The Atlanta Falcons are 5-8, while the New Orleans Saints are 4-9. Both teams are completely out of contention for a playoff spot, right? Wrong.
Atlanta and New Orleans are both in the hunt because every team in the NFC South Division is under .500 through 13 games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the division with a 6-7 record and the Carolina Panthers are next at 5-8.
With four games remaining in the season, every team still has a shot at the division title. This matchup adds some more intrigue as the Falcons have made a switch at quarterback. Just how will that impact the team and the NFL betting lines?
The Falcons had the past week off and needed the one-week break to recharge and refocus for the home stretch. Atlanta has lost four of its last five games, and there is an obvious common thread in each loss: they can’t score more than 17 points.
They have been contained on a regular basis, and while their defense is clearly playing well enough to win – having allowed precisely 19 points in each of its last two games and no more than 25 points in any of its last five games – the offense isn’t.
That’s why the Falcons decided to make a change as Marcus Mariota – the team’s season-long starter – was benched and rookie Desmond Ridder was given the starting job. Mariota didn’t take the news well and left the team.
The Falcons lost 19-13 to Washington on Nov. 27 when Mariota threw a red-zone interception in the final minute of regulation. Atlanta then lost 19-16 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 4 after a penalty in the red zone thwarted a promising drive with the Falcons trailing 19-13.
They needed a change and the quarterback position was a natural place to do it. We’ll see what impact it has, though.
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The Saints lost twice to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so they are three games behind them in the NFC South. However, they know the Buccaneers have a tough closing schedule.
If the Saints win their remaining four games and the Bucs go 1-3, New Orleans can still win the division and go to the playoffs. This game is a must, however.
New Orleans’ problems have been the same ones Atlanta has faced. The Saints haven’t scored more than 16 points in four of their last five games. This is a tough team whenever it finds some offense, but it doesn’t find it very regularly.
Does that mean those who bet online should look at the under here?
Falcons vs Saints Game Injuries
Falcons vs Saints Head-to-Head
The Falcons lead the series 54-53, but the Saints won 27-26 earlier this season in the most recent meeting.
Derrick Erickson has been entrenched in sports media over the last decade. From working in fantasy sports to the sports betting side of things, he's been plugged in for quite some time. His favorite teams include the Texas Longhorns, Dallas Cowboys, and Dallas Mavericks.