 525 attempts against the Cleveland defense last season, placing them 23rd and 8th in the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns pass defense also gave up a total of 3,684 yards through the air, which was 19th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Cleveland Browns attempted 20 field goals last season and made 15, which was 31st in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 75.0%. Cleveland kickers made 96% of their extra points, going 25 for 26 last year. Their punters totaled 3,827 yards on 82 punts, averaging 46.7 yards per punt. That placed them 9th in the NFL in punting average. Cleveland was ranked 8th in the league in punt returns last season with 38. They accumulated 221 punt return yards and averaged 5.8 yards per return, which was 29th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 25 yards. They returned 35 kicks for 790 yards on special teams, ranking 9th in kick return yardage. The Browns averaged 22.6 yards per kick return and had a long of 71 yards last year. They were 23rd in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,262.

Who will win tonight's Bills/Browns NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Browns -4

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