The NFL’s International Series is renewed for another season when inter-conference foes the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars head to London for their Week 4 bout. Jacksonville is old hat at these U.K. games, as they’re set to play for the tenth time overseas, with an eleventh coming up shortly.

According to the NFL odds, the Jaguars who are currently perched as -3.0 favourites.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

There are a few ways to look at this particular matchup. First is the obvious head-to-head history. Although they don’t play each other very often, for what it’s worth Atlanta rides a four-game winning streak against the north Floridian franchise. Their last encounter came in December 2021, which the Falcons took 21-14.

Then of course there is the fun aspect of how these organizations do when the NFL sends them overseas. As previously stated, this will be Jacksonville’s tenth tussle in England. No other team has represented the NFL in the U.K. as often. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but they serve as the home team this week and the road team, still in London, in Week 5 against the Bills. The Jags are 4-5 overseas. Jacksonville is 1-2 ATS this season.

This marks only the third time that the Falcons organization will play in England. They lost to Detroit in 2014, then defeated the Jets in 2021. Like their opponents, Atlanta is also 1-2 ATS so far this season.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons were flying high as they headed to Detroit to play the Lions in Week 3. At 2-0, positive vibes were understandable, especially after clawing their way back to beat the Packers the week prior.

However, they ran into a force in Michigan, losing 20-6. The Lions aren’t exactly known for sporting a terrific defence, yet the Falcons only mustered 183 total yards. Averaging 2.8 yards per offensive play will not translate into many victories. The Desmond Ridder experience is a roller coaster ride. He’ll sometimes make brilliant plays but have a day where he completes 21 passes for a paltry 139 yards. Having a bruising ground can alleviate that issue, but neither Bijan Robinson nor Tyler Allgeier factored much. The offensive line allowed a whopping seven sacks, making it a miserable day for the attack, although the defence did a solid job at limiting Detroit to only 20 points.

LB Troy Andersen is on IR.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Contrary to the Falcons, the Jaguars entered the 2023 campaign with reasonable expectations given their relative success last season. Through three weeks of play, this operation looks as if it hasn’t figured things out yet.

The Jags were an understandable -7.5 favourite against the visiting Houston Texans in Week 3. But sometimes those spreads against presumably weaker clubs backfire, and this one sure did, with the Jaguars stumbling to defeat, 37-17. Houston came out with a brazen approach, bulldozing their way on offence, defence, and special teams for a 17-0 halftime lead. Jacksonville’s defence did not handle rookie QB C.J. Stroud well, allowing the young gun to complete two-thirds of his passes for 280 yards. Early 2023 Trevor Lawrence simply doesn’t look like the late 2022 version. The Jaguars are supposed to be the experienced side, yet committed two turnovers to Houston’s zero and allowed a 255-pound fullback to return a punt 85 yards for a touchdown.

WR Zay Jones, OT Anton Harrison, and S Antonio Johnson are listed as questionable.

Who Will Win Falcons vs. Jaguars?

FALCONS

Away

20

JAGUARS

Home

21

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Predictions

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