Cardinals Falcons Betting – Atlanta Tries To Shake Off Humiliation In Week Two

The best reason to bet on either team in this game is to look at the weaknesses on the other side of the field. Atlanta was putrid in its 15-9 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the fact that the Steelers lacked Ben Roethlisberger and were playing with essentially a third-string quarterback in Dennis Dixon (Byron Leftwich was unavailable as the second-string quarterback), the Falcons could not take advantage. Atlanta’s offense never dented the end zone, and quarterback Matt Ryan was ineffective all game long. Atlanta running back Michael Turner gained just 42 yards on 19 carries in a terrible week-one performance. Despite the presence of regular Pro Bowl selection and future Hall-of-Famer Tony Gonzalez at the tight-end spot, Atlanta couldn’t finish drives and failed to thrive in the red zone against Pittsburgh’s defense. The impotent display, capped by the failure to win a game against a team playing with its No. 3 quarterback, sent waves of dread and alarm through the Falcons’ locker room. Arizona will not be playing a playoff-caliber team on Sunday. The Falcons look like a 7-9 team in the making, and will have to change a lot in order to become something different this season.

Why To Bet On The Falcons

While Atlanta struggles in its own right, the Falcons’ opponent this upcoming Sunday looks to be even worse. Yes, the Arizona Cardinals did grab a win in week one, but the crew from suburban Phoenix prevailed only because it was playing the lowly St. Louis Rams. In an awful game featuring two train-wreck offenses, the depleted Cardinals – without Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin – looked wretched against the Rams. Both Arizona and St. Louis committed four turnovers apiece on Sept. 12 inside the Edward Jones Dome. One play symbolized the whole afternoon for both teams.

St. Louis defensive lineman Clifton Ryan picked up an Arizona fumble and was steaming toward the goal line in the third quarter with the Rams leading 13-10. A touchdown would have given St. Louis a two-possession lead and forced the Cards’ anemic offense to score multiple times. Yet, Arizona receiver Steve Breaston made his biggest play of the game… by acting as a defensive player. Breaston stripped the ball from Ryan before the Ram could break the plane of the goal line with the ball. Arizona gained possession, and it was only because of that bit of defense – from an offensive player – that the Cardinals were able to survive the team that was the NFL’s worst in 2009. Arizona’s ineptitude is what gives Atlanta a good chance this week.

How The Game Will Play Out

Atlanta won’t play great, but Arizona will be awful. A boatload of turnovers will pour forth from the Cardinals. Atlanta is still finding itself, but Arizona is just not very good. Take the Falcons in what should be a very ugly and borderline-unwatchable football game.