Falcons Look to Play Spoiler Once Again in Carolina

A week after dealing one division rival a stunning loss, the 2-7 Atlanta Falcons look to do the same to another when they visit the 5-4 Carolina Panthers. Atlanta has won and covered six of its last seven games against the Panthers, who are two games out of a wild-card spot in the NFC.  

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Money has come in on the Falcons since oddsmakers opened Carolina as a 6.5-point favorite at Sportsbook, moving Atlanta down to +5.5 by Monday afternoon. However, the more dramatic swing has come on the total, which was 54 on the look-ahead lines but opened at 51 after the Falcons’ strong defensive showing last week in New Orleans.

Atlanta News & Notes

To suggest the bye week did the Falcons good would be a massive understatement. Atlanta looked like a totally different team coming out of its midseason break last week in New Orleans, shocking the Saints 26-9 to snap a six-game losing streak.

Matt Ryan threw for two touchdowns in his return from an ankle injury, but the big story was the Falcons defense. Not only did the Dirty Birds hold New Orleans without a touchdown at home — the first time that’s happened with Drew Brees under centre since 2006 — but they also sacked Brees a career-high six times, nearly matching the league-low total of seven sacks they’d recorded in their first eight games combined.

If the Falcons are going to pull off a second straight road upset this week, however, they may need to do it with a thin running back corps. Starter Devonta Freeman left last week’s game with an ankle injury, while backup Ito Smith was recently placed on injured reserve.

Carolina News & Notes

If there’s a silver lining to the Panthers’ 24-16 loss last week, it’s that they went toe to toe with the Packers at snowy Lambeau Field. Carolina finished the game mere inches from potentially tying the score (the Panthers would have still needed a two-point conversion) as Christian McCaffrey was stopped at the goal line as the clock struck zero.

Carolina QB Kyle Allen criticized himself after the game for committing a pair of costly turnovers, but his Panthers teammates raved about his poise in leading the offense 88 yards on the team’s final possession.

With rumors mounting that Carolina will release or trade Cam Newton in the offseason, there’s reason to believe that Allen — who is 5-2 as the starter this season — may be the team’s franchise quarterback going forward.

A cause for concern this week against Atlanta will be how to defend Julio Jones. Green Bay’s Davante Adams had his way with the Panthers secondary in the absence of starting cornerback James Bradberry, who was out with a groin injury. If Bradberry can’t return this week, Jones could enjoy another field day vs the club he recorded 300 yards against in a single game in 2016.

Betting Pick: Falcons +6.5