Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/9/2018

Sunday, September 9, 2018

University of Phoenix Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

University of Phoenix Stadium is the venue for the game between the Washington Redskins and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Arizona as 1 point favorites. The total has been set at 44.5. The Cardinals were 6-9-1 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 6-10-0. The Redskins were 7-9-0 ATS and their over/under record was 8-8-0.

Valuable Washington Redskins Betting Trends

The Washington Redskins were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The Washington Redskins were 7-9-0 against the spread last year

Important Arizona Cardinals Betting Trends

The Arizona Cardinals were 6-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Arizona Cardinals were 6-9-1 against the spread last year

Key Washington Redskins Injuries

08/17/18 RB Samaje Perine Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Arizona
08/15/18 WR Robert Davis Knee IR
08/11/18 TE Manasseh Garner ACL IR
08/11/18 RB Derrius Guice ACL IR

Key Arizona Cardinals Injuries

08/10/18 LB Gabe Martin Achilles IR
08/07/18 C A.Q. Shipley ACL IR
08/03/18 TE Jermaine Gresham Achilles is questionable Sunday vs Washington
08/03/18 LB Markus Golden Knee is questionable Sunday vs Washington

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Washington Redskins ran for 1,448 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 28th in the league. They ran 401 times, averaging 3.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Redskins were penalized on offense 92 times for 733 yards last season, which had them 28th in the NFL in penalties. They were 16th in the National Football League in points scored with 342. They ran 982 plays last year for 5,199 yards, which ranked them 16th in the NFL in total offense. The Redskins averaged 5.3 yards per play, which was 15th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 278 1st downs last season, ranking them 27th overall as an offensive unit. Alex Smith completed 341 throws while attempting 505 passes for a completion percentage of 67.5% last year. He passed for 4,042 yards. He averaged 11.9 yards per completion and 8 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 104.7.

Defensive Statistics

The Redskins rush defense gave up 472 attempts for 2,146 yards last season, putting them in 32nd place in the NFL against the run. They had 100 penalties for 887 yards on defense last year. That placed them 14th in the league. They allowed a score on 35.9% of possessions on defense, which was 20th in the NFL. Washington was 28th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 388. They gave up a total of 5,566 yards on D, which was 21st in the league. The Redskins were 17th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense allowed 6 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 15th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 306 throws on 531 attempts against the Washington Redskins defense last season, ranking them 4th and 12th in the league. The Washington pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,420 yards in the air, which was 9th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Washington Redskins tried 28 field goals last season and made 24, which was 21st in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 85.7%. Washington Redskins kickers made 92% of their extra points, going 36 for 39 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,797 yards on 83 punts, averaging 45.7 yards per punt. That ranked them 13th in the NFL in punting average. Washington was 23rd in the NFL in punt returns with 29 last year. They totaled 178 punt return yards and averaged 6.1 yards per return, which was 27th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 29 yards. They returned 34 kicks for 673 yards on special teams, placing them 15th in kick return yardage. The Redskins averaged 19.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 35 yards last season. They were 17th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,392.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Arizona Cardinals were 25th in the NFL in points scored with 295 last season. They ran 1,059 plays last year for 5,026 yards, which ranked them 22nd in the league in total offense. The Cardinals averaged 4.7 yards per play, which was 30th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 310 1st downs last year, placing them 17th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Arizona ran for 1,386 yards as a team, which ranked 30th in the NFL. They ran 409 times last year, averaging 3.4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Cardinals were penalized on offense 110 times for 880 yards last season, which had them 14th in the league in penalties. Sam Bradford threw for 382 yards last season. He completed 32 passes on 43 attempts for a completion percentage of 74.4%. His quarterback rating last year was 124.4. He averaged 8.9 yards per pass attempt and 11.9 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Arizona was 19th in the league in points allowed on defense with 361 last year. They surrendered a total of 4,975 yards on D, which was 6th in the NFL. The Cardinals were ranked 5th in yards per play allowed with 4.9. Their pass defense gave up 5.9 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 14th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 343 passes on 564 attempts against the Arizona defense last season, placing them 18th and 25th in the National Football League. The Arizona Cardinals pass defense also gave up a total of 3,541 yards through the air, which was 14th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 406 attempts for 1,434 yards last year, putting them in 6th place in the league against the run. The Cardinals committed 129 penalties for 1,128 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 32nd in the NFL. They gave up a score on 31.5% of possessions on defense, which was 9th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Arizona was ranked 4th in the league in punt returns last season with 41. They accumulated 288 punt return yards and averaged 7 yards per return, which was 22nd in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 20 yards. They returned 29 kicks for 592 yards on special teams, ranking 24th in kick return yardage. The Cardinals averaged 20.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 55 yards last year. They were 24th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,245. The Arizona Cardinals attempted 40 field goals last season and made 32, which was 10th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 80.0%. Arizona kickers made 89% of their extra points, going 23 for 26 last year. Their punters totaled 4,159 yards on 88 punts, averaging 47.3 yards per punt. That placed them 6th in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Redskins/Cardinals NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Cardinals -1

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