The Falcons (-6.5 on the NFL betting odds) are counting on a big improvement offensively after a disappointing 15-9 loss in overtime at Pittsburgh last week. Atlanta got just three Matt Bryant field goals against the Steelers and will need much better performances from Ryan – and more importantly running back Michael Turner – to earn a victory here in the team’s home opener.
Turner totaled only 42 rushing yards on 19 carries while Ryan completed 27 of 44 passes for 252 yards, including 13 for 111 yards to wide receiver Roddy White. The Falcons did play fairly well defensively against Pittsburgh outside of allowing the game-winning touchdown run of 50 yards by running back Rashard Mendenhall in OT. Without that long run, the Steelers rushed for 93 yards on 30 carries (3.1-yard average) and totaled 211 passing yards.
The Cardinals did not fare much better despite winning their season opener 17-13 at St. Louis. New starting quarterback Derek Anderson did not look sharp even though his final numbers do not indicate his struggles, as he finished with 297 yards on 22-of-41 passing.
Part of the problem was that wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was not in sync with Anderson, finishing with three catches for 43 yards even though he was targeted 15 times. One of those catches was a 21-yard touchdown grab that put Arizona in front for good, but it was fellow receiver Steve Breaston who totaled a team-high seven receptions for a career-high 132 yards.
Fitzgerald is still bothered by a sprained right knee that kept him out of the last three preseason games and requires a brace. He practiced fully on Wednesday and hopes to improve while running back Beanie Wells went through a limited workout after sitting out the win over the Rams due to a knee injury. Starting running back Tim Hightower carried most of the load in his place and lost two fumbles to St. Louis. The Cardinals will also be without wide receiver Early Doucet due to a sports hernia that will likely keep him out at least two weeks.
As you know we offer free sports picks via our newsletter but occasionally throw some additional free winners out on the blog. You can get signed up for these predictions by visiting our free nfl picks page of the site. For the blog free play we reccomend taking a look at the Over 43 in Sunday’s contest. We made the number a little higher and while Arizona has lost four in a row at Atlanta, and the series between the two teams overall has been rather high-scoring. The OVER has cashed in six of the last seven regular-season meetings and seven of eight if you include the 30-24 win for the Cardinals in the playoffs two years ago.
