Atlanta Falcons NFL Week 13 Betting Lines
Three losses in their last four games have led to Atlanta falling out of the Wild Card race. Fortunately, the Falcons play in the worst division in the NFL, so they could still win the NFC South. The best team in this division is just 5-7, and they do have a bye week next weekend in order to prepare for the stretch run. They will be tasked with beating the Pittsburgh Steelers before their bye week though.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a big win on Monday Night Football and will look to win consecutive games for the first time this year against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET on CBS from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
NFL Week 13 Betting Odds
Pittsburgh Steelers PK
Atlanta Falcons PK
Total: 43.5
Money Line: TBA
Atlanta Falcons Week 13 Matchup
Kenny Pickett has improved markedly over the course of his rookie season. His overall numbers aren’t great as he is completing just 66% of his passes for 1,600 yards (6.0 YPA) with three touchdowns and eight interceptions in eight starts, but he has cut down on the turnovers the last three weeks. Pickett is a bit of a mobile threat too, so that’s something Atlanta must factor in this week.
We saw Najee Harris leave last week’s game with an abdomen injury, and it’s too early to tell whether or not he will be available for this game. Backup running back Jaylen Warren missed the most recent game with a hamstring injury too, so Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland might be asked to carry the load against the Falcons. George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, and tight end Pat Freiermuth are the only real threats in the passing game for Pickett to exploit, but Atlanta doesn’t have a lot of talent in the secondary.
The Falcons are allowing 24.4 PPG and 383.1 YPG, ranking in the bottom quarter in the NFL in both categories. They have the worst pass rush in terms of sack percentage, and Grady Jarrett is responsible for 5.5 of the team’s 17 sacks on the season. The good news is that the defense is pretty healthy aside from No. 2 cornerback Casey Hayward being on season-ending injured reserve.
There’s a chance that Marcus Mariota will be making his last start of the season on Sunday. Mariota has posted decent numbers, but he’s clearly limited in his skillset, and the team does not trust him to have the reins of the offense for the long-term. Atlanta drafted Desmond Ridder back in April, and a loss here might lead to Arthur Smith pulling the plug on Mariota in order to see what he has with Ridder.
This offense is predicated on a ground game that has had a good amount of success. Only one team (Chicago) runs the ball more than Atlanta, and the Falcons should end the season with four players over 500 rushing yards. Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier are the top two running backs, while rookie Drake London and Olamide Zaccheaus are the only real threats in the passing game with Kyle Pitts out for the rest of the season.
Atlanta does not match up well with Pittsburgh. The Steelers have a bottom five pass defense, allowing 7.3 YPA and 263.7 YPG through the air. They are great at stopping opponents on the ground though, ranking sixth in rush defense. T.J. Watt is healthy once more, making this front seven one to watch.
Atlanta Falcons Week 12 Recap
The Atlanta Falcons were unable to go on the road and get a win over the Washington Commanders last week, largely eroding their hopes for a Wild Card berth. They are now two games behind those Commanders for the final Wild Card spot in the NFC. That has put Atlanta in a position where its easiest path to the postseason is by winning the putrid NFC South.
Washington wasn’t great in this game, totaling 314 total yards on 60 plays. Taylor Heinicke completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, but he wasn’t sacked once on the afternoon. Rookie Brian Robinson Jr. had 18 carries for 105 yards and caught a touchdown pass.
Meanwhile, it was a typical Atlanta performance on offense. Marcus Mariota had marginal success, completing 15 of 25 passes for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
His top target was Olamide Zaccheaus, who finished with five receptions for 91 yards. The Falcons combined to run the ball 29 times for 167 yards on the afternoon as Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson were an effective combination.
Atlanta Falcons Schedule & Results
The Falcons used to be a hot property that the networks liked. But those days are over. Atlanta will get only one prime time appearance this season. The Falcons are at the Carolina Panthers on a Thursday night Prime Video matchup in week ten.
The season begins with three road games in the Falcons’ first five matchups. That puts a premium on the week one home opener against a beatable New Orleans Saints team. The Saints have a new head coach and Jameis Winston as the projected starting quarterback. The days of the Saints being a serious contender are over.
Atlanta Falcons Past Seasons (2000)
| YEAR |
RECORD |
PLAYOFFS |
| 2021 |
7-10 |
None |
| 2020 |
4-12 |
None |
| 2019 |
7-9 |
None |
| 2018 |
7-9 |
None |
| 2017 |
10-6 |
Lost Divisional Round |
| 2016 |
11-5 |
Lost Super Bowl |
| 2015 |
8-8 |
None |
| 2014 |
6-10 |
None |
| 2013 |
4-12 |
None |
| 2012 |
13-3 |
Lost Conference Championship |
| 2011 |
10-6 |
Lost Wild Card Round |
| 2010 |
13-3 |
Lost Divisional Round |
| 2009 |
9-7 |
None |
| 2008 |
11-5 |
Lost Wild Card Round |
| 2007 |
4-12 |
None |
| 2006 |
7-9 |
None |
| 2005 |
8-8 |
None |
| 2004 |
11-5 |
Lost Conference Championship |
| 2003 |
5-11 |
None |
| 2002 |
9-6-1 |
Lost Divisional Round |
| 2001 |
7-9 |
None |
| 2000 |
4-12 |
None |
The Falcons were founded as an NFL expansion team in 1966 and didn't make the playoffs until 1978. They have two NFC championships in 1998 and 2016. Their infamous Super Bowl collapse to the Patriots is one of the biggest NFL debacles ever.
The Falcons were born during the peak of the AFL vs. NFL league war. The AFL was interested in placing a franchise in Atlanta. Thus, the NFL moved to cut them off at the pass. Also, there was a sunbelt strategy involved with the NFL. The New Orleans Saints were born the following year, creating an instant rivalry between the Southern cousins.
The Falcons have had their share of great players during their history. Deion Sanders, Claude Humphrey, Steve Borkowski, Jeff Van Note, Tommy Nobis, and Roddy White lit up the Atlanta marquee. Sanders and Humphrey are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Van Note had a remarkable career from 1969 through 1986.
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