Atlanta maintained its perfect record this season with a convincing victory over the injury-plagued Dallas Cowboys on the road this past Sunday. The Falcons will look to extend their winning streak even further when they take on the Houston Texans in a marquee NFL clash this coming Sunday.
Who will grab the advantage in this blockbuster showdown? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this riveting matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our NFL Week 4 previews of Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia vs. Washington.
[sc:Football ]Houston Texans vs. Atlanta Falcons Preview
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
When: Sunday, October 4, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Houston Texans (+6.5) at Atlanta Falcons (-6.5); total: 46.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Houston Texans
Houston finally chalked up its first win of the season with a 19-9 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. It was a morale-boosting victory for the Texans, who suffered humiliating defeats to Kansas City and Carolina in their opening two games.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Houston’s win wouldn’t be possible, though, without the heroics of running back Alfred Blue. He finished with 139 yards on 31 carries and scored on a 20-yard touchdown run. That was exactly what the doctor ordered for a struggling Texans ground attack that failed to reach 100 yards rushing in each of its first two games.
Apart from Blue, the Texans’ defense also stepped up big time against the Bucs. They held Tampa Bay to just nine points on Sunday, with the Buccaneers managing just 318 total yards. The Texans even buckled down on their third-down defense, with Tampa Bay converting just one of their 12 third-down chances.
They will need to bring that same kind of defensive effort this coming Sunday if they are to record their second win against Atlanta. The Texans’ secondary, in particular, needs to man up against Atlanta’s lethal aerial attack, one that’s averaging 305.3 passing yards per game this season (second-best in the NFL). Houston is 12th in passing defense this season, allowing 224.0 yards per game this campaign.
The Texans are 4-6 SU and 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta stretched its unbeaten run to three games with an impressive 39-28 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. It was an incredible win for the Falcons, who rallied from a trio of 14-point deficits in this game. With the victory, the Falcons are now 3-0 for the first time since the 2012 season, the last time that they reached the NFC Championship Game. Atlanta is the first team to start 3-0 after trailing in the fourth quarter in each of its first three games.
Leading the way for the Falcons in this comeback win was Devonta Freeman. He ran for 141 yards and three scores as he started in place of the injured rookie Tevin Coleman. It was the first 100-yard rushing game of Freeman’s career. What made Freeman’s performance so impressive was that he did it against Dallas’ vaunted defensive line. The Cowboys entered the game ranked No. 1 in the league against the run after two games.
With Freeman wreaking havoc on the ground, that opened things up for Julio Jones and the rest of the Falcons’ aerial attack. Jones surpassed the 100-yard receiving mark for the third consecutive game. He finished with 164 yards and a clinching 2-yard score late in the fourth quarter. The Falcons will need that same kind of offensive balance for them to extend their winning streak against the Texans.
The Falcons are third in the NFL in total offense, averaging 411.7 yards per game this season. They will have their work cut out for them, however, against a Houston side that is 12th in the NFL in total defense, conceding just 332.7 yards per game this campaign.
Writer’s Prediction
Atlanta (-6.5) wins, 24-21.
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