Packers Host Falcons On Monday Night Football
Hosting the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, Eddy Lacy and the Green Bay Packers will look to move into a tie with Arizona at the top of the NFC.
Monday Night Football emanates from historic Lambeau Field tonight as the Green Bay Packers play host to the Atlanta Falcons.
Kickoff in Green Bay is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
While the Packers are playing for the NFC’s top spot, the Falcons are just looking to stay alive.
The Story So Far
A winner in four straight and eight of the last nine, Green Bay (9-3, 6-0 home) is within striking distance of the Arizona Cardinals at the top of the NFC standings. The Cardinals will stay at the top regardless of Monday’s result but with the Red Birds struggling that may not be the case next week.
The Packers have emerged as perhaps the conference’s best team, but there’s still work to be done for Mike McCarthy’s side.
The Packers remain embattled with the Detroit Lions in the race for the NFC North division title. The Lions earned a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday and would leapfrog the Packers were the latter to come up short on Monday night.
Nobody would consider Atlanta (5-7, 2-4 road) one of the conference’s best sides, but despite a horrible season, Mike Smith’s side remains in contention in the NFC South.
The Carolina Panthers throttled the New Orleans Saints on Sunday to give the Falcons a shot at moving a full game clear at the top of the division standings. They just need to beat the Packers on the road to do so.
Atlanta enters the game have won three of its last four, including a surprise win over Arizona last weekend. With a 4-0 record in division play and games with the Saints and Panthers left on the docket, the Falcons can probably afford a loss on Monday, but nobody in A-Town will be willing to risk it.
Head-to-Head
Since the two teams first met in 1966, Green Bay owns a 16-13 advantage in head-to-head play.
Green Bay has won three straight in the series and seven of the last 11.
The Packers are 10-5 at home all-time against the Falcons, and have won eight of the last 10 at Lambeau Field.
Injury Report
Green Bay linebackers Nick Perry (shoulder) and Jamari Lattimore (ankle) are amongst those listed as questionable, as are guards Josh Sitton (toe) and T.J. Lang (ankle).
Atlanta cornerback Robert Alford (wrist) is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. Wide receivers Roddy White (ankle) and Harry Douglas (foot) are amongst those listed as questionable.
Check out the full injury list
Roddy White and the Falcons remain in control in the NFC South.
Betting Report
Below you’ll find Betting Sports’ breakdown of odds and betting trends.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers odds for 12/08/2014
Moneyline: Green Bay (-610) opened as the favorite over Atlanta (+485) on the moneyline.
The Packers’ advantage has stretched ahead of kickoff, with the line sitting at -750 on some sportsbooks at the time of writing.
Green Bay is 6-0 at home this season, while the Falcons are 1-5 on the road.
The Packers are 6-3 against the NFC, while the Falcons are 5-4 in conference play.
The Falcons have lost three straight against the Packers, last winning on November 28, 2010.
Spread: The spread opened at 11.5 and has subsequently climbed to 13.
Green Bay (7-4-1 ATS) has fared better against the spread than Atlanta (5-7-0 ATS) this season.
The Packers are 5-0-1 ATS at home on the season and 7-1-1 ATS when playing as the favorite. The Packers have covered the spread in seven of the last nine.
The Falcons are 1-5-0 ATS on the road and 3-3-0 ATS as an underdog.
Atlanta is 6-3-0 ATS in its last nine head-to-head games with Green Bay, and 5-0-0 ATS in its last five trips to Lambeau Field.
Total: The total opened at 56 and has remained fairly static.
Green Bay (9-3-0 O/U) has heavily favored the over this season, although the under has paid out in the club’s last two games.
Atlanta (5-7-0 O/U) has marginally favored the under, but the last two Falcons’ games have seen the total go over.
The total has gone over in four of the last six games between the two sides at Lambeau Field.
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