Atlanta (10-6) at LA Rams (11-5)
When: Saturday, January 6th 2018
Where: L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -5.5/50
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When it comes to the NFL, one year can really make a difference, and that’s what we see in the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams as they get set to do battle in an NFC Wild Card game on Saturday night at the L.A. Coliseum. The Rams couldn’t do anything on offense last season, ranking last in scoring, but under first year coach Sean McVay, an improved Jared Goff, and star running back Todd Gurley, the Rams catapulted to the top of the NFL in scoring offense this season en route to an NFC West title. The Falcons were the top scoring team a year ago and rode that high-powered offense all the way to Super Bowl LI before blowing a 25-point lead to the New England Patriots. This year has not been the same despite a 10-6 record, as they’ve been held below 20 points on six occasions this season. Quarterback Matt Ryan led the Falcons to a 42-14 victory over the Rams in their last encounter on December 11th, 2016 by throwing for three scores.
Atlanta got into the postseason by winning six of its last eight, with the only two losses coming against division winners Minnesota and New Orleans, but Ryan had only five touchdown passes versus four interceptions over that stretch. Ryan still has one of the league’s most dangerous targets in Julio Jones, who caught 88 passes and eclipsed 1,400 yards (1,444) for the fourth straight season. The Falcons featured the running game a bit more this season with the duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, who rushed for a combined 1,493 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 63 receptions and four scores. Atlanta’s defense allowed an eighth-best 19.7 points per game and only one 100-yard rusher in 16 games.
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Goff has made a remarkable turnaround from a rough rookie season in which he threw for five touchdowns and seven interceptions in seven games. The 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick tossed 28 touchdowns against only seven picks this season and is in the discussion for MVP of the league. Gurley rushed for 1,305 yards and led the league in touchdowns (19) and yards from scrimmage (2,093) while rushing for more than 100 yards six times. Gurley also led the team with 64 receptions while rookie Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods recorded five touchdown receptions apiece while hauling in 62 and 56 catches, respectively. The Rams ranked 28th against the run despite the presence of stud tackle Aaron Donald (11 sacks), but were 13th against the pass (217.2).
WILD CARD WEEKEND STAFF SELECTIONS
I think this may be the most entertaining game of the Wild Card Weekend – maybe that’s why they made this the prime time game. Atlanta is not the same team as last season, but they are still dangerous and have been playing well lately, especially on defense. This is going to be the biggest game of Goff’s young career and I’m thinking he’ll make some mistakes that will cost his team. I’ll take the points.
Pick: Falcons +6
- Falcons are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Falcons are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Falcons are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 vs. NFC.
- Falcons are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Falcons are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in January.
- Falcons are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 playoff games.
- Falcons are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Falcons are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.
- Falcons are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Falcons are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 playoff road games.
- Rams are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points.
- Rams are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Rams are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Rams are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a double-digit loss at home.
- Rams are 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 vs. NFC.
- Rams are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games on grass.
- Rams are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Rams are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 home games.
- Rams are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 playoff games.
- Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in January.
- Rams are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.
- Under is 5-0 in Falcons last 5 games overall.
- Over is 5-0 in Falcons last 5 playoff games.
- Under is 5-0 in Falcons last 5 vs. NFC.
- Under is 4-0 in Falcons last 4 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Falcons last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 8-1-1 in Falcons last 10 Saturday games.
- Over is 5-1 in Falcons last 6 games in January.
- Over is 7-2 in Falcons last 9 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 19-6-1 in Falcons last 26 games on grass.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Falcons last 5 playoff road games.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Falcons last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 8-3-1 in Falcons last 12 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 5-2 in Falcons last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 24-10-1 in Falcons last 35 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 58-25-4 in Falcons last 87 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 11-5 in Falcons last 16 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Rams last 5 games overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games on grass.
- Over is 4-0 in Rams last 4 vs. NFC.
- Over is 8-1 in Rams last 9 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 6-1 in Rams last 7 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Rams last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 9-2 in Rams last 11 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 playoff home games.
- Under is 8-2 in Rams last 10 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 10-3 in Rams last 13 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Rams last 8 Saturday games.
- Over is 6-2 in Rams last 8 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 9-3 in Rams last 12 games following a straight up loss of more than 14 points.
- Over is 5-2 in Rams last 7 playoff games.
- Over is 5-2 in Rams last 7 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Rams last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 19-9 in Rams last 28 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Favorite is 13-3 ATS in their last 16 meetings.
- Over is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings.
- Falcons are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
- Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Los Angeles.
