Falcons Look to Exploit Injuries in Seahawks Secondary

Monday Night Football brings down the curtain on Week 11 of the NFL regular season when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Seattle Seahawks. The current line has Seattle favored by 1.5 points with the over/under point total on 46.

Entering this game, Atlanta on the season is 5-4 straight up and 3-6 against the spread. On the road, the Falcons are 3-2 SU and 1-4 ATS. Seattle on the season is 6-3 SU and 3-5-1 against the spread. At home, the Seahawks are 3-1 SU and 1-3 ATS.

Seattle will play its first game without Richard Sherman its All-Pro cornerback who was lost for the remainder of the season on November 9 in a win against Arizona. Seattle trails NFC West leading Los Angeles by a half game but suffered several injuries besides just Sherman against Arizona.

Atlanta, which beat Dallas last week, but had dropped four of its previous five, will likely be without Devonta Freeman their starting running back who suffered a concussion versus Dallas.

Last season Atlanta beat Seattle in the NFC Division playoffs 36-20 with the help of three touchdown passes by Matt Ryan.

Atlanta has averaged 12 points less per game this season than last and has scored 17 or fewer points in its four losses. Tevin Coleman rushed for 83 yards following the injury last week to Freeman for the Falcons.

Ryan will look to exploit the loss of Sherman by throwing to his favorite target wide receiver Julio Jones. Jones has caught 49 passes but has scored just one touchdown.

Last week Adrian Clayborn, a defensive end, recorded six sacks to set a franchise record for the Falcons.

Kam Chancellor is likely to miss Monday’s game as well for the Seahawks, but Earl Thomas his fellow safety should return after sitting out two games with an injured hamstring.

Seattle’s offense has been carried by quarterback Russell Wilson who has thrown for 2,543 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Wilson has averaged 330 yards passing while throwing 11 touchdowns over his last four games.

Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road.

Seattle is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games versus a team with a record above .500.

Prediction: This could go either way, but Falcons should be able to exploit injuries on defense for Seahawks. Lean here toward Atlanta.