The Atlanta Falcons will host the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round. Here is the game preview, the betting odds, and final score prediction.
The Divisional Round of the 2016 NFL Playoffs will be underway when the No. 3 Seattle Seahawks (10-6-1) face the No. 2 Atlanta Falcons (11-5) on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 14 will be at 4:35 p.m. ET. FOX will have the national telecast with Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch in the booth.
This is a rematch of a 2016 regular season game, where the Seahawks defeated the Falcons 26-24 at CenturyLink Field back in Week 6. The game ended in a controversial pass breakup by Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman on Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. Once both teams left the field that October afternoon, we had a sneaking suspicion that they could meet again in the 2016 NFC Playoffs.
Atlanta and Seattle both won their respective divisions to reach the NFC Playoffs. Though Seattle got the upper hand back in Week 6, it would be Atlanta that got the first-round bye. Atlanta sat idle last week, while Seattle dominated the No. 6 Detroit Lions (9-7) 26-6 on Saturday, Jan. 7.
This game features the always interesting mentor/protegé matchup. Falcons head coach Dan Quinn previously worked under Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll as Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2014. These two teams have a similar organizational structure and cultural identity. However, Atlanta wins with offense, while Seattle dominates on defense.
Odds
Point Spread: Atlanta -4.5
Moneylines: Atlanta -205, Seattle +190
Over/Under: 51.5
According to OddsShark.com, Atlanta will be laying 4.5 points at home to visiting Seattle. The associated moneylines for this game are Falcons -205 and Seahawks +190. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 51.5 points.
Here are the trends to know with the Seahawks: 1.) Seattle is 7-3 straight up in its last 10 games. 2.) The point total has gone over in four of the Seahawks’ last six games. 3.) The Seahawks are 1-4 against the spread in their last five road games. 4.) They are 2-3-1 straight up in their last six road games.
Here are the trends to know with the Falcons: 1.) Atlanta is 4-2 against the spread and 5-1 straight up in its last six games. 2.) The point total has gone over in all of Atlanta’s last five games. 3.) The Falcons are 4-10 against the spread in their last 14 home games. 4.) Atlanta is 4-1 straight up in its last five home games. 5.) The point total has gone over in all the Falcons’ last five home games.
This game has the makings of being one of the very best in these NFL Playoffs. Two organizations cut from the same cloth in terms of team-building and hyper-aggressiveness on the attack. While Seattle is stout defensively, this is a home game for the Falcons. Atlanta will dictate pace with its historically great offense. Seattle will be able to put up points on Atlanta in somewhat of a shootout. Go with the over in this one.
The biggest key in this game is without question Atlanta’s run defense. If the Falcons’ improving front-seven can slow down Thomas Rawls in the Seattle backfield, then Atlanta has a chance to win this game going away to reach the NFC Championship next weekend. Should Rawls be able to run with conviction, Atlanta could be in for one final soul-crushing loss at the Georgia Dome.
Expect Atlanta to get its point on this weakened Seattle defense that will be without free safety Earl Thomas. The Falcons will be able to benefit from playing at home to get balanced offensive attack into rhythm. It will be insanely difficult for Carroll’s Seahawks to stop the run and pass of the Falcons’ attack on Saturday afternoon.
This budding NFC rivalry game will go down to the final possession. Falcons MVP candidate quarterback Matt Ryan will use his running backs to open up the pass. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will need to ad-lib to have a shot at keeping pace with the Falcons offense.
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It’ll be ridiculously close, but the Falcons edge out the Seahawks in a controlled shootout to advance to play the winner of the Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys game in the 2016 NFC Championship Game.
Pick: Falcons 31, Seahawks 26