Falcons vs. Saints Point Spread: NFL Week 15 Odds, Prediction
Despite both being several games under .500 and on two-game losing streaks, the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints are fighting for their playoff lives in Week 15 when they meet for some NFC South action. The 5-8 Falcons are making a major change off their bye week too, going with 2022 third-round pick Desmond Ridder at quarterback for his first NFL start in favour of veteran Marcus Mariota. The 4-9 Saints are continuing to roll out Andy Dalton at quarterback, who has been underwhelming.
But after all this, the Falcons are a game out of a home playoff game and the Saints two games.
Kickoff at Caesars Superdome is set for 1 p.m. EST, with the Saints 4-point favourites at home and the total at 43.0 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sunday’s the last meeting of the season between these clubs, with their first coming back in Week 1 and the result being the usual: a Saints win. New Orleans has won eight of their last 10 against Atlanta and have covered in seven of those games. The 27-26 Saints win over the Falcons in Week 1 featured two different starting quarterbacks too, with Jameis Winston quarterbacking New Orleans and Mariota under centre for the Falcons.
The under is on a roll for both teams, with it connecting in four of Atlanta’s last five overall and five of New Orleans’ last six outings. The under is also 4-1 in the last five Falcons–Saints contests played at New Orleans.
Atlanta Falcons
Mariota’s benching comes after 13 starts this season where he averaged 170.7 passing yards and 33.7 rushing yards per game. Atlanta’s offence has taken a dip since the start of November, a stretch where Mariota failed to reach 200 passing yards in five straight games.
With Ridder now starting, Atlanta will likely still rely on their top-five rushing offence that includes three backs with at least 350 rushing yards this season. Head coach Arthur Smith is just looking to add a spark in the passing attack, and it’s an opportunity to see what Ridder’s got.
The Falcons defence has been a quietly strong unit as of late too. In their last five games, Atlanta’s allowed over 20 points once and that game was ironically the lone win they have in that stretch.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have failed to go over 20 points in three of their last four games and a have a total of 16 points in their last two. On the flip side, New Orleans hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in four straight contests. The Saints defence is a top-10 unit in opponents yards per play too. It’s turnover differential that’s hurt them all season, as New Orleans has the third-most giveaways this season with 21 and second-worst differential at minus-12.
Gadget player Taysom Hill has scored New Orleans’ lone touchdown in their last two weeks, a 30-yard catch and score from Dalton. Hill leads all Saints skill players with seven touchdowns this season and is tied for the team lead in 100-yard rushing games with one.
ATL
NO