Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/30/2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

University of Phoenix Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Denver Broncos head to University of Phoenix Stadium to play the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, August 30, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Arizona as 1.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 36.5. The Broncos were 4-11-1 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 8-8-0. The Cardinals were 6-9-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 6-10-0.

Valuable Denver Broncos Betting Trends

The Denver Broncos were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The Denver Broncos were 4-11-1 against the spread last year

Important 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

Key Denver Broncos Injuries

08/03/18 WR Jordan Taylor Hip PUP
08/03/18 WR Carlos Henderson Personal is out indefinitely
07/23/18 LB Shane Ray Wrist is questionable Sunday vs Seattle

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Denver Broncos were 27th in the National Football League in points scored with 289 last year. They ran 1,075 plays for 5,185 yards, which ranked them 18th in the NFL in total offense. The Broncos averaged 4.8 yards per play, which was 29th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 297 1st downs last season, ranking them 20th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Denver ran for 1,852 yards as a unit, which ranked 12th in the league. They ran 457 times, averaging 4.1 yards per rush as a unit. The Broncos were penalized on offense 113 times for 885 yards last year, which had them 10th in the NFL in penalties. Case Keenum passed for 3,547 yards last year. He completed 325 throws while attempting 481 passes for a completion percentage of 67.6%. His quarterback rating last season was 98.3. He averaged 10.9 yards per completion and 7.4 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Denver was 23rd in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 382. They gave up a total of 4,640 yards on D, which was 3rd in the league. The Broncos were 3rd in yards per play allowed with 4.9. Their pass defense allowed 6.1 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 18th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 294 throws on 491 attempts against the Denver Broncos defense last season, ranking them 2nd and 1st in the league. The Denver pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,210 yards in the air, which was 4th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 428 attempts for 1,430 yards last season, putting them in 5th place in the NFL against the run. The Broncos had 89 penalties for 821 yards on defense last year. That placed them 4th in the league. They allowed a score on 32.5% of possessions on defense, which was 12th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Denver was 3rd in the NFL in punt returns with 41 last year. They totaled 351 punt return yards and averaged 8.6 yards per return, which was 15th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 44 yards. They returned 34 kicks for 743 yards on special teams, placing them 12th in kick return yardage. The Broncos averaged 21.9 yards per kick return and had a long of 61 yards last season. They were 15th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,614. The Denver Broncos tried 32 field goals last season and made 24, which was 20th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 75.0%. Denver Broncos kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 27 for 27 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,358 yards on 76 punts, averaging 44.2 yards per punt. That ranked them 23rd in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

The Cardinals rush defense allowed 406 attempts for 1,434 yards last year, putting them in 6th place in the league against the run. Arizona committed 129 penalties for 1,128 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 32nd in the NFL. They gave up a score on 31.5% of possessions on defense, which was 9th in the league. They were 19th in the league in points allowed on defense with 361. They surrendered a total of 4,975 yards on D, which was 6th in the NFL. The Cardinals were ranked 5th in yards per play allowed with 4.9. Their pass defense gave up 5.9 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 14th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 343 passes on 564 attempts against the Arizona defense last season, placing them 18th and 25th in the National Football League. The Arizona Cardinals pass defense also gave up a total of 3,541 yards through the air, which was 14th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

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

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Cardinals -1.5

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