Say all you want about how bad the NFC South is but the Atlanta Falcons have their division-leading 5-7 record to soothe themselves. However, one loss at this point of the season could throw the Falcons completely off the race to the top of the division. They’ll try to remain on top of the NFC South when they attempt to pull off a shocking upset against the Green Bay Packers (9-3) at Lambeau Field, no less.
The Packers, on the other hand, are fresh off a huge victory against the New England Patriots to extend their win streak to four games and more importantly, put themselves a game ahead of the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
A night before this intriguing showdown, the Seahawks and the Eagles engage in a potential barnburner. You can read a preview of that game here.
[sc:Football ]Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
When: Monday, December 8, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Atlanta Falcons (+12) at Green Bay Packers (-12); total: 56.5 – see all NFL lines
Betting on the Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons managed to keep their grip of the No. 1 seat in the NFC South with a 29-18 victory Sunday over NFC West leaders Arizona Cardinals. Another division top dog awaits them next week, when the Falcons take on the NFC North’s best in the form of Green Bay.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Matt Ryan had a brilliant game against Arizona, passing for 361 yards—his most since Week 1 (448) against the Saints—and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Of course, it helped Ryan to have Julio Jones down the field. Jones perhaps had his best game of the season against the Cards, receiving for 189 yards (career-high) and a touchdown.
Granted that the Falcons were faced with an Arizona passing defense that entered the game ranked 25th in passing defense (254.6 yards allowed per game), Jones’ performance is still noteworthy, considering that he’s done most of his damage against a formidable cornerback in Patrick Peterson. The same goes with Harry Douglas, who made Pro-Bowl corner Antonio Cromartie look like a useless bystander by going off for 116 receiving yards.
The Falcons’ rushing game, meanwhile, chewed off what was supposedly a tough run defense by Arizona. The Cards started the day third in run defense (84.5 rushing yards allowed per game) but Atlanta was able to compile 142 rushing yards. Steven Jackson almost single-handedly wrecked Arizona’s rushing defense, racking up 101 yards on the ground.
Jackson (602 rushing yards, 5 touchdowns), Devonta Freeman (180 rushing yards), and the rest of the Falcons’ backfield could be in line for another huge outing against Green Bay, which is 28th in the league in rush defense (132.3 yards allowed per game).
The under is 4-0 in Atlanta’s last four road games.
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Betting on the Green Bay Packers
In case you haven’t heard, let us break it to you: the Packers are one heck of a team. The Packers made the most of their opportunity to prove that again when they sent the New England Patriots careening out of Lambeau Field on Sunday, as they won what is considered by many as a preview of next February’s Super Bowl, 26-21.
In a matchup of not just two Super Bowl top contenders but also of today’s best quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers managed to come out on top. Rodgers threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns with no interception to outduel Tom Brady. Three sacks aside, Rodgers looked comfortable dissecting New England’s passing defense, which was ranked 17th (242.1 passing yards allowed per game) in the league before the contest. With that said, the Packers quarterback should be expected to run into lesser trouble against Atlanta’s toothless pass defense that’s currently ranked worst in the NFL with 284.9 passing yards allowed per game. The Falcons also have a lackluster pass rush, one that only has 14 sacks thus far this season.
The Packers are eighth in the league in passing yards with 269.0 per game.
Rodgers and his receiving corps, however, aren’t only the ones who are likely to take advantage of Atlanta’s highly questionable defense. Eddie Lacy must also like his chances of roasting the Falcons. Atlanta is giving up 118.2 rushing yards per game, 21st among all NFL teams.
Lacy racked up 98 yards against New England to up his season total to 770 to go along with six touchdowns.
The Packers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
Green Bay (-12) wins, 41-24.
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