Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/17/2018

Friday, August 17, 2018

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Atlanta Falcons host the Kansas City Chiefs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday, August 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Atlanta as 2.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 38. The Falcons had an over/under record of 5-13-0 and they were 8-10-0 against the spread last year. The Chiefs had an ATS record of 10-7-0 while their over/under record was 8-9-0.

Valuable Kansas City Chiefs Betting Trends

The Kansas City Chiefs were 8-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Kansas City Chiefs were 10-7-0 against the spread last year

Important 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

Key Kansas City Chiefs Injuries

08/03/18 RB Charcandrick West Concussion is "?" Sunday vs LA Chargers
05/22/18 TE Demetrius Harris Suspension is OUT Sunday vs LA Chargers (1-game suspension)

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

No key injuries to report

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Kansas City Chiefs ran for 1,903 yards as a team last year, which ranked 9th in the NFL. They ran 405 times, averaging 4.7 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Chiefs were penalized on offense 118 times for 1,044 yards last season, which had them 6th in the league in penalties. They were 6th in the NFL in points scored with 415. They ran 985 plays last season for 6,007 yards, which ranked them 5th in the league in total offense. The Chiefs averaged 6.1 yards per play, which was 2nd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 322 1st downs last year, placing them 10th overall as an offensive unit. Patrick Mahomes averaged 8.1 yards per pass attempt and 12.9 yards per completion last season. He completed 22 passes on 35 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.9%. His quarterback rating last season was 76.4. He threw for 284 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Chiefs rush defense allowed 443 attempts for 1,890 yards last year, putting them in 25th place in the league against the run. Kansas City committed 107 penalties for 864 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 8th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 33.5% of possessions on defense, which was 17th in the league. They were 15th in the league in points allowed on defense with 339. They surrendered a total of 5,842 yards on D, which was 28th in the NFL. The Chiefs were ranked 26th in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Their pass defense gave up 6.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 25th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 325 passes on 570 attempts against the Kansas City Chiefs defense last season, placing them 9th and 27th in the National Football League. The Kansas City pass defense also gave up a total of 3,952 yards through the air, which was 29th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Kansas City Chiefs attempted 45 field goals last season and made 41, which was 1st in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 91.1%. Kansas City Chiefs kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 40 for 40 last year. Their punters totaled 2,937 yards on 65 punts, averaging 45.2 yards per punt. That placed them 14th in the NFL in punting average. Kansas City was ranked 15th in the league in punt returns last season with 35. They accumulated 216 punt return yards and averaged 6.2 yards per return, which was 26th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 82 yards. They returned 47 kicks for 1,051 yards on special teams, ranking 1st in kick return yardage. The Chiefs averaged 22.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last year. They were 1st in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,496.

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Chiefs +2.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink