NFL WEEK 17 BEST BETS: MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Summary
This NFL matchup features the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons. The Rams, already playoff-bound, are looking to rebound from a close loss, with quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Puka Nacua coming off huge performances. The Falcons, on a two-game win streak, are led by Kirk Cousins and running back Bijan Robinson.
The prediction favors the Rams to win and cover the spread in a high-scoring game. Suggested bets include a Rams parlay with Stafford throwing for over 293.5 yards, Nacua exceeding 118.5 receiving yards, and multiple players scoring touchdowns. For Atlanta, bets focus on Cousins and Robinson surpassing yardage totals and finding the end zone.
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (+9, O/U: 50)
THE HISTORY
If you are a younger Millennial, Gen Z, or whatever comes after (Gen 6-7? Gen Labubu?), then you might not know that these two teams spent plenty of history together in the NFC West as divisional opponents. You might ask, “Hey, Adam, how in the hell were the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC West?” I’ll respond that not only were the Falcons in the NFC West with the Rams and San Francisco 49ers, but so were the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers. The NFL was dumb for a long time. Anyhoo, as such, this is the 82nd all-time meeting between the two franchises since they kicked it off back in 1966. LA leads it 49-30-2.
They last met up on Sep. 18, 2022, with the Los Angeles claiming a 31-27 win in what would turn out to be an injury-filled disaster year for the Rams. In the loss, Marcus Mariota was 17 of 26 for 196 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks. Drake London caught eight passes for 86 yards and a score. Matthew Stafford was 27 of 36 for 272 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions for LA. Darrell Henderson, now retired (I think?), rushed 10 times for 47 yards and a TD. Cooper Kupp, now with the Seattle Seahawks, caught 11 passes for 108 yards and two scores.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-4)
The Rams come into this one already set for the playoffs, but dropped to a Wild Card after a heartbreaking 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks last week. Matt Stafford solidified his MVP campaign with a 29 of 49 passing performance for 457 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He was not sacked. Kyren Williams rushed 23 times for 70 yards. Blake Corum had 14 carries for 48 yards and a TD. Puka Nacua caught 12 passes for 225 yards and two scores. The defense picked off Sam Darnold twice and sacked him twice.
ATLANTA FALCONS (6-9)
Atlanta won its second straight last week, knocking off the Arizona Cardinals 26-19. Kirk Cousins was 21 of 35 for 197 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. He was sacked once and scrambled for a TD. Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson both rushed 16 times apiece, with Allgeier gaining 79 yards and Robinson 76. Robinson added seven catches for 92 yards and a score. Kyle Pitts continued his quest for a monster free agent contract, hauling in seven balls for 57 yards and a touchdown. The defense piked off Jacoby Brissett once and sacked him twice.
BEST BETS
In the Friday Afternoon Quarterback column, I picked the Rams to win 37-23, and I’m still feeling it, which means they’d not only cover, but hit the over. By the time this one kicks off, Los Angeles will know if they still have a shot at the NFC West title and possibly the No. 1 seed, depending on the results in the Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers game and the Chicago Bears at the 49ers. Either way, they’ll want to take it out on the Falcons, and if the Rams have proven anything, they need to keep scoring to close games out.
Because of that, we have a good Rams player parlay with Stafford going over 293.5 passing yards, Puka Nacua over 118.5 receiving yards, Kyren Williams going over 69.5 rushing yards, and Williams, Nacua, and Colby Parkinson all scoring touchdowns. That pays at +3300.
For the Falcons, I like Kirk Cousins to go over 199.5 passing yards, Bijan Robinson to surpass 64.5 yards, and score a touchdown. He’ll be joined in the end zone by Kyle Pitts. That pays at +800.
Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan
