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Edgar Chaput
Falcons vs. Rams Point Spread: NFL Week 2 Odds, Prediction
Both clubs will be looking to rebound from disheartening defeats suffered in their previous outings, although each team felt bad for radically different reasons. The Rams are defending Super Bowl champions and need to bring back some lustre to their crest.
As it stands, the Rams are -10.5 favourites with a predicted total of 47.0.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Despite the recent histories of both clubs (Los Angeles has been to 2 Super Bowls recently and won 1), the Rams haven’t fared well against their Georgian opponents, going 1-4 over the previous 5 meetups. Then again, the losses were before QB Matthew Stafford came to Tinseltown.
Arthur Smith’s Falcons struggled a bit ATS in 2021, going 6-10-1. They did cover against the Saints last week but… then there’s how they covered. More on that in a bit.
As for the Rams, their Super Bowl campaign last year saw them earn a 10-11 record, including playoffs. Not so good for betting perhaps, but more than good enough to lift a Vince Lombardi trophy. Succinctly put, the Rams didn’t cover in week 1.
Atlanta Falcons
Why does this keep happening? Different coaching staff, different running backs, different quarterbacks. It doesn’t seem to matter. Once again, coasting on a comfortable, 4th quarter lead (16 points at home), the Falcons eventually lost on a last-minute FG. As crazy as it sounds, at this stage one wonders if Atlanta shouldn’t race out to double-digit leads in the first halves and 3rd quarters of their contests.
While Marcus Mariota’s debut as Atlanta’s number 1 QB was decent if unspectacular, the Falcons could walk away from the game with one considerable prideful note. Cordarrelle Patterson, once a journeyman, seems to have found a home in the Mercedes Benz Stadium. 22 carries for 120 yards were plenty to give Mariota the cushion any QB needs to step it up in the passing game. 4 sacks from a defensive unit predicted to be an anemic also impressed.
Los Angeles Rams
Under the bright lights of Sofi and a raucous crowd (admittedly one that was quite loud when the Bills were doing good things), the defending champions opened their campaign with a thud, kneeling before the visiting team, 10-31. The game’s evolution was even more curious given that it was tied 10-10 at halftime. The Rams caused 4 turnovers yet lost by 3 touchdowns. On the flip side, any defence that allows the opposing offence to earn a 90% 3rd efficiency rate is not doing its squad any favours.
Arguably more worrisome were the 7 sacks allowed. This with the knowledge that Matthew Stafford spent the summer nursing a shoulder injury, the type that coach McVay had “never seen before on a quarterback.” Fantasy players got excited about WR Allen Robinson’s debut, but with the QB spending most of the night flat on the turf and throwing awkwardly, not much was going to happen. Still, player-for-player, the Rams are a very good team and should recover.
Key injuries: WR Van Jeffries (questionable) and RB Kyren Williams (injured reserve)
ATL
LAR