Houston Texans at New England Patriots Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/9/2018

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Gillette Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The New England Patriots host the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, September 9, 2018. The opening line for this game has New England as 6.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 51.5. The Patriots had an over/under record of 8-10-0 and they were 12-6-0 against the spread last year. The Texans had an ATS record of 7-9-0 while their over/under record was 7-9-0.

Valuable Houston Texans Betting Trends

The Houston Texans were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Houston Texans were 7-9-0 against the spread last year

Important New England Patriots Betting Trends

The New England Patriots were 8-10-0 against the over/under last season

The New England Patriots were 12-6-0 against the spread last year

Key Houston Texans Injuries

08/31/18 LB Ben Heeney Ankle is out for season
08/26/18 WR Will Fuller Hamstring is probable Sunday vs New England
08/19/18 CB Kevin Johnson Concussion is questionable Sunday vs New England
08/08/18 QB Deshaun Watson Knee is upgraded to probable Week #1 of regular season Sunday vs New England
08/03/18 S Andre Hal Illness is out indefinitely
08/03/18 RB D'Onta Foreman Achilles is out indefinitely

Key New England Patriots Injuries

08/17/18 T Isaiah Wynn Achilles is out for season
08/17/18 RB Rex Burkhead Knee is questionable Sunday vs Houston
08/01/18 WR Jordan Matthews Hamstring IR
07/04/18 WR Julian Edelman Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/04 vs Indianapolis)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Houston Texans ran for 1,842 yards as a team last year, which ranked 14th in the NFL. They ran 448 times, averaging 4.1 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Texans were penalized on offense 124 times for 1,050 yards last season, which had them 3rd in the league in penalties. They were 17th in the NFL in points scored with 338. They ran 1,027 plays last season for 5,120 yards, which ranked them 20th in the league in total offense. The Texans averaged 5 yards per play, which was 20th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 313 1st downs last year, placing them 14th overall as an offensive unit. Deshaun Watson averaged 8.3 yards per pass attempt and 13.5 yards per completion last season. He completed 126 passes on 204 attempts for a completion percentage of 61.8%. His quarterback rating last season was 103. He threw for 1,699 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Texans rush defense allowed 440 attempts for 1,747 yards last year, putting them in 13th place in the league against the run. Houston committed 122 penalties for 1128 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 31st in the NFL. They gave up a score on 39.7% of possessions on defense, which was 29th in the league. They were 32nd in the league in points allowed on defense with 436. They surrendered a total of 5,546 yards on D, which was 20th in the NFL. The Texans were ranked 29th in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Their pass defense gave up 7.1 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 30th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 321 passes on 501 attempts against the Houston Texans defense last season, placing them 6th and 3rd in the National Football League. The Houston pass defense also gave up a total of 3,799 yards through the air, which was 24th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Houston Texans attempted 25 field goals last season and made 20, which was 25th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 80.0%. Houston Texans kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 32 for 35 last year. Their punters totaled 4,507 yards on 92 punts, averaging 49 yards per punt. That placed them 2nd in the NFL in punting average. Houston was ranked 11th in the league in punt returns last season with 36. They accumulated 296 punt return yards and averaged 8.2 yards per return, which was 18th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 49 yards. They returned 27 kicks for 558 yards on special teams, ranking 28th in kick return yardage. The Texans averaged 20.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last year. They were 20th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,340.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New England Patriots were 2nd in the National Football League in points scored with 458 last year. They ran 1,070 plays for 6,307 yards, which ranked them 1st in the NFL in total offense. The Patriots averaged 5.9 yards per play, which was 3rd in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 389 1st downs last season, ranking them 1st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground New England ran for 1,889 yards as a unit, which ranked 10th in the league. They ran 448 times, averaging 4.2 yards per rush as a unit. The Patriots were penalized on offense 95 times for 835 yards last year, which had them 26th in the NFL in penalties. Tom Brady passed for 4,577 yards last year. He completed 385 throws while attempting 581 passes for a completion percentage of 66.3%. His quarterback rating last season was 102.8. He averaged 11.9 yards per completion and 7.9 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

New England was 5th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 296. They gave up a total of 5,856 yards on D, which was 29th in the league. The Patriots were 28th in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Their pass defense allowed 6.4 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 20th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 367 throws on 590 attempts against the New England defense last season, ranking them 28th and 30th in the league. The New England Patriots pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,020 yards in the air, which was 30th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 390 attempts for 1,836 yards last season, putting them in 20th place in the NFL against the run. The Patriots had 111 penalties for 1,035 yards on defense last year. That placed them 27th in the league. They allowed a score on 30.2% of possessions on defense, which was 6th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

New England was 18th in the NFL in punt returns with 32 last year. They totaled 263 punt return yards and averaged 8.2 yards per return, which was 17th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 40 yards. They returned 28 kicks for 622 yards on special teams, placing them 19th in kick return yardage. The Patriots averaged 22.2 yards per kick return and had a long of 103 yards last season. They were 4th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,393. The New England Patriots tried 40 field goals last season and made 37, which was 4th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 92.5%. New England kickers made 96% of their extra points, going 45 for 47 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,515 yards on 58 punts, averaging 43.4 yards per punt. That ranked them 27th in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Texans/Patriots NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Texans +6.5

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