In recent seasons, the National Football Conference South Division was considered one of the weakest in the league. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the division three straight years without gaining any serious recognition when the playoffs start.
This year, the Atlanta Falcons have looked to add a second team to the mix to first give Tampa Bay a run for the division title, and then have some stature when they crack the playoff field.
The Falcons have a number of blue-chip athletes on the defensive side of the ball and added veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to their attack this season. Cousins has the Falcons tied with the Bucs for the top spot in the NFC South after six weeks with four wins in six decisions. Two weeks ago, the Falcons beat Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers in Atlanta, 36-30. The win was typical for the Falcons this year, close to the end and breaking the Falcons way.
In addition to beating the Bucs by one score, they also edged the Philadelphia Eagles in second week action by a single point and kicked a last second field goal to upend the New Orleans Saints by two points three weeks ago. Last Sunday, the Falcons punched the free space on the NFL schedule with a lopsided win in Carolina over the hapless Panthers, 38-20.
In other words, last week a big win and next week they have their second meeting of the year against their primary division competition, the Bucs in Tampa.
So, who do they play this week, and are they in the right mindset to win a game before next week’s more important showdown?
No.
It is their opponent that comes to Atlanta with the more dire need of getting a win this week. After opening the season with three straight victories over the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins, the Seahawks have had their season record evened at three wins and three losses.
The downturn in the Seahawks fortunes began with a loss in Detroit to the talented Lions. Then they got caught, perhaps looking ahead to their showdown with the San Francisco 49ers in a week they lost to the New York Giants. Looking ahead did the Seahawks no good, as they also lost by double-digits to their primary competition in the NFC West … the 49ers.
Now what?
The Falcons come into today’s game confident following three straight wins and perched at the top of their division standings, and the Seahawks come into the Mercedes-Benz Stadium needing a win off three stinging losses.
The line opened on this game with the Falcons favored by 3½ points, but while the public is lining up on the home team the point spread has been shaved to three points. It appears that the books are happy with people betting the home team and are making them more attractive on the line.
Geeze, the books want us to bet on the Falcons.
Should we?
Of course not.
Qoxhi Picks: Seattle Seahawks (+3) over Atlanta Falcons