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The betting line on the Falcons-Eagles Divisional Round Playoffs has opened at Atlanta -2.5. Most books had jumped to -3 with 60% of the action on Atlanta.
While the NFL Betting Power Ratings indicate the line should be Philadelphia -4, it is likely that the Eagles number hasn't quite been adjusted fully with the absence of Carson Wentz. This is a 6.5 point variance, however. Keep in mind, however, that the Eagles boast the fourth-ranked defense in football and can gain an edge with their physicality, particularly up front.
The Falcons are making another run for the Super Bowl with a decisive road victory over the LA Rams Saturday night.
Matt Ryan passed for 218 yards and hit Julio Jones for an 8-yard touchdown with 5:48 to play, and the defending NFC champion Falcons advanced with the 26-13 victory.
The Falcons have experienced a big scoring dip this year, averaging 22 points per game compared to 34 PPG in 2016.
While Nick Foles may be a capable backup in place of Wentz, he is also prone to mistakes, and this is not a characteristic that can stand against a defending NFC championship team like Atlanta.
From ESPN.com:
The Matt Ryan-Julio Jones combo has the potential to give the Eagles fits. Ryan was 9-of-10 (90 percent) when targeting Jones on Saturday, the duo’s best completion percentage in a game this season, per ESPN Stats & Information. Ryan and Jones have now played seven postseason games together, connecting on 80 percent of their passes. That's the best of any QB-WR duo with 20-plus attempts in the postseason since 2011. Who's going to cover Jones?
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
