Falcons vs. Lions Prediction
Which 2-0 team will come out on top when the Detroit Lions play host to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at 1PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Atlanta is favored on the road in this game, as the Falcons are getting odds of -3 points against the Lions. The over/under total for the game is listed at 50.5 points. The Falcons have won three of the last four against the Lions, covering the spread in all four meetings as well.
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The Lions are in a rare 2-0 spot right now with a pair of double-digit wins over the Cardinals and the Giants. The Lions have been the underdog in both games as well. Detroit has looked strong on defense, allowing just 16.5 points and 307 yards per game. Their run defense is holding opponents to just 53.5 yards per game. The unit has six sacks and five turnovers through two games, though rookie LB Jarrad Davis is questionable to play due to a concussion suffered on Monday night. Offensively, the Lions are putting up 29.5 points per game despite averaging just 317 yards per contest. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 414 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.
The Falcons are off to a 2-0 start with wins over the Bears and the Packers. The Falcons are 1-1 against the spread in the two games, failing to cover in the trip to Chicago. Atlanta is looking like a complete team again, as the offense is putting up 28.5 points and 389 yards per game while the defense is allowing just 20 points and 370 yards per contest. Matt Ryan has thrown for 573 yards and two touchdowns while Julio Jones has nine catches for 174 yards and Devonta Freeman has 121 rushing yards with three touchdowns. The defense will be without a key piece this week, as Vic Beasley suffered a hamstring tear that will have him out for about a month.
The big question for this game is if the Lions are for real. Detroit is 2-0 with wins over two teams that look to be on their way down. Now they host the defending NFC champs. This will be the toughest test yet for the Lions defense. While Detroit can probably stop the run, the Lions’ weakness comes in the pass and not having Davis won’t help. Atlanta should be able to air it out if it can keep Ryan clean. The Lions offense isn’t impressing anyone. Stafford is a great player, but his line is very suspect right now and Detroit hasn’t proven it can run the ball consistently. It can’t just always be on Stafford to win games and I think that’s what it will be on Sunday. Go with the Falcons to stay unbeaten.
NFL WEEK 3 PREDICTION: ATLANTA FALCONS -3