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If the Atlanta Falcons (0-3) could close games, their Week 4 Monday Night Football contest against the Green Bay Packers (3-0) would be a top-tier NFC matchup between division leaders. But fourth-quarter woes have plagued the Falcons the last two weeks, and now they have their backs against the wall against the high-powered Packers.
Kickoff on Monday is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc., and will be televised on ESPN.
The Packers lead the series 18-16, including a 34-20 home win in December 2018, the most recent meeting. Atlanta last won at Lambeau in the 2008 season, but they have won three of the last four meetings overall.
Atlanta Falcons Betting Outlook: Figure Out How to Finish
The Falcons are 1-2 ATS this season, and the over is 3-0 in their games. The offense ranks third in passing (309.3 yards per game), 18th in rushing (109.7 yards per game), seventh in total yards (419 yards per game) and sixth in points (30.0 points per game).
The defense is dead last in points allowed (36.0 points per game) and next-to-last in both passing yards allowed (350.3 yards per game) and total yards allowed (463.3 yards per game).
Quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 238 yards on 19-of-38 passing against the Chicago Bears on Sunday with one touchdown and one interception. He fell apart in the fourth quarter as the Falcons couldn’t run out the clock, and his final-drive interception iced the game for Chicago. On the season, he has completed 63% of his passes for 961 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
Running back Todd Gurley ran 14 times for 80 yards and a score against the Bears, while Brian Hill had nine rushes for 58 yards and a score. Gurley has a team-high 197 yards on 49 carries for the season with two touchdowns.
The Falcons were without All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones (hamstring) on Sunday and lost wide receiver Russell Gage (concussion) in the first half. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley was tremendous with five catches for 110 yards, while wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus had four catches for 41 yards. Ridley has 21 catches for 349 yards and four scores on the season.
The defense gave up 20 points in the fourth quarter Sunday and allowed 30 points in the second half to the Cowboys in Week 3.
In addition to Jones and Gage, the Falcons also have linebacker Dante Fowler (ankle), linebacker Takkarist McKinley (groin) cornerback A.J. Terrell (COVID) and cornerback Ricardo Allen (elbow) on the injury report for Monday’s game.
Green Bay Packers Betting Outlook: Offense on Fire
The Packers have been a covering machine so far in 2020 with a 3-0 ATS record, and the over is 3-0 in their games as well. The offense ranks first in scoring (40.7 points per game), second in rushing (171.7 yards per game), second in total yards (459.7 yards per game), sixth in passing (459.7 yards per game) and first in turnovers (nine).
The defense is middle of the pack in every category with 115 yards per game rushing (15th), 247 yards per game passing (18th) and 28.3 points per game (21st).
Against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was 21-for-32 for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Rodgers has completed 67% of his passes on the season for 887 yards with nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Running back Aaron Jones had 16 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown against the Saints. Jones has run for 303 yards and four scores on 50 carries while also catching 10 balls for 95 yards and a score this season.
With wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) missing last week’s game, wide receiver Allen Lazard had a monster game with 146 yards and one touchdown on six catches. On the season, Lazard leads the way with 254 yards while Marquez Valdes-Scantling has eight catches for 165 yards and one touchdown.
Even with an extra day off, Adams is unlikely to play against the Falcons. The Packers also have defensive tackle Kenny Clark (groin), safety Darnell Savage Jr. (groin), offensive lineman Elston Jenkins (back) and tight end Josiah Deguara (ankle) on the injury list.
Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers Betting Line
●Falcons spread: +6.5 (-110); Falcons moneyline: +270
●Packers spread: -6.5 (-110); Packers moneyline: -340
●Total: 56.5 points (Over -110, Under -110)
Both teams have been going up and down the field but also allowing other teams to score in bunches. Getting pressure on the quarterback will be key for both teams, and the Falcons really need to win the turnover battle. Points should not be hard to come by in this one.
Head to our favorite pay per head bookie site at RealBookies.com
Free Pick: Over 56.5 points (-110)
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