The least likely unbeaten in the NFL looks to match its win total from last season when the Falcons visit the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football. There’s a reason why the Falcons haven’t lost: They refuse to lose. Atlanta is the only team in league history to start 5-0 after trailing in the fourth quarter during four of those games.
ODDS
Atlanta opened as a 2.5-point favorite with the total at 51. The Falcons failed to cover the 7.5-point spread in last week’s overtime win over Washington, their first ATS loss this season. The Saints’ home dominance has evaporated going 1-6 SU and ATS in their last seven home games. The current line is Atlanta -3 with the total at 51.5.
KEY INJURIES
Mike Person – The Falcons’ starting center is expected to miss Thursday’s game with a sprained ankle. James Stone, who took over against Washington, is expected to start. Gino Gradkowski will be Stone’s backup.
Marques Colston – Clearly hurt his right shoulder in the loss to Philadelphia and his arm was in a sling after the game. There has been no word from the team but the Saints’ all-time receptions leader could be lost for an extended period of time.
KEY MISMATCH
Falcons’ running back Devonta Freeman looks like a breakout star, and a case could be made that the second-year back is the MVP of the first five weeks of the season. Freeman rushed for 153 yards and scored his seventh touchdown in his last three games during last week’s overtime win over Washington. He’s a quick, one-cut back who appears to be perfectly in tune with the Falcons’ zone blocking scheme. After seeing DeMarco Murray break out against New Orleans with 120 yards from scrimmage last week, it’s scary to think what Freeman could do against a subpar Saints defense. Freeman’s insane workload should also be eased by the return of rookie Tevin Coleman, who was playing well as the featured back prior to injuring his ribs.
KEY STAT
28.6 – The Saints’ points per game allowed. New Orleans ranks 30th in the NFL after giving up a staggering 518 yards of offense and 39 points to the Eagles in a blowout loss. The Falcons are third in the league in scoring at 32.4 points per game.
BETTING ANGLE
Veteran Saints players and coach Sean Payton appear committed to putting a brave face on a 1-4 start that has them closer to irrelevance than anything else. A loss to the Falcons will have New Orleans off to its worst start since Payton took over in 2006. Twice before the Saints started 1-4 and both times they were able to get a win in their sixth game. But as this season comes closer to slipping away, it begs more questions about whether major changes are needed. Recent reports say multiple teams are expected to inquire about Payton’s availability at the end of the season, even though he’s under contract through 2017. The coach reiterated that he likes the attitude, mindset, and buy-in from this year’s team after the Saints overhauled the roster.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
There’s really no reason why the Falcons should lose this game. They are unbeaten with an offense that is rolling behind quarterback Matt Ryan and breakout star Freeman. Julio Jones catches everything in sight and Atlanta has been able to overcome deficits to win. Coach Dan Quinn has the defense playing well and could probably run for mayor of the city and win in a landslide. But this is the NFL, and as we’ve seen, anything can happen. The Saints were torched last week by an Eagles’ team that needed something good to happen to them. A situation New Orleans is in now. The Saints defense will be playing for coordinator Rob Ryan’s job and will come up with a much better performance. Drew Brees will direct the offense with precision, Brandin Cooks will have a monster game and the bounces will go against the Falcons, who will fall from the ranks of the unbeaten with a loss to their rivals.
New Orleans 30, Atlanta 27
BookMaker opened the spread for this Thursday game at -2.5 in favor of the Falcons. The NFL odds total surfaced at 51. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints will take place Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 8:25 p.m. ET at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The matchup will be televised live on CBS and the NFL Network.
