Sport
NFL Week 3 preview: Falcons to make it three on the bounce?
It’s full steam ahead in the NFL this week, with 16 more games between Friday and Tuesday to get our teeth stuck into.
We preview two of the games below.
New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers – Friday 01:15 (UK)
Week 3 of the NFL season opens with an enticing clash between the Giants and the 49ers on Thursday night in the vibrant backdrop of San Francisco.
In Week 2, the Giants scripted a remarkable second-half turnaround, erasing a daunting 20-0 halftime deficit to eventually triumph 31-28 over the Cardinals. Statistically, the Giants managed to outgain the Cardinals, amassing 439 total offensive yards compared to Arizona’s 379, but their comeback was still totally unexpected given the state of affairs at the halfway mark.
Looking at the season as a whole, the Giants’ offence has yet to find its stride, ranking 24th in passing yards per game with an average of 212.5 yards. Their ground game, while more promising, still leaves them in 13th place in rushing yards, averaging 117.5 yards per contest. Scoring-wise, the Giants find themselves in the 27th spot in the league, averaging a modest 15.5 points per game, but their defence has struggled, allowing a league-worst average of 34 points per game. As such, they begin as 17/4 underdogs on the money line, with the spread currently 10 points.
The San Francisco 49ers, on the other hand, enter this contest with a 2-0 record, perched at the summit of the Western division. Their last outing saw them defeat the Rams 30-23, although they narrowly missed covering the spread. Despite being outgained by the Rams, the 49ers’ defence stepped up, forcing two turnovers and making crucial stops.
The hosts boasts a balanced offence, ranking 16th in passing yards and third in rushing yards per game. Quarterback Brock Purdy has been efficient and while Christian McCaffrey has been stellar in gaining. The dynamic duo of Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel provides valuable receiving options in what looks to be a well-composed side, and they begin as the comfortable 2/11 favourites on the money line.
Atlanta Falcons @ Detroit Lions – Sunday 18:00 (UK)
Our other previewed NFL clash between the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions carries more than just the promise of on-field action; it’s a matchup that has stirred considerable interest. The betting line, set at a total of 46.5 points, sees the Lions as the 3-point favourites and 10/17 on the money line, which is intriguing when considering the divergent paths these two teams have taken in the early part of the season.
The Falcons, often perceived as a team facing anticipated challenges, have defied expectations by securing two wins in their first two games against the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers. It’s however worth noting that Atlanta enjoyed the comfort of home turf in those initial weeks, and their true test awaits as they embark on their first road game of the year.
Critics have argued that the Falcons may have been driven by excessive emotion, leading to an overly aggressive approach that, at times, resulted in setbacks. They start as the 6/4 underdogs for this one, but it may be premature to completely write them off. One standout player for the Falcons has been Drake London, who has delivered impressive performances in the opening couple of matchweeks.
Conversely, the Lions, despite being favoured in this matchup, grapple with their own set of uncertainties. Inconsistencies have plagued their core, despite an impressive season opener where they triumphed over the defending Super Bowl champions. However, they stumbled in a heart-wrenching overtime loss to the Seahawks, squandering a golden opportunity. Yet, prevailing sentiment seems to lean toward a Lions victory in the upcoming game.
