Monday Night Football should see plenty of points this week. The Atlanta Falcons head to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints, in a game of big time offenses. In the four games, these teams have played combined, a total of 216 points. Last week the Falcons won 35-28 on the road in Oakland. Meanwhile, the Saints lost to the Giants in a game that was controlled by the Giants defense.
The Falcons have scored 59 points in two games this season. The only problem for them is their defense has also given up 59 points on the season. So with the good comes the bad. The offense is the good, while the defense is certainly the bad. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are a great duo together, and the team can score with just about anyone. That notion will be tested this week, as the team takes on a divisional rival who fall under the same umbrella.
The Saints fit into the very same category as the Falcons. Their offense has scored 47 points, but their defense has allowed 51. But this week will see the Saints return home, where they apparently play better. They should have won their week one game, but the Raiders made the ballsy move to go for two and the win and pulled it off. Back to that defense not making a stop when they needed to. The Raiders then went home to lose to the Falcons, but just because the Falcons beat the team that beat the Saints does not mean we will see them beat New Orleans in this one.
The Saints offense clicks when it is at home, and I expect that to be the case this week. Wide receiver Willie Snead is dealing with a toe injury that impacts this game, given he may not play. But when all is said and done, the Saints offense has enough weapons to pull this one out, with or without Snead. Home field advantage will be the difference in this one for two teams that are virtually identical in makeup.
Line: NO -3, O/U: 54
Pick: Saints and the over
Result: Atl 45 – NO 32, Falcons and the over
To see the spreads and over/under for each week two match-up, make sure you head over to our master sheet right here!