Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/11/2018

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Mile High Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Denver Broncos host the Minnesota Vikings at Mile High Stadium on Saturday, August 11, 2018. The opening line for this game has Denver as 1 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 35. The Broncos had an over/under record of 8-8-0 and they were 4-11-1 against the spread last year. The Vikings had an ATS record of 11-7-0 while their over/under record was 9-9-0.

Valuable Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends

The Minnesota Vikings were 9-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Minnesota Vikings were 11-7-0 against the spread last year

Important 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

Key Minnesota Vikings Injuries

08/03/18 LB Kentrell Brothers Suspension 4- game suspension (elgible to return 10/7 vs Philadelphia)
08/03/18 T Mike Remmers Ankle is "?" Sunday vs San Francisco
08/03/18 C Pat Elflein Ankle PUP

Key Denver Broncos Injuries

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Minnesota Vikings ran for 1,957 yards as a team last year, which ranked 7th in the NFL. They ran 501 times, averaging 3.9 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Vikings were penalized on offense 100 times for 949 yards last season, which had them 22nd in the league in penalties. They were 10th in the NFL in points scored with 382. They ran 1,055 plays last season for 5,710 yards, which ranked them 11th in the league in total offense. The Vikings averaged 5.4 yards per play, which was 13th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 334 1st downs last year, placing them 6th overall as an offensive unit. Kirk Cousins averaged 7.6 yards per pass attempt and 11.8 yards per completion last season. He completed 347 passes on 540 attempts for a completion percentage of 64.3%. His quarterback rating last season was 93.9. He threw for 4,093 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Vikings rush defense allowed 364 attempts for 1,337 yards last year, putting them in 2nd place in the league against the run. Minnesota committed 105 penalties for 928 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 20th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 27.9% of possessions on defense, which was 3rd in the league. They were 1st in the league in points allowed on defense with 252. They surrendered a total of 4,415 yards on D, which was 1st in the NFL. The Vikings were ranked 2nd in yards per play allowed with 4.6. Their pass defense gave up 5.2 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 2nd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 324 passes on 555 attempts against the Minnesota Vikings defense last season, placing them 7th and 19th in the National Football League. The Minnesota pass defense also gave up a total of 3,078 yards through the air, which was 2nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Minnesota Vikings attempted 38 field goals last season and made 32, which was 9th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 84.2%. Minnesota Vikings kickers made 87% of their extra points, going 34 for 39 last year. Their punters totaled 2,995 yards on 71 punts, averaging 42.2 yards per punt. That placed them 32nd in the NFL in punting average. Minnesota was ranked 6th in the league in punt returns last season with 39. They accumulated 372 punt return yards and averaged 9.5 yards per return, which was 7th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 46 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 619 yards on special teams, ranking 21st in kick return yardage. The Vikings averaged 24.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 39 yards last year. They were 8th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,877.

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 defense last season, ranking them 2nd and 1st in the league. The Denver Broncos 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 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.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Vikings +1

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