Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/9/2018

Sunday, September 9, 2018

FirstEnergy Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Pittsburgh Steelers head to FirstEnergy Stadium to play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, September 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh as 6.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 47. The Steelers were 7-10-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 7-10-0. The Browns were 4-12-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 7-9-0.

Valuable Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 7-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 7-10-0 against the spread last year

Important Cleveland Browns Betting Trends

The Cleveland Browns were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Cleveland Browns were 4-12-0 against the spread last year

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

08/31/18 TE Vance McDonald Foot is questionable Sunday vs Cleveland
08/03/18 WR Antonio Brown Quad is probable Sunday vs Cleveland
08/03/18 WR Eli Rogers Suspension is OUT Sunday vs Cleveland
08/03/18 T Jerald Hawkins Quad IR
08/03/18 G Ramon Foster Knee is questionable Sunday vs Cleveland
08/03/18 LB Ryan Shazier Back IR

Key Cleveland Browns Injuries

08/25/18 WR Josh Gordon Hamstring is upgraded to probable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
08/03/18 DB Howard Wilson Knee IR
08/03/18 OL Kevin Zeitler Calf is out indefinitely
07/25/18 WR Ricardo Louis Neck IR
06/15/18 T Donald Stephenson Suspension 2-games suspension (eligible to return 9/20 vs NY Jets)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 8th in the National Football League in points scored with 406 last year. They ran 1,051 plays for 6,047 yards, which ranked them 3rd in the NFL in total offense. The Steelers averaged 5.8 yards per play, which was 6th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 348 1st downs last season, ranking them 3rd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Pittsburgh ran for 1,667 yards as a unit, which ranked 20th in the league. They ran 437 times, averaging 3.8 yards per rush as a unit. The Steelers were penalized on offense 101 times for 897 yards last year, which had them 21st in the NFL in penalties. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 4,251 yards last year. He completed 360 throws while attempting 561 passes for a completion percentage of 64.2%. His quarterback rating last season was 93.4. He averaged 11.8 yards per completion and 7.6 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Pittsburgh was 7th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 308. They gave up a total of 4,910 yards on D, which was 5th in the league. The Steelers were 14th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense allowed 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 9th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 297 throws on 499 attempts against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense last season, ranking them 3rd and 2nd in the league. The Pittsburgh pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,217 yards in the air, which was 5th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 385 attempts for 1,693 yards last season, putting them in 10th place in the NFL against the run. The Steelers had 110 penalties for 1041 yards on defense last year. That placed them 28th in the league. They allowed a score on 30.3% of possessions on defense, which was 7th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Pittsburgh was 22nd in the NFL in punt returns with 30 last year. They totaled 207 punt return yards and averaged 6.9 yards per return, which was 23rd in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 27 yards. They returned 33 kicks for 630 yards on special teams, placing them 18th in kick return yardage. The Steelers averaged 19.1 yards per kick return and had a long of 96 yards last season. They were 6th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,038. The Pittsburgh Steelers tried 38 field goals last season and made 35, which was 5th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 92.1%. Pittsburgh Steelers kickers made 95% of their extra points, going 37 for 39 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,763 yards on 64 punts, averaging 43.2 yards per punt. That ranked them 30th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cleveland Browns ran for 1,714 yards as a team last year, which ranked 18th in the NFL. They ran 384 times, averaging 4.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Browns were penalized on offense 110 times for 924 yards last season, which had them 13th in the league in penalties. They were 32nd in the NFL in points scored with 234. They ran 1,008 plays last season for 4,942 yards, which ranked them 24th in the league in total offense. The Browns averaged 4.9 yards per play, which was 23rd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 290 1st downs last year, placing them 22nd overall as an offensive unit. Tyrod Taylor averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 10.6 yards per completion last season. He completed 263 passes on 420 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.6%. His quarterback rating last year was 89.2. He threw for 2,799 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Browns rush defense allowed 467 attempts for 1,566 yards last year, putting them in 7th place in the league against the run. Cleveland committed 101 penalties for 906 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 16th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 36.2% of possessions on defense, which was 22nd in the league. They were 31st in the league in points allowed on defense with 410. They surrendered a total of 5,250 yards on D, which was 14th in the NFL. The Browns were ranked 10th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense gave up 6.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 24th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 360 passes on 525 attempts against the Cleveland defense last season, placing them 23rd and 8th in the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns pass defense also gave up a total of 3,684 yards through the air, which was 19th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Cleveland Browns attempted 20 field goals last season and made 15, which was 31st in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 75.0%. Cleveland kickers made 96% of their extra points, going 25 for 26 last year. Their punters totaled 3,827 yards on 82 punts, averaging 46.7 yards per punt. That placed them 9th in the NFL in punting average. Cleveland was ranked 8th in the league in punt returns last season with 38. They accumulated 221 punt return yards and averaged 5.8 yards per return, which was 29th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 25 yards. They returned 35 kicks for 790 yards on special teams, ranking 9th in kick return yardage. The Browns averaged 22.6 yards per kick return and had a long of 71 yards last year. They were 23rd in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,262.

Who will win tonight's Steelers/Browns NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Browns +6.5

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