Falcons vs. Lions Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
The Falcons are riding high after last week’s 25-24 home win against Green Bay moved Atlanta to 2-0 on the season. Detroit shocked the defending Super Bowl champions in Week 1, but came back to earth with last week’s 37-31 home overtime loss against Seattle. Can the Falcons prove they’re the real deal against the Lions in Week 3?
Detroit is a 3.5-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, while the total is sitting at 46.0.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These teams haven’t met since Week 16 of the 2021 season. Atlanta won that meeting 20-16 at home. Matt Ryan led the Falcons with 215 passing yards and a touchdown, while Lions quarterback Jared Goff missed the game on the COVID list. Tim Boyle filled in for Goff, passing for 187 yards and throwing game-ending interception. Of the three quarterbacks only Goff will play on Sunday as Ryan is a free agent and Boyle is now with the Jets.
Since 2014, Atlanta and Detroit have met four times in the regular season, with the teams alternating victories both straight up and against the spread. Games have generally been low scoring, with the total going Under three times in that four-game stretch. Going back even further, the total has gone Under in six of the last seven games between the teams in Detroit.
Atlanta Falcons
Rookie running back Bijan Robinson shined for Atlanta last week. The No. 8 pick in the 2023 draft rushed 19 times for 124 yards and hauled in four catches for another 48 yards. It’s looking increasingly like Robinson and second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder are the future of the Falcons’ offence. Ridder threw his first career interception last week, but he also finished 19 of 32 for 237 yards and a touchdown.
Atlanta remains relatively healthy and no new injuries were reported after last week’s game. Running back Cordarrelle Patterson continues to deal with a thigh injury that has kept him out of the first two games. Patterson has reportedly been a full participant at practices, so there’s a chance he will play on Sunday.
Detroit Lions
Following last week’s overtime loss against the Seahawks, Detroit will look to return to the form that saw the Lions upset defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City in Week 1. Goff went 28 of 35 for 323 yards three touchdowns and one interception against Seattle. The pick was Goff’s first interception in 383 pass attempts, 30 short of Aaron Rodgers’ NFL record. Detroit spread the offence around, with David Montgomery rushing for a score, while Amon-Ra St. Brown finished with 102 receiving yards, Josh Reynolds caught two touchdown passes and Kalif Raymond also had a receiving TD.
Montgomery (thigh) and right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) both left last week’s game in the fourth quarter, but neither injury is expected to be long term. Edge rusher James Houston, however, will likely miss at least six weeks with a broken fibula.
ATL
DET