ATLANTA vs TAMPA BAY
When: 1/3/2021 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -6.5
PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY , ATLANTA

Oddsmakers currently have the TAMPA BAY listed as -6.5 point favorites versus the ATLANTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 50.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, but coach Bruce Arians still has a major task at the forefront of his mind.

Arians not only wants to close the regular season with a victory in Sunday’s game against the visiting Atlanta Falcons, but he also wants to see Mike Evans’ name standing alone in the record books.

Evans needs 40 receiving yards against the Falcons (4-11) to become the first player in NFL history to reach 1,000 in each of his first seven NFL seasons. Evans shares the current mark of six with Hall of Famer Randy Moss.

“I desperately want that to happen,” Arians said. “Whatever he needs or whatever he has left — I’m sure Atlanta’s not going to want to give it to him, so we’ll have to find some creative ways to get it for him.”

There were certainly times when it looked like there wasn’t much of a chance of the streak being extended.

Evans, 27, was bothered by a hamstring injury at the outset of the campaign and later suffered an ankle injury. He had just 2 receiving yards — yes 2 — in both Weeks 1 and 3.

When he had just 10 yards in Week 6, Evans’ total was at 281. Even in mid-December, he had just 669 yards with three games left.

But Evans heated up quickly. He had 110 yards in Week 15 when the Buccaneers (10-5) defeated the Falcons 31-17, and had his top outing of the campaign on Dec. 26 when he had 10 catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-7 rout of the Detroit Lions.

And just like that, Evans’ total sits at 960 as he closes in on the record.

“Early in the season, I was hurt really bad,” Evans said. “But it’s my job to play, like I always say. It just feels good. I’m getting back on track and getting healthier.”

Despite the slow start, Evans has 67 receptions and a franchise-record 13 touchdown catches, breaking the mark he set in 2014 and 2016.

Evans meshes well with Tom Brady as the quarterback has set a franchise mark with 36 touchdown passes while throwing for 4,234 yards and 11 interceptions.

The Buccaneers are also hoping to have running back Ronald Jones II (900 rushing yards) back on the field. Jones came off the reserve/COVID-19 list but still is dealing with a fractured pinkie. He was limited in practice Wednesday, as was cornerback Carlton Davis (groin) and linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul (knee).

While Tampa Bay is seeking a fourth straight victory, the Falcons are hoping to avoid a fifth straight loss.

In fact, Atlanta fans won’t be overly crushed with another loss as many are consumed with the 2021 draft order. Only two teams — the New York Jets (2-13) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1-14) — have fewer victories than the Falcons.

“Our fan base is very knowledgeable and that’s their job to cheer for those types of things, but our job is to go out and win football games,” interim head coach Raheem Morris said. “We really love those guys, we really love Atlanta, we love everything we stand for, and when that time comes we’ll address those accordingly.”

Morris replaced Dan Quinn after the team’s 0-5 start and temporarily had things moving in the right direction with four wins in six games. The final game in that stretch was a 43-6 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

But the Falcons lost all four of their December games. The losses were all close with the margin of defeats by a combined 15 points.

The season as a whole leaves veteran quarterback Matt Ryan with mixed feelings. He sees all the chances his squad squandered but he feels optimistic about the near future.

“I feel like we’ve got a good core group of guys here that you can build on and I think we’ve been competitive,” Ryan said. “We just haven’t found a way to get the job done in finishing situations enough this year and it’s something we definitely have to improve at moving forward.”

Veteran receiver Julio Jones (hamstring) didn’t practice Wednesday and could miss his third straight game.

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ATLANTA vs KANSAS CITY
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -10.5
PREDICTION: KANSAS CITY , ATLANTA

Oddsmakers currently have the KANSAS CITY listed as -10.5 point favorites versus the ATLANTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 54.

Home-field advantage in the playoffs is a select prize this season after the NFL amended its playoff structure so seven teams from each conference qualify and only the top seed draws a first-round bye.

The Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) are in prime position to earn the weekend off in the AFC. Nonetheless, the reigning Super Bowl champions are reluctant to acknowledge their superiority entering a home game Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons (4-10).

“Never bank on others; get your guys ready to go,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who insisted he would not study playoff scenarios to shape alternative lineup plans.

“If you go there,” he added, “then you get your tail kicked. I don’t allow myself to go in that direction. We’ve got to maximize ourselves against a team that’s playing hard. These games that they’ve lost, over half of them have gone into the fourth quarter.”

By beating or tying the Falcons, the Chiefs can clinch the top seed in the AFC playoffs and with it, a first-round bye and home-field advantage. Other scenarios could assure the Chiefs of the top spot, but they seem focused on variables they can control.

“If you keep winning games,” said quarterback Patrick Mahomes, “those things have a way of working out on their own.”

Kansas City’s dominance during a season marred by unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic includes a nine-game winning streak and the announcement this week of seven Pro Bowl selections.

A 14th regular-season win would establish a franchise record.

Travis Kelce needs 60 yards receiving to break the NFL record for tight ends held by San Francisco’s George Kittle (1,377). Kelce also needs two receptions to become the first NFL tight end with 100 catches in back-to-back seasons.

The fact that each of Kansas City’s last six opponents have kept the outcome to a one-score margin could encourage Atlanta, which has seven losses by one score.

Discouraging, however, is that the Falcons are No. 31 in the NFL in passing yards allowed, especially going against a Chiefs team ranked first in average passing yards.

Mahomes has thrown for 36 touchdowns against five interceptions. He leads the NFL with 4,462 passing yards. The Falcons’ Matt Ryan is third (4,016).

Much of the attention thrust on the Falcons regards openings for a head coach and general manager. The team confirmed Wednesday that Raheem Morris will receive an interview. The interim coach said he looks at the totality of his job in that prism.

“Everything you do in these moments are interview-type moments,” Morris said.

Morris will use the last two games to look at running back Ito Smith, who moved ahead of Todd Gurley in the rotation.

Receiver Julio Jones continues to be slowed by a hamstring injury that kept him out the last two games. Other Atlanta starters who missed practice Wednesday were cornerback Darqueze Dennard (quad), center Alex Mack (concussion) and guard James Carpenter (groin).

Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle, hip) will miss the game for the Chiefs, though his injury is not as severe as initially thought. Tyreek Hill (hamstring) was withheld from Wednesday’s practice as a precaution. Linebacker Anthony Hitchens is in COVID-19 protocol but could play.

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SEATTLE vs ATLANTA
When: 9/13/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: ATLANTA , SEATTLE

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as 0 point favorites versus the SEATTLE, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.5.

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NEW ORLEANS vs ATLANTA
When: 8:20 PM ET, Thursday, November 28, 2019
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: 8:20 PM
LINE: 6.5
PREDICTION: ATLANTA , NEW ORLEANS

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as 6.5 point favorites versus the NEW ORLEANS, while the game’s total is sitting at 50.

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PHILADELPHIA vs ATLANTA
When: 8:20 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC.
LINE: Eagles -1.5.
O/U: 52.5
PREDICTION: Eagles 28, Falcons 24

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as 1 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.

The Philadelphia Eagles aim to begin a season with a 2-0 mark for the second time in four years on Sunday night when they visit the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking to avert an 0-2 start for the first time since 2007. The Eagles were able to overcome a 17-point deficit in their 32-27 win over Washington while Atlanta was unable to climb out of a four-touchdown deficit in its 28-12 setback to Minnesota.

Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz established quick chemistry with the returning DeSean Jackson on a pair of long scoring strikes to highlight his three-touchdown performance versus the Redskins. “Once again, this is his show, and he is driving the car,” said the 32-year-old Jackson, who reeled in eight receptions for 154 yards against his former team. Pennsylvania-born Matt Ryan was intercepted twice and sacked four times to put the Falcons in a sizable hole versus the Vikings while a banged up offensive line did little for Devonta Freeman, who had eight carries for 19 yards and a fumble. “I don’t want to make (it about) one game … that’s not indicative of who I think we will be. Or, who we were in that game,” Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (1-0): While it’s transparent that wideout Alshon Jeffrey (receiving and rushing touchdown) and tight end Zach Ertz will have significant impacts on the passing game, it’s not exactly clear how Philadelphia’s congested backfield will play out this season. Speedy rookie Miles Sanders and veteran Darren Sproles each had 12 touches in the opener while offseason acquisition Jordan Howard amassed 55 scrimmage yards on just 17 plays. “Sometimes it’s the hot hand,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said, “but sometimes it’s based on game plan and who is in at that particular time.” Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who is nursing a toe injury, has registered 3.5 sacks in his past four games against Atlanta and had 7.5 of his 10.5 sacks last season on the road.

ABOUT THE FALCONS (0-1): Julio Jones, who found the end zone in the fourth quarter to salvage his season-opening performance, has recorded five 100-plus-yard efforts in six all-time meetings with Philadelphia. Another such performance would be Jones’ 50th of his career and likely push his receiving yard total (10,762) past former teammate Roddy White (10,863). Fellow wideout Calvin Ridley also scored a late touchdown against Minnesota and returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where he collected six receiving scores in eight games during his rookie season in 2018. Tight end Austin Hooper continues to provide a trusted outlet for Ryan after reeling in a team-leading nine catches in the opener.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ryan has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 16 consecutive contests dating to Atlanta’s 18-12 loss to Philadelphia in the 2018 season opener.

2. The Eagles agreed to terms with Akeem Spence and placed fellow DT Malik Jackson (foot) on injured reserve.

3. Atlanta’s Jamon Brown will play RG in place of first-round pick Chris Lindstrom, who was placed on injured reserve with a broken foot.

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ATLANTA vs MINNESOTA
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -4
PREDICTION: MINNESOTA , ATLANTA

Oddsmakers currently have the MINNESOTA listed as -4 point favorites versus the ATLANTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 47.5.

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ATLANTA FALCONS vs GREEN BAY PACKERS
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 9, 2018
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -5
PREDICTION: GREEN BAY , ATLANTA

Oddsmakers currently have the GREEN BAY listed as -5 point favorites versus the ATLANTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 50.

The Green Bay Packers are cleaning house on the coaching staff with four weeks left in a disappointing season and will be under the direction of a new head coach when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will serve as interim coach after Mike McCarthy was fired following last week’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

The Packers are losers of three straight and five of their last six games to fall out of the race in the NFC North, and McCarthy’s tenuous relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers mixed with the disappointing results led to his ouster after 12-plus seasons in Green Bay. “We’ve had certain expectations and standards here for a long time,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters. “To come out at home against a team we felt we should beat, it wasn’t up to our standard. I don’t think we played well most of the season. Things weren’t changing as they needed to change.” The Falcons are in a rut as well and dropped their last four games while failing to score 20 points in each. “We’ve got to get back to work,” Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan told reporters. “We’ve got to find a good way to win. As far as stay together, I think we have a good group of men in our locker room, coaching staff and front office that are willing to work.”

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Packers -5. O/U: 50.5

ABOUT THE FALCONS (4-8): Ryan threw for a season-low 131 yards on 16-of-26 passing in a 26-16 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week while getting sacked three times and knocked to the ground on several more occasions. “I’m concerned about it because if we’re not protecting (Ryan) in the way that we can, then that gets hard,” Atlanta coach Dan Quinn told reporters. “There are some games that the score is out of whack and it turns into a dropback game, there are going to be more chances for a defense to go after them, you know that. But at the end of it, yeah, I’m concerned, but I’m as concerned about us playing as well as we can.” Ryan was sacked a total of 14 times in the last four games.

ABOUT THE PACKERS (4-7-1): Rodgers isn’t playing quite up to his MVP-level standards this season but remains the face of the franchise, though he won’t have a say in who the next coach of the team is going to be. “Obviously, he’s free to provide input and talk to us,” team president Mark Murphy told reporters of Rodgers. “But he’s not going to be a part of the process. … The other thing I would say, Aaron was no part at all in the decision to move on from Mike.” Philbin’s first move as interim coach was to fire associate head coach/linebackers coach Winston Moss, who had been with the team since 2006.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Packers TE Jimmy Graham (knee) and WR Randall Cobb (hamstring) are questionable.

2. Falcons WR Julio Jones (foot) sat out practice on Wednesday after recording season lows of two catches and 18 yards last week.

3. Atlanta took the last three meetings, including a 34-23 home triumph last season.

PREDICTION: Packers 28, Falcons 17

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BALTIMORE RAVENS vs ATLANTA FALCONS
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 2, 2018
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: ATLANTA , BALTIMORE

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the BALTIMORE, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.

A quarterback controversy is bubbling up for the Baltimore Ravens, who will try to continue their surge toward a playoff spot with a road game Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The Ravens have won two straight with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson running the offense, but it’s unclear whether Joe Flacco will return against the Falcons, who have lost three straight to fall to the far fringes of the playoff picture.

Flacco returned to practice Thursday for the first time since injuring his right hip Nov. 4 against Pittsburgh, but his status may remain uncertain up until Sunday. It might not matter, because Jackson has played well while leading the Ravens to wins over Cincinnati and Oakland the past two weeks, rushing for 190 yards and a touchdown and passing for 328 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions. “We have no control over who plays or doesn’t, so we’ll be prepared to play whichever way that we have to go,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn told reporters. “I would say the styles are definitely different. … These two styles are different from the way that the offense has featured Joe in a lot of ways and how they’ve featured Lamar.” Despite a three-game skid, the Falcons aren’t completely out of the playoff picture — they trail a pack of potential wild-card teams by two games — but another loss would likely dash their slim hopes.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Atlanta -1.5. O/U: 48.

ABOUT THE RAVENS (6-5): Baltimore boasts the league’s best defense and has held its past two opponents to 255 and 249 total yards. Jackson’s move to the starting role has sparked the ground game, which has rolled up 509 rushing yards the past two games, as fellow rookie Gus Edwards has posted consecutive 100-yard games. Jackson completed passes to seven different receivers in last week’s 34-17 win over Oakland.

ABOUT THE FALCONS (4-7): Atlanta has one of the most prolific passing attacks in the league, but the absence of a running game has been detrimental. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are still putting up big numbers — Jones has six straight 100-yard receiving games — but the Falcons totaled only 26 rushing yards and lost three fumbles in last week’s 31-17 loss at New Orleans. The secondary that was torched early in the season has played better of the late, but the Falcons have been unable to stop the run the past three games, which is problematic if Jackson starts.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Ravens’ defense has not recorded an interception since Week 5, a string of 234 passes without a pick.

2. Falcons WR Calvin Ridley leads all rookies in receiving yards (625) and touchdown receptions (eight).

3. Baltimore OLB Terrell Suggs has notched a sack in each of his past three games against Atlanta.

PREDICTION: Ravens 27, Falcons 20

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ATLANTA FALCONS vs WASHINGTON REDSKINS
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 4, 2018
Where: FedExField, Landover, Maryland

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -2
PREDICTION: WASHINGTON , ATLANTA

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as -2 point favorites versus the ATLANTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 47.

Running back Adrian Peterson continues to defy both critics and Father Time to help the NFC East-leading Washington Redskins win three straight games. The 33-year-old Peterson and the Redskins look to continue their strong performances on Sunday when they host the Atlanta Falcons, who are 0-2 away from home this season and play six of their final nine games on the road.

“He’s a guy that we feed off of, I know the mindset and attitude that he brings certainly fits with what we want to be about up front and our style of play,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said of Peterson, who earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after scoring twice and rushing for a season-high 149 yards in Sunday’s 20-13 win over the New York Giants. While Peterson has been getting rave reviews, Alex Smith hasn’t done much with the Redskins’ aerial attack as the offseason acquisition has averaged a paltry 173.0 passing yards his last three contests. Matt Ryan has encountered no such difficulty, eclipsing 355 passing yards in four of his last five contests while throwing 13 touchdowns against zero interceptions in that stretch. The 2016 NFL Most Valuable Player sent the Falcons into their bye with a two-game winning streak after completing 31 of 39 passes for 379 yards and a score in a 23-20 victory over the Giants on Oct. 22.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Redskins -2. O/U: 48.5

ABOUT THE FALCONS (3-4): The running joke gaining steam is that there’s no stopping Julio Jones … well, until he reaches the red zone. Sure, the five-time Pro Bowl selection has yet to find the end zone this season, but Jones is doing his best to turn Atlanta’s fortunes around by averaging an NFL-best 116.0 yards per game. “We just have to continue to keep building,” the 29-year-old Jones said. “We just have to figure out ways to win games. We need to continue to execute in winning situations.” The Falcons have struggled to get much established with their 30th-ranked ground attack, although running back Tevin Coleman has a touchdown in two straight games while rookie Ito Smith has found the end zone in three of his last four.

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (5-2): Atlanta’s third-ranked passing game will be put to the test against a Washington secondary that features D.J. Swearinger (NFL-high four interceptions) as well as fellow safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who was acquired from Green Bay on Tuesday. “If you can add a good player to the team, you have to do it,” Gruden said of the 25-year-old Clinton-Dix, who had three interceptions this season with the Packers and provides a bit of insurance with safety Montae Nicholson nursing a hip injury. Swearinger, who recorded his second multi-interception game of the season last week, has forced a fumble in back-to-back contests.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Atlanta has won the last five meetings with Washington, although the clubs last played in 2015.

2. Redskins TE Jordan Reed recorded a season-high seven catches — albeit for just 38 yards — last week.

3. Falcons DE Takkarist McKinley has 5.5 sacks in his past six games.

PREDICTION: Falcons 27, Redskins 21

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NEW YORK GIANTS vs ATLANTA FALCONS
When: 8:15 PM ET, Monday, October 22, 2018
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: 8:15 PM
LINE: -6.5
PREDICTION: ATLANTA , NY GIANTS

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as -6.5 point favorites versus the NY GIANTS, while the game’s total is sitting at 54.5.

Quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons withstood a late comeback to end a three-game slide last weekend in what may have been a season-saving victory. That’s pretty much the same position the reeling New York Giants and the much-maligned Eli Manning find themselves in when they head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons on Monday Night Football.

One season after finishing 3-13 and winding up with prize running back Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, New York is off to a 1-5 start amid growing cries that Manning needs to be yanked from the starting lineup. “I know he’s the punching bag right now,” Giants co-owner John Mara told reporters earlier this week. “But a lot of guys need to play better when you’re 1-5.” Atlanta has plenty of issues of its own — namely injuries — but still has Ryan and favorite target Julio Jones, the subject of pregame hype with New York’s Odell Beckham Jr. on the opposite sideline. “In our league today, there are a handful of receivers who garner that special attention,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “It just so happens that two of them are matched up this week. They are different players, but really effective in their own right.”

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Falcons -6.5. O/U: 54.5

ABOUT THE GIANTS (1-5): Barkley has lived up to his pre-draft hype, rushing for 130 yards and a touchdown and catching nine balls for 99 yards in a 34-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 11. Barkley has a chance to make history against the Falcons and join Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt as the only players to pile up at least 100 yards from scrimmage in seven consecutive games to begin their career. Manning continues to have trouble connected with Beckham and has averaged 6.5 yards or fewer per pass attempt in four of six games. New York’s defense has allowed 27 points per game and is tied for last in the league with 7.0 sacks.

ABOUT THE FALCONS (2-4): Ryan is third in the NFL with 1,956 passing yards and has 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions over the past four games after throwing for 340 yards and three scores in last week’s win over Tampa Bay. Jones had 10 catches for 144 yards against the Buccaneers and is second in the league with 708 yards, but he has yet to find the end zone after scoring only three touchdowns in 2017. With Devanta Freeman going on injured reserve following groin surgery this week, Tevin Coleman and rookie Ito Smith will share the load in the backfield. Atlanta is 30th in total defense (417.2 yards) and 31 in points allowed (32.0).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ryan has an NFL-best 1,432 yards and 128.2 passer rating since Week 3.

2. Giants TE Evan Engram is expected to return after sitting out the last three games.

3. Falcons DE Takk McKinley has 4.5 sacks in the last five games.

PREDICTION: Falcons 30, Giants 23

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