Here it is. The game we’ve all been waiting for when we still thought either of these teams were good. Though it’s lost a little of its luster, the Atlanta Falcons (3-2) traveling to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Patriots (4-2) is still the best game of the week.
The SNF game will begin at 8:30 p.m. EST on your local NBC affiliate. I’ll be live blogging this one the whole way with you, so come back here to GetMoreSports.com and ride along.
The Game: Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots (-3)
O/U: 56.5
The History
The Falcons and Patriots have met just 14 times since 1972. New England holds an 8-6 advantage.
This is a rematch of Super Bowl 51 in which the Patriots came back from 28-3 to force and win in overtime, 34-28. It was the first overtime in Super Bowl history and was either the greatest comeback in NFL playoff history or the worst choke job. I vote the latter.
ATLANTA FALCONS (3-2)
The Falcons are unquestionably reeling. They are two last second plays away from being 1-4 heading into this game. I thought, after they survived a 30-26 scare with the Detroit Lions, that they had put any potential Super Bowl hangover behind them. Then, they promptly lost two straight games to the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins.
The Miami loss was downright horrible. Atlanta led 17-0 at halftime and let a team led by Jay Cutler come back and beat them in regulation. Matt Ryan just can’t stop throwing the ball to the other team. He’s thrown six interceptions in his last three games. He’s on pace to throw 19 this season. And the worst part is, he’s only on pace to throw 19 touchdown passes.
Atlanta got 68 yards on nine carries from Devonta Freeman and 32 yards and a touchdown from Tevin Coleman last week. In the Super Bowl, these two guys ran all over New England and with the way the Patriots defense has been playing this year, should do so again.
Julio Jones caught six passes for 72 yards last week. The defense was pitiful. They recorded exactly zero sacks of Cutler and got just four stops in the backfield.
There will be no injury excuses for the Falcons in this game. They’ll be missing only outside linebacker Jordan Tripp. He’s in the concussion protocol. Everyone else is healthy and practiced all week.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-2)
New England held on to beat the New York Jets 24-17 last week in a game that, a year ago, wouldn’t have been within two touchdowns. Such is the fresh new defense the Super Genius Bill Belichick has fielded this season. They’re the worst unit in the league and if this Falcons team wasn’t a psychological wreck, that might be a problem.
Tom Brady is taking a ton of hits every game and seems to be struggling to get up off the turf more and more. I predicted Brady would have the worst season of his career in the preseason and that’s not happened yet. The truth is, he’s the only good and consistent thing about this team. I also predicted he’d retire at the end of the year and, watching him eat it continually on hits in the pocket this season, I still feel pretty good about that one.
Brady was 20 of 38 for 257 yards, two touchdowns and a pick last week against the Jets. Any complaints early in the season about hooking up with Brandin Cooks have evaporated as he’s become Brady’s favorite target over the last few weeks. Last Sunday Cooks caught six passes for 93 yards. Rob Gronkowski continues to battle his way onto the field. He caught six passes himself for 83 yards and two touchdowns against New York.
The Pats defense managed four sacks on Josh McCown and eight stops in the backfield. For all that, they still gave up 9-of-17 on third downs and 1-of-3 on fourth down against the Jets. New York held a 33:40 to 26:20 time of possession advantage last week too.
The Pick
There is no excuse for the Falcons not to win this game. Every strength of their team on offense should reveal a weakness on the Patriots. Still, I don’t believe it will happen even for a second. Atlanta had its shot at history in the Super Bowl and would have come out this season on fire if they’d won it. Instead, they’re on a slow wilt that will just get worse after New England beats them again. Prove me wrong, Atlanta. I dare you. Patriots 34, Falcons 33
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 5-9
Against the spread: 5-9
Season
Straight up: 48-43
Against the spread: 43-48
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