Arizona Cardinals (4-11) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-10)
January 1, 2023 1:00 pm EDT
The Line: Atlanta Falcons -3.5 / Arizona Cardinals +3.5; Over/Under: 40.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons meet Sunday in NFL action from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Arizona is currently 4-11 overall. The Cardinals lost to the Buccaneers in overtime on Sunday. As for Atlanta, they’re sitting at 5-10 after a loss to the Ravens. Check back all season long for free NFL picks at Sports Chat Place.
Arizona has beaten the Raiders, Panthers, Saints and Rams so far this year. The losses otherwise have been versus the Chiefs, Rams, Eagles, Seahawks, Vikings, Seahawks, 49ers, Chargers, Patriots, Broncos and Buccaneers.
In the Sunday matchup versus Tampa Bay, the Cardinals kept pace the entire game and scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. Ultimately Arizona would end up losing 19-16 in overtime, however. QB Trace McSorley posted 217 yards with a pick on 24-of-45 passing. James Conner added 79 rush yards and a TD.
Over on the Atlanta side, their wins have come versus the Seahawks, Browns, 49ers, Panthers and Bears. Otherwise the losses have been versus the Saints, Rams, Buccaneers, Bengals, Chargers, Panthers, Commanders, Steelers, Saints and Ravens.
Matched up against the Ravens on Saturday, the Falcons were down 14-3 going into halftime. Atlanta outscored Baltimore 6-3 from there but still lost 17-9. QB Desmond Ridder put up 218 yards, and Tyler Allgeier rushed for 74 yards on 18 carries.
The Cardinals are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six in Week 17 and 5-2 ATS versus a team with a losing record. Arizona is 2-7 ATS in their last nine in January.
Meanwhile, the Falcons are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 versus the NFC and 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight in Week 17. Atlanta is 0-3-1 ATS in their last four in January.
PICK: I’ll probably stick with the Falcons. There’s not a lot to get excited about in this one; both teams have struggled this year and are just playing out the remainder of the schedule. That said, it should be a pretty close game. The Falcons played pretty well defensively versus the Ravens overall, holding the opposition to 299 yards and 15 first downs. Atlanta could only muster nine points, however. The Falcons have struggled putting up points lately, with 18 or fewer scored in four straight outings.
As for Arizona, their defense played fairly well (396 total yards allowed) versus the Bucs but the three turnovers and 5-of-19 on third-down conversions on the other side were too much to overcome. This should be another close game, and I like Atlanta a little better cover-wise.
