Falcons at Vikings NFL Game Picks 9/8/2019

Sunday, September 8, 2019

U.S. Bank Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Atlanta Falcons head to U.S. Bank Stadium to play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 8, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota as 3.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 47.5. The Falcons were 5-11-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 9-7-0. The Vikings were 8-7-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 6-10-0.

Valuable Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends

The Atlanta Falcons were 9-7-0 against the over/under last season

The Atlanta Falcons were 5-11-0 against the spread last year

Important Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends

The Minnesota Vikings were 6-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Minnesota Vikings were 8-7-1 against the spread last year

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

07/22/19 S J.J. Wilcox ACL IR
07/22/19 DE Michael Bennett Ankle IR

Key Minnesota Vikings Injuries

08/09/19 DE Tashawn Bower Achilles IR
07/16/19 RB Roc Thomas Suspension is out the first 3 games of the season
07/12/19 CB Holton Hill Suspension is out the first 4 games of the season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Atlanta Falcons were 15th in the National Football League in points scored with 414 last year. They ran 1,010 plays for 6,226 yards, which ranked them 8th in the NFL in total offense. The Falcons averaged 6.2 yards per play, which was 5th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 352 1st downs last season, ranking them 9th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Atlanta ran for 1,573 yards as a unit, which ranked 13th in the league. They ran 351 times, averaging 4.5 yards per rush as a unit. The Falcons were penalized on offense 101 times for 899 yards last year, which had them 20th in the NFL in penalties. Matt Ryan passed for 4,924 yards last year. He completed 422 throws while attempting 608 passes for a completion percentage of 69.4%. His quarterback rating last season was 108.1. He averaged 11.7 yards per completion and 8.1 yards per pass attempt.

Related: Jay Kornegay - Westgate Superbook Football Super Contest - Over 28 Million in Winnings Paid

Defensive Statistics

Atlanta was 8th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 423. They gave up a total of 6,152 yards on D, which was 9th in the league. The Falcons were 13th in yards per play allowed with 6. Their pass defense allowed 6.7 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 10th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 398 throws on 585 attempts against the Atlanta Falcons defense last season, ranking them 25th and 16th in the league. The Atlanta pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,153 yards in the air, which was 12th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 409 attempts for 1,999 yards last season, putting them in 9th place in the NFL against the run. The Falcons had 108 penalties for 1001 yards on defense last year. That placed them 13th in the league. They allowed a score on 41.5% of possessions on defense, which was 21st in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Atlanta was 30th in the NFL in punt returns with 21 last year. They totaled 147 punt return yards and averaged 7 yards per return, which was 21st in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 18 yards. They returned 31 kicks for 689 yards on special teams, placing them 6th in kick return yardage. The Falcons averaged 22.2 yards per kick return and had a long of 53 yards last season. They were 5th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,358. The Atlanta Falcons tried 26 field goals last season and made 25, which was 8th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 96.2%. Atlanta Falcons kickers made 95% of their extra points, going 41 for 43 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,729 yards on 62 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That ranked them 16th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Minnesota Vikings ran for 1,493 yards as a team last year, which ranked 7th in the NFL. They ran 357 times, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Vikings were penalized on offense 92 times for 779 yards last season, which had them 22nd in the league in penalties. They were 10th in the NFL in points scored with 360. They ran 1,003 plays last season for 5,529 yards, which ranked them 11th in the league in total offense. The Vikings averaged 5.5 yards per play, which was 13th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 310 1st downs last year, placing them 6th overall as an offensive unit. Kirk Cousins averaged 7.1 yards per pass attempt and 10.1 yards per completion last season. He completed 425 passes on 606 attempts for a completion percentage of 70.1%. His quarterback rating last year was 99.7. He threw for 4,298 yards.

Related: Get NFL predictions on all of today's games

Defensive Statistics

The Vikings rush defense allowed 440 attempts for 1,815 yards last year, putting them in 2nd place in the league against the run. Minnesota committed 106 penalties for 834 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 20th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 33.7% of possessions on defense, which was 3rd in the league. They were 1st in the league in points allowed on defense with 341. They surrendered a total of 4,955 yards on D, which was 1st in the NFL. The Vikings were ranked 2nd in yards per play allowed with 5. Their pass defense gave up 5.7 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 2nd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 315 passes on 503 attempts against the Minnesota defense last season, placing them 7th and 19th in the National Football League. The Minnesota Vikings pass defense also gave up a total of 3,140 yards through the air, which was 2nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Minnesota Vikings attempted 32 field goals last season and made 22, which was 9th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 68.8%. Minnesota kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 36 for 37 last year. Their punters totaled 3,256 yards on 73 punts, averaging 44.6 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 29. They accumulated 315 punt return yards and averaged 10.9 yards per return, which was 7th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 70 yards. They returned 22 kicks for 540 yards on special teams, ranking 21st in kick return yardage. The Vikings averaged 24.5 yards per kick return and had a long of 46 yards last year. They were 8th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,646.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Vikings -3.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald