Atlanta had a bye last week following a 23-16 win at Detroit as +4½ point road underdogs. Matt Ryan’s touchdown pass to Ruddy White late in the second quarter proved to be the difference in the win for the Falcons. Ryan completed 20-of-34 passes for 218 yards and two interceptions, and added a rushing touchdown for the Falcons, who have won consecutive games for the first time this season. Michael Turner carried the ball 27 times for 122 yards while White finished with five receptions for 52 yards. Tony Gonzalez caught five passes for 62 yards and his fourth catch of the game moved him past Marvin Harrison for second all-time on the NFL reception list. Atlanta had a 328-263 edge in total yards and held the Lions to minus-one yard of offense in the first quarter.
Indianapolis continued to reel last week in a 27-10 loss at Tennessee as +9 point ‘dogs. Curtis Painter threw for 250 yards with a pair of interceptions and rushed for 79 yards for the winless Colts (0-8), and Donald Brown ran for a touchdown in the loss. The Colts punted on seven of their nine first-half possessions and one of those punts was blocked in the end zone and recovered for a Tennessee touchdown. The Colts out gained Tennessee 399-311, but couldn’t overcome 10 penalties for 66 yards and two turnovers that led to 14 points for the Titans. The Falcons and Colts last met in 2007, with Indy taking a 31-13 road win as -13½ point favorites, but a lot has changed since then.
Atlanta is 8-3 ATS in November games and Indianapolis comes in 6-2 ATS as an underdog. However, we have a few troubling trends here as Indy is 0-8 ATS as ‘dog vs. an NFC opponent off two SU and ATS wins, while Atlanta is 1-8 ATS on the road off a SU non-division win and 1-7 ATS off back-to-back SU wins.