Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons
Thursday, 12/15/11, 8:20 PM EST, TV: NFL
Opening Point Spread: Atlanta -13.5
Current Betting Line: Atlanta -11
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 42.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
The Atlanta Falcons are gunning to make the playoffs for the second straight season while the Jacksonville Jaguars will try to play spoilers when they meet on Thursday Night Football. The Falcons (8-5) have won three of their last four games to put themselves in position for one of the two Wild Cards in the NFC, but they need to avoid a trap here against the Jaguars before visiting the New Orleans Saints next week on Monday Night Football.
Atlanta (-11, O/U 42.5) rallied back from a 23-7 halftime deficit last week at Carolina to beat the Panthers 31-23, outscoring them 24-0 after the intermission. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second half, including two to rookie wide receiver Julio Jones in the fourth quarter. Ryan finished with 320 passing yards, and Jones made three catches overall for 104 yards despite being targeted eight times.
Jacksonville also showed some heart last week after trailing Tampa Bay 14-0 less than one minute into the second quarter. The Jaguars scored the next 28 points in the quarter and 41 unanswered overall in a 41-14 victory over the Buccaneers. They were led by the NFL’s leading rusher Maurice Jones-Drew, who scored a career-high four touchdowns.
Jones-Drew has rushed for 1,222 yards, although he has not broken the century mark in a game since Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts. He could have a tough time going up against Atlanta’s fifth-ranked run defense that is allowing just 95.2 yards per game this season.
The Falcons lost the last meeting with Jacksonville 13-7 on the road back in 2007 as a 10-point favorite. They hope to be ready for this game playing on short rest and following a health scare for head coach Mike Smith, who checked into a Charlotte hospital after last week’s win when he became ill. He has since recovered though and should be on the sideline.
The Jaguars may not have kicker Josh Scobee available after he suffered a groin injury during their win over the Bucs. Scobee did not attempt an extra point on their last touchdown of the game and could sit out. His absence would put more pressure on rookie QB Blaine Gabbert, who had the second-highest passing yardage total of his career against Tampa with 217 yards to go along with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The UNDER could be a good bet after cashing in 10 of Jacksonville’s last 13 games overall and in eight of nine for Atlanta. The total has also gone UNDER in the past four meetings between the teams.
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