Cowboys vs. Falcons Point Spread: NFL Week 9 Odds, Prediction
The 3-4 Cowboys are quickly sinking in the NFC. Back-to-back losses has the Cowboys in third in their NFC East division, and now several games outside the playoffs. The 5-3 Falcons stand alone atop the NFC South but still need to prove they can pull away from the competition, rather than falling right back into the mud that is the NFC playoff picture.
Dallas’ issues — a 31st-ranked defence and lack of any kind of offensive weapon outside of CeeDee Lamb — may be too late to repair. With the defence not getting any healthier, this may fall on Dak Prescott and CeeDee to work some sort of magic these next few Sundays. If not, dark times are ahead in Jerry World.
Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium gets going at 1 p.m. EST with the Falcons a -150 moneyline favourite, and a field goal favourite on the point spread while the total’s at 52 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
At +300 odds to make the playoffs, it’s becoming now or never for the Cowboys. The challenge for Dallas this week is that Atlanta’s a top-10 offence in offensive yards, an area the Cowboys are weak at defending. Dallas’ most glaring weakness on defence is against the run; the Cowboys 154.6 rushing yards against per game this season is worst in the NFL, so expect both Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to see an uptick in carries this weekend.
Dallas is 3-1 on the road this season, a rarity for a team that’s usually home-field dominant. Atlanta is ironically 2-3 at home this season too, so this all favours Dallas. Seven of the last nine Cowboys contests have gone over the total, as have four of Atlanta’s last four games. It’s a high total of 52 for this matchup, but if any combination can get over the 52… it’s Dallas vs. Atlanta.
Dallas Cowboys
A halftime lead last weekend at San Francisco turned out to be some sort of fluke, as Dallas came out of halftime back to their old ways: turnovers, three-and-outs, and an inability to get their defence off the field. Dak Prescott threw two interceptions for a third straight game and is one shy of his season total of nine a season ago. In all fairness, Prescott’s got little to work with.
CeeDee Lamb blew every other Cowboys player away with 17 targets, and did turn them into his best performance this season with 13 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. The problem being, Lamb had over 100 yards more than any other Cowboys player.
On an injury note, cornerback Trevon Diggs (calf) and offensive lineman Zack Martin (shoulder) missed Wednesday’s practice. DaRon Bland and Micah Parsons did not return to practice.
Atlanta Falcons
To say last weekend’s 31-26 Falcons victory at Tampa Bay was important may be an understatement. The win got Atlanta to 5-3 on the season but more importantly to 4-0 in the NFC South and a 2-0 record against Tampa Bay, who right now appears to be Atlanta’s only threat in the division a.k.a for a home playoff game. Kirk Cousins is absolutely dealing for the Falcons too, coming off a 276-yard, four-touchdown showing Week 8 that also featured zero Atlanta turnovers. Cousins is third in the NFL with 2,106 passing yards, and +4000 to win the NFL MVP… just saying.
After missing last weekend, safety Justin Simmons (hamstring) was limited in practice Wednesday which is a positive sign. Pro Bowl offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom (knee) did not practice at all.
DAL
ATL