Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/30/2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Miami Dolphins travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, August 30, 2018. The opening line for this game has Atlanta as 2.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 37.5. The Dolphins had an ATS record of 5-9-2 last season while their over/under record was 8-8-0. The Falcons had an over/under record of 5-13-0 and they were 8-10-0 against the spread.

Valuable Miami Dolphins Betting Trends

The Miami Dolphins were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The Miami Dolphins were 5-9-2 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 Miami Dolphins Injuries

08/14/18 WR DeVante Parker Finger is questionable Sunday vs Tennessee

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

No key injuries to report

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Miami Dolphins were 28th in the NFL in points scored with 281 last season. They ran 995 plays last year for 4,923 yards, which ranked them 25th in the league in total offense. The Dolphins averaged 4.9 yards per play, which was 22nd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 284 1st downs last year, placing them 25th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Miami ran for 1,388 yards as a team, which ranked 29th in the NFL. They ran 360 times last year, averaging 3.9 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Dolphins were penalized on offense 137 times for 1,154 yards last season, which had them 2nd in the league in penalties.

Defensive Statistics

Miami was 29th in the league in points allowed on defense with 393 last year. They surrendered a total of 5,371 yards on D, which was 16th in the NFL. The Dolphins were ranked 21st in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Their pass defense gave up 6.5 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 23rd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 339 passes on 528 attempts against the Miami Dolphins defense last season, placing them 16th and 9th in the National Football League. The Miami pass defense also gave up a total of 3,603 yards through the air, which was 16th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 431 attempts for 1,768 yards last year, putting them in 14th place in the league against the run. The Dolphins committed 122 penalties for 1077 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 30th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 36.6% of possessions on defense, which was 23rd in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Miami was ranked 9th in the league in punt returns last season with 37. They accumulated 271 punt return yards and averaged 7.3 yards per return, which was 20th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 27 yards. They returned 40 kicks for 827 yards on special teams, ranking 7th in kick return yardage. The Dolphins averaged 20.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 37 yards last year. They were 22nd in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,278. The Miami Dolphins attempted 23 field goals last season and made 21, which was 23rd in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 91.3%. Miami Dolphins kickers made 90% of their extra points, going 26 for 29 last year. Their punters totaled 3,695 yards on 83 punts, averaging 44.5 yards per punt. That placed them 19th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Atlanta Falcons ran for 1,847 yards as a unit last year, 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 season, which had them 20th in the NFL in penalties. They were 15th in the National Football League in points scored with 353. They ran 984 plays last year 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. Matt Ryan completed 342 throws while attempting 529 passes for a completion percentage of 64.7% last year. He passed for 4,095 yards. He averaged 12 yards per completion and 7.7 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 91.4.

Defensive Statistics

The Falcons rush defense gave up 402 attempts for 1,665 yards last season, putting them in 9th place in the NFL against the run. They 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. Atlanta was 8th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense 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.

Special Teams Stats

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. 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.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Dolphins +2.5

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