Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Sept. 22, 2021

Joe Williams
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Atlanta Falcons (0-2) and New York Giants (0-2) meet at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. in Week 3, and someone is going to leave the field with its first victory of the 2021 campaign, barring a tie, and someone is going to leave dejected with a third loss in as many weeks, searching for answers heading into Week 4. Things haven't started out how each of these teams wanted, but there is still time to turn things around.

Score Prediction: Giants 27, Falcons 24

Best Bet: Giants ML -150

Best Bet: Over 47

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants Predictions

This game actually features some pretty intriguing storylines despite the fact we have a pair of winless teams facing down against each other.

The Atlanta Falcons offense hasn't been as moribund as many thought it would be heading into the 2021 campaign. Yes, they did lay an egg in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, losing 32-6 at home to a chorus of boo birds. However, they really put up a nice fight in Tampa against the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers in Week 2. They were trailing 28-10 in the third quarter at one point, but QB Matt Ryan rallied the team to within 28-25 heading into the fourth quarter. Yes, they were outscored 20-0 in the fourth, and yes, two of those scores were on pick-sixes by Matty Ice to the same guy, Mike Edwards. But the Falcons showed a lot of heart, and they showed they're not that far away.

The Giants have had a couple of extra days to prepare for this one, as they last played on Thursday night in Washington. They lost a heartbreaker, falling 30-29, and it appeared WFT had missed a field goal. However, an offside call on Dexter Lawrence gave the home side an untimed down, and Dustin Hopkins buried a 43-yard field goal to deal the Giants a cruel blow. Instead of heading home 1-1, with three extra days to prepare, they are starting at the same winless record in the standings.

I like what I saw from New York's offense, and I think they'll be able to move the ball a lot better against Atlanta's defense to eek out the win.

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Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants Betting Odds

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Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants Betting Resources

• Matchup: NFC South vs. NFC East
• Date: Sunday, September 26, 2021
• Venue: MetLife Stadium
• Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
• TV-Time: FOX - 1:00 p.m. ET

• Line Movements
• Betting Trend Movements
• Weather Report
• Injury Report
• Super Bowl 56 Betting

Atlanta Falcons Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 0-2
• ATS: 0-2
• O/U: 1-1
• ATS - Home: 0-1
• ATS - Away: 0-1

So which Falcons team will show up? The one which was undressed 32-6 on its home field against a mediocre Philadelphia Eagles team, or the one which hung with the defending champs for three quarters before letting things get away from them? Either way, it's all hands on deck against the Giants, a team which showed they can move the ball.

Atlanta showed that they have some versatile players, as journeyman Cordarrelle Patterson found the end zone with his feet against the Bucs, and he gives Ryan another dependable option other than just Calvin Ridley. Rookie TE Kyle Pitts is coming around, too, and will be another target Matty Ice can rely upon. Out of the backfield, the Falcons gave RB Mike Davis some big-time money in the offseason, hoping he'd be a poor man's Christian McCaffrey like he was filling in for the injured star last season. He has shown good hands out of the backfield, but totaled just 87 rushing yards through two games, a problem for Atlanta. They need to try and establish the run early in this one.

The Falcons have also allowed 40.0 PPG, but that's a little misleading. Yes, Philadelphia got them for 32 points in Week 1, but while they allowed 48 to Tampa in Week 2, two of those touchdowns came in the fourth quarter on interception returns for score. So sure, the defense still gave up their fair share of points, but it wasn't as bad as the scoreboard indicated. They will give up high 20's to the Giants, but look for the Falcons to be much better this weekend.

New York Giants Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 0-2
• ATS: 1-1
• O/U: 1-1
• ATS - Home: 0-1
• ATS - Away: 1-0

The Giants have some impressive offensive weapons, and QB Daniel Jones isn't as bad a lot of people think. He is just under intense pressure playing for the most popular team in the largest market. He passed for 249 yards and a touchdown last week in D.C., and he opened the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run. In fact, he led the team with 95 rushing yards and the score. But Jones cannot lead this team in rushing, as they need RB Saquon Barkley to step up. The brittle star had one long run of 41 yards, but his 12 other rushes tallied just 16 yards. That's not good.

And the G-Men spent big money bringing in reinforcements in the pass game, adding WR Kenny Golladay and TE Kyle Rudolph to strengthen this offense. Golladay has just seven grabs and 102 yards through two games, and Rudolph just four catches and 33 yards. The guys who were already here, WR Sterling Shepard and WR Darius Slayton, have been the better options. They need the big-money guys to step up and produce.

The Giants might get a bump with TE Evan Engram (calf) possibly nearing a return. He was inactive in the first two games, but could play Sunday. That would give the team another nice option in the pass game, and help Barkley in the run game with an extra blocking tight end, too.

The Atlanta Falcons have gone UNDER the point total in six of their last nine games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Atlanta Falcons

• Record: 0-2
• Division Standing: 4th - NFC South
• Points Scored: 31
• Points Allowed: 80
• PS/G: 15.5 (30th)
• PA/G: 40 (32nd)

Inside the Stats - New York Giants

• Record: 0-2
• Division Standing: 4th - NFC East
• Points Scored: 42
• Points Allowed: 57
• PS/G: 21 (22nd)
• PA/G: 28.5 (25th)

Key Players to Watch

• ATL: Matt Ryan - QB (56/81, 464 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT)
• ATL: Calvin Ridley - WR (12 catches, 114 yards, TD)
• NYG: Daniel Jones - QB (44/69, 516 yards, 2 TD / 15 carries, 122 yards 2 TD)
• NYG: Sterling Shepard - WR (16 catches, 207 yards, TD)

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants Betting Conclusion

I think the Giants have more weapons than the Falcons on offense, and I think the extra couple of days the Giants have had to prepare will actually help them, too. Plus, they're at home. The Falcons did a good job against the Buccaneers, but Ryan made some critical mistakes, and I am not quite sure that this team has jelled with all of the new offensive parts who were brought in. Ryan and Julio Jones were on the same page for many years, but that chemistry is gone. He has that chemistry with Ridley, but the rest of the offense is a work in progress.

Look for the Giants to finally close out a close game and get it done in front of the home fans, while the Falcons head back to the ATL scratching their heads, wondering how another close one got away.

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants Betting Trends

• TBD

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