Can the Atlanta Falcons (3-3) bounce back after a psyche destroying loss last week? The New York Jets (3-4) hope not as they host the Dirty Birds at MetLife Stadium Sunday.
Your local FOX station will deliver this game to your eyeballs at 1 p.m. EST.
The Game: Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets (+6.5)
O/U: 44.0
The History
The Falcons and the Jets have played 11 games since 1973 with Atlanta holding a 6-5 lead in the all time series.
The two teams last met up on October 7, 2013 with the Jets beating Atlanta 30-28. Geno Smith, of all people, led New York to victory with a 16 for 20 day for 199 yards and three touchdowns. Matt Ryan was 36 of 45 for 319 yards and two touchdowns.
Neither team has ever won more than two games in a row in the series. The Falcons did it twice, in 1992-1995 and 2005-2009. New York won two in a row from 1986-1989.
ATLANTA FALCONS (3-3)
Matt Ryan better enjoy that MVP trophy he earned last season, because it’s going to be all alone in his case for a long while. Ryan didn’t throw a pick against the New England Patriots in a 23-7 loss, so that’s an improvement. He also didn’t consistently make plays or switch it up at the line to get out of poor calls from Steve Sarkisian. He was the first quarterback this season that didn’t light up the Patriots’ secondary. Frankly, he’s lucky somebody from the league didn’t show up to take his MVP trophy away. Or at least confiscate it until the Falcons no longer suck.
There’s no more questions about Atlanta’s Super Bowl hangover. They’re right in the middle of it with a giant, cartoon ice pack atop their heads. They were 2-of-9 on third downs last week and 1-for-3 on fourth downs with just 25:55 in time of possession. I cannot stress enough how shitty that would be against a normal defense, but this was the Patriots. A team the Jets put 17 on for God’s sake.
What little the Falcons were able to do on offense went to Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman. Jones caught nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. Freeman had 12 carries for 72 yards.
Duke Riley and Jordan Tripp will both be out for this game. Everybody else should be healthy enough to play.
NEW YORK JETS (3-4)
Three weeks ago the Jets were playing the Patriots for first place in the AFC East. Now, they’re trying to get back to .500 with the defending NFC Champions coming into town.
In spite of two consecutive losses, New York hasn’t been terrible. They fell 24-17 to New England and lost, after giving up a 17 point fourth quarter comeback, to the Miami Dolphins. In spite of that epic collapse, quarterback Josh McCown was 17 of 27 for 209 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He spread the ball around to seven different receivers and got 84 yards combined on the ground combined from Bilal Powell and Matt Forte.
Defense is obviously where the Jets lost last Sunday, but sometimes a quarterback like Matt Moore coming in from the bullpen can screw you up for whatever reason. They did force three turnovers, had three sacks and got eight stops in the backfield.
The defense will have to play without cornerback Buster Skrine, who will miss the game in the concussion protocol. Offensive tackle Brandon Shell is out, as is tight end Jordan Leggett. Muhammad Wilkerson is officially listed as questionable, but he hasn’t practiced all week.
The Pick
The line on this game moved up 1.5 points in the last two days and the over/under dropped two and a half. What does that mean? It means that plenty of money came on Atlanta at -5 and the under. So where does that leave us? With an upset. New York has consistently moved the ball all season and Atlanta is in shambles. I’m calling it. Jets 31, Falcons 24
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 12-3
Against the spread: 7-8
Season
Straight up: 60-46
Against the spread: 50-56
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