Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
Read More
Expert Picks
Insane. That’s the only word to describe this total, the largest in NFL playoff annals. But it makes sense. QBs Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan are on fire. Both should have their full complement of receivers, if reports are accurate that the Packers’ banged-up WRs Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison will play. The Falcons have a deadly RB combo. Defensively, they allow TDs to opponents in the red zone at a league-high 71 percent rate. Green Bay’s secondary can be shredded. It adds up to a gravity-defying Over.
I?m backing the underdog here because there are just too many key numbers to pass on in a matchup of relatively even teams. The Falcons have the league's best offense, but the Packers aren't too far behind, and both clubs have suspect pass defense. Green Bay outplayed the Falcons in Atlanta three-plus months ago, but came up on the short end of a 33-32 score. This was long before the Packers evolved into their current form and, despite their injury concerns at receiver, they match up well enough to take the Falcons to the wire again.
The Packers have been on an amazing run, but here's where it ends. They enter this matchup with plenty of injury concerns, and they'll have a difficult time slowing down Atlanta's historically-proficient offense as a result. Even with Julio Jones at less than 100 percent, the Falcons can move the ball consistently with Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Mohamed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel ... the list goes on and on. So what's in the Packers' favor in this game? Aaron Rodgers. For many, that's enough. For me, it's not. Falcons win 38-24.
Aaron Rodgers burned me big-time last week, but I don't think he can outscore the NFL's top offense in the Georgia Dome on Sunday. Three of A-Rod's receivers -- Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison -- are seriously banged up. That should enable the Falcons to focus on stopping Green Bay's dangerous tight ends.
The Falcons and Packers are playing red-hot football... on the offensive side of the ball. I'm willing to give the slight edge defensively to the Falcons, but Green Bay has more than enough offense to make this one very interesting to say the least. It will be a very close game.
I first had to ask myself who has the momentum coming in and while both teams are streaking, I give the Packers an edge here. I have both teams rated equally and barely give the Falcons 3 points for home edge. And I'd probably have suggested an opening number of Atlanta -2.5 (-120). When they met in week 8 the Falcons were 3-point favorites and won 33-32. The Falcons are relatively the same team, while the Packers are vastly better, riding an eight game win streak and looking better than ever with a defense playing its best. Sure, I'll take over a field goal against a Falcons squad allowing 25 ppg. Go Packers!
The Packers have won eight straight behind the magic of Aaron Rodgers, and they only lost by one to the Falcons in Atlanta during the regular season. I see tremendous value in this money line. My simulations show Green Bay winning 45 percent of the time.