Falcons Lions Line


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This Sunday the Detroit Lions will look to rebound from their first loss of the season when they host the Atlanta Falcons. The Lions fell to 5-1 with a 19-25 loss at home against the 49ers, a game in which Detroit led 19-15 with just under 14 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The Falcons improved 3-3 with an easy 31-17 win over the Carolina Panthers. Atlanta hasn’t won back-to-back games all season and are just 1-2 on the road.

Taking a look at the week 7 NFL lines, oddsmakers currently have the Lions favored by 3-points over the Falcons with the total set at 47.5 points.

Atlanta Falcons:

The Falcons got off to a bit of a slow start against the Panthers last week, but really turned it on late with 17 points in the fourth quarter. Thanks to the Buccaneers upset win over the Saints, the Falcons sit just a game back of both teams in the NFC South.

The Falcons got a big time performance out of running back Michael Turner, who had a season-high 139 yards and two touchdowns on 27 attempts.  Atlanta came into the season really wanting to become more of a passing threat offensively, but this team has been at it’s best when they feed Turner the football. Turner has averaged nearly 25 attempts in three wins and just over 12 in three losses.

Matt Ryan went finished 14 of 22 for with 163 yards and a touchdown.  Those aren’t the numbers that fans want to see out of their emerging young quarterback, but a win is a win. I am more concerned with the lack of production out of wide out Roddy White, who had just two catches for 21 yards despite rookie Julio Jones missing the game with a hamstring injury.  With Jones listed as questionable to return this week, White needs to be more involved if the Falcons are going to win at Detroit.

Ryan could have trouble getting much of anything going in the passing game against a Lions defense that is giving up just 205.5 ypg through the air. However, Atlanta should be able to have a lot of success running the ball. Detroit comes in giving up 129.5 ypg on the ground, and are coming off a game in which they allowed 203 rushing yards to San Francisco.

Detroit Lions:

The Lions are coming off one of their worst offensive performance of the season. Detroit jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but managed to score just nine points over the final three periods. It was the fewest points the Lions had been held to all season.

Matthew Stafford had another strong day throwing the football, completing 28 of 50 attempts for 293 yards and two touchdowns.  However, Stafford was sacked a season-high five times in the loss.  Stafford connected with Pro Bowl wide out Calvin Johnson seven times for 113 yards, but Johnson was held without a touchdown for the first time this season.  Tight end Brandon Pettigrew had another solid game with eight catches for 42 yards and a score, giving him 29 receptions over his last four games.

The big concern going into this game is whether or not starting running back Jahvid Best will be available after suffering a concussion against San Francisco. Best had just 37 yards on 12 carries, but did have six catches for 73 yards. The second-year back has 577 total yards on the season. If Best isn’t able to go, backups Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams will likely split carries.

Luckily for the Lions they should be able to move the ball in the passing game against an Atlanta defense that comes in 27th giving up 283.3 ypg.

Betting Trends:

Atlanta is 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.

Detroit is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite.

Be sure to stop back and check out who Steve Janus has picked to win in week 7 of the NFL.

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