Atlanta (+6) at Los Angeles (1-6-18)

[oldunclemark]

7:15 EST (I see two different staring times for this but 7:15 in the east makes sense)  on NBC

Low 60s in the sunset at the old Los Angeles Coliseum .... over-under at 48.5

 

Former MVP Matt Ryan (342 of 529, 4,095 yards, 20 TDs, 12 INts) has a chance to make up for a less-than-great season by getting the ball to all-pro Julio Jones (88 catches, 1.444 yards) and some good receivers.

The Rams blitzing defense has has 43 sacks and 18 interceptions and I'd throw out LA's 34-13 loss to SF last week. LA had nothing to play for.

Rams RB Todd Gurley (279 carries, 1,305 yards) has also caught 64 passes for 788 yards so the Rams don't want QB Jared Goff (2967 of 477, 3,804 yards, 28 Tds, 7 INts) to get too creative in his first playoff game.

If he gets behind by 10 points, will he fold?  Probably.

 

The Rams are overvalued here.  They're going to beat Atlanta by a TD in their first playoff game in this century?

This should be fun to watch because points will be scored often enough to keep NBC from shooting the stars sitting in the stands

The Falcons (10-6) have won 6 of their last 8...and they have a QB that the Wade Phiillips' defense cant rattle.

Take Atlanta and the points

Edited January 6, 2018 by oldunclemark

[Nesjan3]

LA way overvalued, Falcons will win this game 

[oldunclemark]

Hope everybody took the Falcons with 6...

[ColtsBlueFL]

Matt Ryan made them pay for blitzing, up 26 - 13 and   5  minutes left in the game...

[oldunclemark]

..and if you had the Falcons..getting 6 points...cash that ticket!!!!

[2006Coltsbestever]

9 minutes ago, oldunclemark said:

..and if you had the Falcons..getting 6 points...cash that ticket!!!!

Wished I would've bet on it, I had Atlanta winning this straight up. Didn't even need the 6.

[chad72]

Falcons got the best match up possible in the divisional round, vs the Wentz less Eagles. Falcons in the NFCCG for certain, they will probably play the Vikings or Saints.

[oldunclemark]

Tough for the Rams...Thy won their division and got a playoff game at home..

That wont happen every year...

[2006Coltsbestever]

4 minutes ago, oldunclemark said:

Tough for the Rams...Thy won their division and got a playoff game at home..

That wont happen every year...

To be honest I am not sure how the Rams were so successful in the Regular Season. Gurley is a beast and picking up Wade helped their Defense perform well but their Roster doesn't impress me. Goff is ok, he had a Good season don't get me wrong but he nor does his WR's stand out to me as being eye popping. I almost knew Atlanta would win that matchup.

[oldunclemark]

   I thought they benefitted from SF and Arizona being 'down' and Seattle being beat up.  

Much like Jacksonville's defensive success is, in some part, a product of the offensive collapse of everyone else in the AFC South