Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins have been good at home this season and look to continue that string of strong play as they welcome an Atlanta Falcons squad looking to win its third straight game. Washington is a small 1.5-point favorite, while the total for the game is set at 47.5.

Falcons vs Redskins Game Center

THIS SUNDAY I’M BETTING UNDER 47.5

Trying to decide the total for these two teams is difficult, because they are polar opposites in recent play. Five of Atlanta’s last six games have seen the OVER hit (with an average combined score of 62.0), while Washington has played the UNDER in nine of its last 11 games and the average combined score was 38.55.

A deeper dig, however, shows that Atlanta, like a classic dome team, has struggled playing outside on the road. The Falcons are 1-4 SU in their last five road games and the UNDER has hit in five of their last six on the road.

With their high-powered offense naturally slowed down outside of a dome, combined with Washington having one of the league’s better defenses, points may not exactly be coming in bunches. Atlanta’s defense may be porous, but the Washington offense is built to control the clock, methodically work its way down the field and grind you down; the Redskins lack the big-play ability and they prefer to avoid shootouts.

This is going to be a close game, with a lot of long drives and ball possession/field position being key factors. The home Redskins get the edge in my books, but I’m placing my money on the outcome – either way – coming in a low-scoring affair where the UNDER prevails.

ADRIAN PETERSON TURNING BACK THE CLOCK

Don’t look now, but future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson is showing he still has some gas left in the tank.

Coming off an injury-plagued 2016 season, Peterson split last season between the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals, totaling just 529 yards in 10 games, averaging a career-worst 3.4 yards per carry and looking like his NFL career was coming to an end.

But 2018 has been a resurgence for the 33-year-old Peterson. He has topped 90 rushing yards in five of his seven games this year for Washington, including a monster game in Week 8, when he had 26 carries for a season-high 149 yards and a touchdown.

In Washington’s last three games – all wins – Peterson has averaged 5.14 yards per carry and 108 yards per game. He is fifth in the NFL with 587 rushing yards and is on pace for 1,342 yards for the season.

Peterson’s emergence as a lethal backfield threat has been a pleasant surprise for Washington, taking the pressure off quarterback Alex Smith to carry an offense that lacks in dangerous receiving threats. Things will get tougher for Peterson following this Week 9 contest, as the Redskins will then face four straight defenses that are currently in the top 10 for fewest rushing yards per game, so look for AP to make the most of this opportunity against a slightly weaker Atlanta run defense.

WOUNDED BIRDS PILING UP

There’s fewer things that can sink a team’s season than injuries, and the injury report for the Atlanta Falcons is getting longer and longer.

Week 8 may have been a bye week for Atlanta, but the team still couldn’t avoid further bad news, as starting right guard Brandon Fusco was placed on the season-ending injured reserve. He is the sixth key Falcon to go on IR and the second off the offensive line, joining left guard Andy Levitre.

Having two backups on the offensive line is bad news for Atlanta, which struggled in pass protection in its two previous road games this year, as quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked 10 times and took 27 hits in those two contests.

Against a Washington front seven that has 14 sacks and 22 QB hits and allows just 80.1 rushing yards per game, the holes on the offensive line could mean a long day for the Falcons offense.