It’s looking like déjà vu all over again for the Atlanta Falcons. It was around this time last year when they began to crumble following a 6-1 start. A six-game losing streak in the middle of the season cost them a shot at making the playoffs. Well, after winning four straight, the Falcons are up to their old tricks. Two consecutive losses have Dan Quinn squirming, and it’s not because of his failed fourth down call in overtime. It might be because the Green Bay Packers are coming to town for a Week 8 contest and the losing skid could continue.
This contest in Week 8 of the regular season will go down Sunday, October 30, 2016, at 4:25 p.m. ET at the Georgia Dome.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Green Bay Packers +2.5
Atlanta Falcons -2.5
Over/Under 53
Odds Analysis
Wagers on the spread are evenly split and the oddsmakers nailed this one. If not for a blown call by the officials and a questionable decision by Quinn, the Falcons could easily be 6-1 at this point. Atlanta has played over the total in six of its seven games and the over/under looks achievable in this one. The betting public thinks so too with 82 percent of the bets placed on the over which caused the total to jump a point to its current 53.
Injury Report
Damarious Randall – The Packers lost another cornerback when Randall was put on the shelf with a groin injury. He’s expected to miss several weeks, joining Sam Shields and Quinten Rollins on the sidelines. Green Bay’s thin and inexperienced secondary will be tested by the Falcons’ Julio Jones.
Tevin Coleman – Atlanta lost half of its dynamic backfield when Coleman left the last game with a hamstring injury and he’s not expected to play on Sunday. Coleman and Devonta Freeman have propelled the Falcons’ No. 1 ranked offense and his absence will hurt, leaving Freeman to handle the workload. Atlanta has no other running backs on the roster so a move is imminent.
Matchup to Watch
Packers’ defensive coordinator Dom Capers will certainly earn his pay this week as his depleted secondary gets ready to take on the league’s most explosive offensive unit. With Randall undergoing surgery for a groin issue and Shields on injured reserve with a concussion, the Packers will face Matt Ryan and Jones with a secondary absent its top two cornerbacks. The situation could be worse if Rollins is unavailable. Rollins continues to mend from a groin issue that forced him out of the last two games.
If the Falcons don’t target Jones a lot, their game plan is seriously flawed. Jones leads the NFL with 830 receiving yards and averages 20.8 yards per catch. That 300-yard game in Week 5 against Carolina certainly boosted the numbers, and he had 174 receiving yards last week against San Diego. Those two games were both played in the Georgia Dome. If the Packers need a reminder just how good Jones is they can pull out the game film from two years ago when he caught 11 passes for 259 yards against them.
Free ATS Pick
The loss of Eddie Lacy and James Starks forced Mike McCarthy to be creative with his offense and the outside-the-box thinking certainly had an effect on Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the group. The move was out of necessity, but McCarthy stuck Ty Montgomery in the backfield as a running back and spread the field with four receivers. Montgomery showed play-making ability with 10 catches for 66 yards and nine carries for 60 yards. Rodgers uncorked 56 passes completing 39 for 326 yards and three touchdowns without a pick. The Packers offense looked like the Packers offense.
Green Bay will need similar production to keep up with the Falcons. While the Pack shut down the Bears and held their offense without a touchdown, they were going against the 31st ranked scoring team that was relegated to its third-string quarterback. Things will be much different in this one and the teams are likely to flirt with the over in what should be an entertaining affair. Green Bay’s issues in the secondary are concerning, but I like the Pack to make up for it with their offensive explosiveness to get the win.
NFL Odds: Packers 34, Falcons 31
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
