Flawless Falcons should overcome struggling Saints
Now that the Atlanta Falcons have swept the NFC East, they finally get a taste of their own division.
That comes Thursday at New Orleans, where the struggling Saints try to slow their archrival’s march through the conference.
The Falcons (5-0) have learned how to win the close ones under new coach Dan Quinn, and only Arizona has scored more than Atlanta’s 162 points. A thrilling comeback win over Washington — the Falcons have made a habit of those — gave them sole possession of the NFC South lead because Carolina (4-0) was idle.
Atlanta is a three-point choice over New Orleans, which comes off a pedestrian performance in a loss at Philadelphia. The Saints (14) can’t run the ball or stop the run and only winless Detroit has more giveaways in the NFC.
Our pick? Falcons, 31-21
IN OTHER MATCHUPS THIS WEEK:
Kansas City (plus 3½) at Minnesota: Vikings are well-rested, Chiefs are banged-up and demoralized. Best bet: Viking, 23-13 Baltimore (minus 2½) at San Francisco: Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh in the coaching rematch — oh wait. Older brother Jim is a Wolverine now. Upset special: 49ers, 21-16 New England (minus 7½) at Indianapolis: Patriots continue their get-even-with-everybody campaign by — dare we? — deflating Colts. Patriots, 30-20 New York Giants (plus 4) at Philadelphia, Monday night: Anybody have a healthy wideout to lend the Giants? Eagles, 23-17 San Diego (plus 10) at Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers begins another interception-free home streak. Packers, 33-20 Cincinnati (minus 3½) at Buffalo: Bills are too banged-up to slow down the Bengals’ express. Bengals, 20-10 Denver (minus 4) at Cleveland: Denver’s spotless record could get marked here. We think Broncos scrape through. Broncos, 19-16 Carolina (plus 6½) at Seattle: Panthers’ spotless record will get marked, but Seahawks don’t do anything easily. Seahawks, 20-19 Washington (plus 6) at New York Jets: Jets come off bye, get Sheldon Richardson back to boost strong D. Jets, 20-13 Arizona (minus 3) at Pittsburgh: Cardinals hung out at West Virginia resort while Steelers needed every second in San Diego. Cardinals, 24-16 Houston (minus 1½) at Jacksonville: Not much to like with either of these clubs so far. Jaguars, 17-16 Miami (plus 3) at Tennessee: Dolphins coaching change could help in this one. Dolphins, 17-14 Chicago (plus 3) at Detroit: Forget about 0-16, Lions finally get it right, but barely. Lions, 17-16
2015 RECORD:
Against spread: week (8-5), season (41-32-1). Straight up: week 9-5, season (50-27) Best bet: 3-2 against spread, 4-1 straight up. Upset special: 1-4 against spread, 1-4 straight up.