Lindstrom (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Terrell (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus Carolina.
Bowman (Achilles) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Strand is listed as the backup quarterback for Sunday's game versus the Panthers, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Jones (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Falcons.
Brown (back) won't play in Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Penix (knee) won't play in Sunday's game against the Panthers, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Tagovailoa (oblique) is doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Panthers, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Rush will start Sunday's contest against the Panthers, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Penix (knee) won't play in Sunday's game against the Panthers, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
These two teams score among the fewest points in the league and we should see that continue here. The Saints were able to hold Bryce Young in check last week -- 124 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. The Falcons should have no problem doing the same, if not better. They are allowing the fewest passing yards a game and have one of the highest pressure rates on opposing QBs. As for the Falcons offense -- they haven't scored more than 25 points in 5 straight weeks and only once all season. I don't see where the points come from here, under is the play.
FanDuel. Jalen Coker is under this line in three of four games, with the one over in a game started by Andy Dalton. Bryce Young is one of the NFL’s least effective and least willing deep ball throwers, and I expect the Panthers to go ground heavy against the Falcons leaky run defense. Falcons cover 3 scheme also should make life tougher for Coker.
This is the time of year past the mid-season point in the NFL, that limitations offensively start to wear defenses down. Carolina offensively in four straight games has scored sixteen points or less, and are averaging just eleven points over that span. Expect the Falcons to look to get their tight end involved similar to the Saints last week with Juwan Johnson. Pitts clears his yardage prop for just the fourth time this season.
We're looking at Atlanta hosting Carolina after the first meeting in Carolina was 30-0, and the last meeting in Atlanta was Carolina 44-38 in overtime. Carolina is 5-5 and covered six of their games, while Atlanta is 3-6 covering four of their games. The Falcons are No. 1 against the pass, but Carolina doesn't try to pass. Which Falcon squad will show up on Sunday? I think I've seen enough to realize Michael Penix might only show up three or four times a season. Carolina also has a lot of explaining to do after losing at home to the Saints. That's something for another day. This is all about the Falcons failing and giving away too much to the Panthers. Give me the +3.5.
I made this number -1.5 and when I crunch the numbers, I get -2.5. Getting more than a field goal is something in my opinion - and the market looks like it is headed to 3 at this time. Carolina was embarrassed last week as a favorite. I believe they bounce back here, run the ball, and keep this game close. The Falcons played in London last week and could still be a bit weary from the travel. Field goal game - we'll take the hook.
The Panthers just got handled by Tyler Shough and the Saints offense and now head to Atlanta where they're facing a desperate and angry Falcons team. This Falcons team also probably doesn't forget being humiliated by the Panthers in Charlotte not so long ago, when Carolina blanked them 30-0. London's been on a ripper lately, scoring four touchdowns in his last two games, topping 100+ yards in four of his last five and getting 58 targets over that stretch. Michael Penix knows where to look against a defense that just gave up 100+ yards to Chris Olave. Even money feels like a steal for a guy who's having the best season of his career and is a target hog.
