The Atlanta Falcons outscored the Seattle Seahawks 21-0 in the third quarter in their previous meeting, taking a 24-17 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Seahawks scraped back and won with a field goal with under 2-minutes to play. On the game, Atlanta QB Matt Ryan threw for 335 yards and 3 TDs.
Going back to the divisional round playoffs at the old Georgia Dome, Atlanta was a clear 6.5-point favorite and decimated that spread with a 36-20 win over the Seahawks. On that game, Ryan threw for 338 yards and three TDs, while the defense picked off Russell Wilson on two occasions. Keep in mind that the Atlanta Falcons are coached by Dan Quinn – who was once a Seattle defensive coordinator (take that for what you will).
The Seahawks are 8-2 straight up in their past 10 games where they were 3-point home favorites or better, but are 4-5-1 against the spread. Atlanta on the other hand has lost its past three games as an underdog on the road, going 1-2 against the spread.
The Atlanta Falcons (5-4 SU, 3-6 ATS) were the first to capitalize on an Ezekiel Elliott-less Cowboys (six-game suspension), shutting down Dallas at home on Sunday by a total of 27-7. Atlanta held the Cowboys to 233 total yards, while Matt Ryan threw for 215 and two TDs. Running back Devonta Freeman left the first quarter with a possible concussion (questionable for Week 11) and running back Tevin Coleman rushed 20 times for 83 yards and a touchdown.
The Falcons’ defensive end Adrian Claiborne (NFC Defensive Player of the Week) was a one-man wrecking crew, recording six sacks – a team-record, just one sack shy of the league record set way back in 1990.
The Seattle Seahawks (6-3 SU, 3-5-1 ATS) lost cornerback Richard Sherman to a season-ending ruptured Achilles’ tendon in their 22-16 win over NFC West rival Arizona on Thursday in Week 9. This game against the Falcons will mark the first time that Sherman has missed a game in his seven-year career. Seattle has lost their key interception-threat and a massive part of their defense in one swift rupture.
Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes in the win, connecting with tight end Jimmy Graham on both, giving Graham six TD catches in his last five games.
