PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NFL Sunday BEST of the BEST!
(NFL) San Diego vs. Atlanta,
Point Spread: -4.50 | -120.00 Atlanta (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -4.50 | -120.00 Atlanta (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Falcons opened Dan Quinn's first season as Atlanta's head coach 5-0 but the team ended the season at just 8-8, after losing eight of their final 11 games. The Falcons were just just a play away from a Super Bowl berth in 2012 but as the 2016 season dawned, Atlanta had gone just 18-30 the previous three years. Atlanta opened with a 31-24 home loss to the Bucs (ugh!) but the Falcons followed with FOUR straight wins, including back-to-back wins over the Panthers (48-33) and Broncos (23-16). That streak ended with a 26-24 loss last Sunday in Seattle but Atlanta did extend its ATS winning streak to five in a row. The Chargers visit Atlanta with a 2-4 record, after the team earned a much-needed 21-13 home win over the Broncos in a Thursday Week 6 contest.
San Diego: The Chargers opened the year by blowing a 27-10 4th-quarter lead at KC (lost 33-27 in OT) and then after a 38-14 home win over the Jags, lost games by four, one and three points. San Diego almost gave away all of a 21-3 late lead against the Broncos but survived, 21-13. Rivers is having another excellent season (67.2% / 1,647 yards / 12-3 ratio / 105.9 QB rating) but while RB Gordon does have six rushing TDs after going all of his rookie season without one, he's still struggling with a 3.4 YPC average. San Diego averages just 91.8 YPG on the ground (22nd) on 3.6 YPC. San Diego is strong against the run (83.5 YPG ranks 5th) but weak against the pass (279.7 YPG ranks 24th).
Atlanta: The Falcons lead the NFL in total offense, averaging 441.5 YPG (40 yards more per game than No. 2 Dallas). QB Matt Ryan has topped 4,000 yards in five consecutive seasons but he is also coming off a campaign in which he threw the second-fewest TD passes (21) and second-most INTs (16) of his eight-year career. However, he's been "on his game" to open the 2016 season, completing 68.1% for 2,075 yards with 15 TDs and 3 INTs for a 117.9 QB rating (ranks No. 1). However, while Atlanta averages an NFL-high 33.2 PPG, it's a concern that the defense is allowing 27.7 PPG (26th).
The pick: The Chargers ranked 9th in total offense last year (371.8 YPG) but scored just 20.0 PPG. They've turned that dynamic around in 2016, averaging a modest 355.2 YPG (ranks 14th) but is scoring 28.8 PPG, the third-best in the NFL. San Diego has covered 20 times in its last 29 tries as an underdog but there are more than just a few worries about this matchup. Ryan and WR Julio Jones (31 catches for 21.2 YPC) are a dynamite duo and will severely test San Diego's poor pass D. What's more, the Chargers have 13 giveaways, including an NFL-high 10 lost fumbles, having committed at least two turnovers in four straight games. San Diego hasn't recorded consecutive victories since 2014 and how does one ignore that San Diego owns just one win in its past 12 road games! Long trip for San Diego doesn't help and the Falcons bounce-back from that late loss to Seattle last week (game-winning Seattle FG came at 1:57 left) with a win and a cover, giving them six straight ATS wins. Atlanta is a 10* play.
San Diego: The Chargers opened the year by blowing a 27-10 4th-quarter lead at KC (lost 33-27 in OT) and then after a 38-14 home win over the Jags, lost games by four, one and three points. San Diego almost gave away all of a 21-3 late lead against the Broncos but survived, 21-13. Rivers is having another excellent season (67.2% / 1,647 yards / 12-3 ratio / 105.9 QB rating) but while RB Gordon does have six rushing TDs after going all of his rookie season without one, he's still struggling with a 3.4 YPC average. San Diego averages just 91.8 YPG on the ground (22nd) on 3.6 YPC. San Diego is strong against the run (83.5 YPG ranks 5th) but weak against the pass (279.7 YPG ranks 24th).
Atlanta: The Falcons lead the NFL in total offense, averaging 441.5 YPG (40 yards more per game than No. 2 Dallas). QB Matt Ryan has topped 4,000 yards in five consecutive seasons but he is also coming off a campaign in which he threw the second-fewest TD passes (21) and second-most INTs (16) of his eight-year career. However, he's been "on his game" to open the 2016 season, completing 68.1% for 2,075 yards with 15 TDs and 3 INTs for a 117.9 QB rating (ranks No. 1). However, while Atlanta averages an NFL-high 33.2 PPG, it's a concern that the defense is allowing 27.7 PPG (26th).
The pick: The Chargers ranked 9th in total offense last year (371.8 YPG) but scored just 20.0 PPG. They've turned that dynamic around in 2016, averaging a modest 355.2 YPG (ranks 14th) but is scoring 28.8 PPG, the third-best in the NFL. San Diego has covered 20 times in its last 29 tries as an underdog but there are more than just a few worries about this matchup. Ryan and WR Julio Jones (31 catches for 21.2 YPC) are a dynamite duo and will severely test San Diego's poor pass D. What's more, the Chargers have 13 giveaways, including an NFL-high 10 lost fumbles, having committed at least two turnovers in four straight games. San Diego hasn't recorded consecutive victories since 2014 and how does one ignore that San Diego owns just one win in its past 12 road games! Long trip for San Diego doesn't help and the Falcons bounce-back from that late loss to Seattle last week (game-winning Seattle FG came at 1:57 left) with a win and a cover, giving them six straight ATS wins. Atlanta is a 10* play.
