The NFL is a weekly league. Almost any team can look like the world's strongest before spawning in the next match, and vice versa.
Sometimes the opponent plays a key role in that role reversal, and I believe “Monday Night Football” has such a scenario.
The Falcons appear to have the perfect opponent in the Raiders to end a four-game losing streak and return to division contention.
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has not thrown a TD pass during this skid, with eight interceptions.
The situation is so dire that some are calling for rookie Michael Penix Jr. to replace the 13-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowler.
However, with the Raiders' stud pass rusher Maxx Crosby ruled out, Cousins should be able to perform against a weak defense. He has a wealth of weapons in Bejan Robinson, Drake Rondon, Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts, and believes Cousins will get back on track if Crosby doesn't apply pressure.
Falcons vs. Raiders odds
| team | spread | money line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| falcons | -6 (-110) | -260 | 44.5 or higher (-110) |
| Raiders | +6 (-110) | +215 | Less than 44.5 (-110) |
Falcons vs. Raiders predictions
When reports surfaced that Desmond Ridder could start in place of the injured Aidan O'Connell, betting markets began to move the point spread in Atlanta's favor from 4 to 5.5. The stage is set.
It's never a bad idea to root for an underdog team at home on Monday Night Football.
The Raiders won't roll over. They will play hard and coach Antonio Pearce needs to finish the season strong to cement his job.
But there's a reason the Raiders are 2-11, and that's because they lack talent on both sides of the ball.
Ridder's ability is very limited, as he has only collected 20 or more points in this offense three times this year.
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Their best season score was 26 points, which was when they had a pretty talented quarterback in Gardner Minshew. The fall for Ridder is huge.
So while I think Las Vegas will feed off the crowd's energy and fight, I think Atlanta's offensive weapons have too much firepower.
Pick: Falcons -6 (-110, ESPN Bet)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Doug Kezirian is a contributor to the New York Post and currently serves as chief content officer at sports betting media company Only Players. Doug has over 20 years of experience in sports betting, including 11 years as a host, columnist and betting analyst at ESPN. He also grabbed headlines by taking $297,000 in the 2021 NFL Draft.
