This Sunday’s showdown between the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys features two teams that could be at real turning points. The Falcons are the defending NFC champions but have dropped four of five, most recently losing to the Carolina Panthers, and their offense is performing much more slowly under new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. The Cowboys ride in on a three-game winning streak, having taken down Kansas City at home last week, 28-17. However, the Cowboys enter the first game of Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension this Sunday. Can Dallas get a big road win without their star tailback? Or will the Falcons wake up on offense and torch the Dallas D? Check out our NFL lines preview for this Sunday afternoon matchup.
The Falcons’ defense was never their stronger unit, but they have still given up mystifying point totals this season. Giving up 20 to the Jets; also up 20 to a Miami offense led by Jay Cutler; giving up 20 to Carolina have all proven to be backbreaking point totals. The Falcons’ pass rush has disappeared from last year, and their young secondary is getting torched at the wrong time as a result.
Dallas at Atlanta Week 10 NFL Lines, Pick & Prediction
When: Sunday, November 12, 2017, 4:25pm ET Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta TV: FOX Radio: KRLD 105.3 FM Dallas / 92.9 FM The Game Atlanta Live Stream: NFL Live NFL Odds: Dallas -3, O/U 50.5Mailbag: Surviving Without Zeke? Who Replaces Him On The Roster? Answers: https://t.co/sY1iqf2QRc pic.twitter.com/7pkBvbzE3n
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 10, 2017
Why should you bet on the Cowboys?
On Thursday, an appeals court in New York City finally handed Roger Goodell the legal victory that he and the league have spent so much time and money pursuing, and now Ezekiel Elliott will sit for six weeks (while A.J. Green will take the field with no suspension assaulting Jalen Ramsey on national television, but that’s none of our business, right?). However, Elliott does not leave the Cowboys without any talent at the tailback position. Alfred Morris will start the game, and Darren McFadden and Rod Smith will also get touches carrying the ball. The offense also still has quarterback Dak Prescott at the helm, who has 16 touchdown passes against just four interceptions this season. With his steadying influence and with that rock-solid offensive line, Dallas should be able to move the ball. The question for Dallas will come on defense. After all, the Falcons rode their video-game style offense all the way to the Super Bowl last year. However, having Sean Lee at the linebacker position has proven to be the difference for the Dallas defense. When he has played over the past two season, the team has given up approximately half as many yards of offense on average, as well as points (18.1 vs 35.2).Why should you put your money on the Falcons?
The Falcons led the NFL in points with 33.8 per game a year ago. Currently, they rank 17th in 2017, with 21.2 points per game. In four of those games, they have been held under 20 points, and in their loss to New England, they only mounted a single touchdown. In their last two home games — both losses — they put up 17 points apiece while falling to Buffalo and to Miami in a game that they led 17-0 at the half. You can’t blame the lack of production on Julio Jones, as he has hauled in seven passes of 20+ yards so far this season and averages 82.2 yards per game, good for third in the league. However, he only has one touchdown pass this season, and he dropped an easy one last week against Carolina on a play where he was at least 10 yards behind the nearest defender. That Super Bowl hangover is still strong in Atlanta, particularly on offense.
The Falcons’ defense was never their stronger unit, but they have still given up mystifying point totals this season. Giving up 20 to the Jets; also up 20 to a Miami offense led by Jay Cutler; giving up 20 to Carolina have all proven to be backbreaking point totals. The Falcons’ pass rush has disappeared from last year, and their young secondary is getting torched at the wrong time as a result.
Latest NFL Lines Trends
- Dallas is 4-2 ATS in the last 6 games
- Dallas is 18-6 SU in the last 24 games
- The total went OVER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games
- Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in the last 5 games
- Atlanta is 10-5 SU in the last 15 games
- The total went OVER in 16 of Atlanta’s last 22 games
