Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/9/2018

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Lincoln Financial Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Lincoln Financial Field to play the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, August 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Philadelphia as 3 point favorites. The total has been set at 35. The Steelers were 7-10-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 7-10-0. The Eagles were 12-6-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 9-9-0.

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 Philadelphia Eagles Betting Trends

The Philadelphia Eagles were 9-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Philadelphia Eagles were 12-6-0 against the spread last year

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

07/29/18 G Ramon Foster Knee is "?" Sunday vs. Cleveland

Key Philadelphia Eagles Injuries

06/29/18 LB Nigel Bradham Suspension 1-game Suspension ( elgible to return 9/16 vs Tampa Bay)
04/21/18 QB Carson Wentz Knee is "?" Thursday vs Atlanta

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 Philadelphia Eagles ran for 2,115 yards as a team last year, which ranked 3rd in the NFL. They ran 473 times, averaging 4.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Eagles were penalized on offense 116 times for 962 yards last season, which had them 7th in the league in penalties. They were 3rd in the NFL in points scored with 457. They ran 1,073 plays last season for 5,852 yards, which ranked them 7th in the league in total offense. The Eagles averaged 5.5 yards per play, which was 9th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 338 1st downs last year, placing them 4th overall as an offensive unit. Carson Wentz averaged 7.5 yards per pass attempt and 12.4 yards per completion last season. He completed 265 passes on 440 attempts for a completion percentage of 60.2%. His quarterback rating last year was 101.9. He threw for 3,296 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Eagles rush defense allowed 337 attempts for 1,267 yards last year, putting them in 1st place in the league against the run. Philadelphia committed 101 penalties for 917 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 18th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 27.1% of possessions on defense, which was 2nd in the league. They were 4th in the league in points allowed on defense with 295. They surrendered a total of 4,904 yards on D, which was 4th in the NFL. The Eagles were ranked 9th in yards per play allowed with 5. Their pass defense gave up 5.7 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 8th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 363 passes on 601 attempts against the Philadelphia defense last season, placing them 26th and 31st in the National Football League. The Philadelphia Eagles pass defense also gave up a total of 3,637 yards through the air, which was 17th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Philadelphia Eagles attempted 34 field goals last season and made 29, which was 16th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 85.3%. Philadelphia kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 40 for 44 last year. Their punters totaled 3,033 yards on 68 punts, averaging 44.6 yards per punt. That placed them 18th in the NFL in punting average. Philadelphia was ranked 24th in the league in punt returns last season with 29. They accumulated 259 punt return yards and averaged 8.9 yards per return, which was 12th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 76 yards. They returned 18 kicks for 354 yards on special teams, ranking 32nd in kick return yardage. The Eagles averaged 19.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 35 yards last year. They were 13th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,695.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Eagles -3

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