Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- Atlanta is due for a letdown, while the Rams are itching for a bounce-back game.
- The Falcons will have to make a decision defensively on if they change the approach that they’ve had success with or leave themselves vulnerable to the strengths of the Rams.
- Matthew Stafford and the passing game are in a terrific spot.
- The game flow is likely to keep Atlanta from relying on the run as heavily as they did in Week 1.
How atlanta Will Try To Win ::
The Falcons nearly pulled off a win against the Saints in Week 1, losing by just one point to a Saints field goal with 0:19 remaining in the game. In that game, the Falcons were able to control most of the game thanks to a strong defensive effort and a good rushing attack, with Cordarrelle Patterson and quarterback Marcus Mariota combining for nearly 200 rushing yards. One of the key plays in the game that likely altered the outcome was a fumble by Mariota inside the Saints 10-yard line late in the 3rd quarter. Had Mariota held on to the ball, the Falcons would have had first and goal and a chance to take a 30-10 lead, effectively putting the game out of reach. In that context, we can see how impressive the Falcons performance really was, as scoring 30 points in three quarters against a good defense would have been quite the feat.
Entering Week 2, the Falcons will have a different challenge on their hands. The Rams are coming off a 10-day break following their loss at the hands of the Bills on opening night last Thursday. The Saints were very conservative in their game plan, and Jameis Winston struggled with the blitzes the Falcons were sending at him, resulting in a stagnant offense that allowed Atlanta to control the game. The Falcons ran the ball 38 times in Week 1, compared to only 33 pass attempts. Atlanta will likely try to take the same approach this week that they had success with in Week 1, although that approach is much less likely to hold water traveling cross country against the defending Super Bowl champions.
How los angeles Will Try To Win ::
By LexMiraglia10 >>
Matthew Stafford:
- 10/17 QBs topped 225 pass yds vs ATL in 2021, but just 5 surpassed 275 and only 1 reached 300 yds
- In W1, Winston threw for 269 yds vs ATL, while Stafford threw for 240 yds vs BUF
- 2021 ATL allowed 31 pass TDs to 12 INT
- 2021 ATL allowed 2+ TDs to 9/17 QBs
- In W1, Winston scored 2 TDs vs ATL, while Stafford scored 1 TD to 3 INT vs BUF
- BUF sacked Stafford 7 times; ATL sacked Winston 4 times
- Stafford’s last matchups against a Dean Pees defense came against the 2017 & 2013 Ravens: 2017 (292:1:1) // 2013 (235:1:3)
- LAR have the highest implied total on the slate (29) and are the biggest favorites (10.5)
LAR WRs:
- 2021 ATL allowed the 5th most WR rec & the 6th most WR DK pts/g
- NOR WRs in W1: Thomas (5:57:2) // Landry (7:114) // Olave (3:41)
- Kupp averaged 11.1 targets/g in 21 games in 2021
- Kupp stayed a target hog in W1, going for 13:128:1 on 15 tg
- Kupp had just one game under 90 yds in all of 2021
- In 2020, Robinson had TWELVE games of more yds than his best game of 2021
- Robinson had just 3 games of over 35 yds in all of 2021, and his BEST game was just 4 rec for 68 yds
- In W1, Robinson went just 1:12 on 2 tg
- Skowronek received 6 tg
Tyler Higbee:
- TEs with 40+ yds vs ATL in 2021: Goedert (42:1) // Gronk (40:2; 58:2) // Gesicki (85:1) // Trautman (47) // Kittle (93)
- Higbee had 10/18 games of 40+ yds in 2021, including 6 straight to end his season before injury
- In W1, Higbee went for just 39 yds, but did see 11 tg
- NOR TEs vs ATL: Johnson (2:45 (5)) // Taysom (1:2 (1))
LAR RBs:
- 2021 ATL ranked 30th in def rush DVOA
- 2021 ATL allowed a RB TD in 12/17 games
- NOR RBs didn’t score in W1, but Taysom Hill did run in a TD
- An LAR RB scored a TD in 10/17 games in 2021 (0 in all 4 playoff games)
- 14 RBs had 75+ yds vs 2021 ATL
- NOR RBs in W1: Kamara (46) // Ingram (23)
- An LAR RB had 70+ yds in 13/17 reg season games (1/4 playoff games)
- Touches:total yds in W1: Henderson (18:73) // Akers (3:0)
Marcus Mariota:
- Mariota’s only two live games since 2019::
- Passing: (226:1:1 // 215:0); Rushing (88:1 // 72:1)
- Notable QB rushing vs LAR in 2021: Wentz (37) // Kyler (39; 61) // Huntley (54)
- Josh Allen rushed for 56:1 in W1 vs LAR
- The Rams ranked 6th in defensive pass DVOA in 2021, allowing the 8th fewest QB DK pts/g
Drake London:
- The 2021 Rams allowed the 5th most overall WR DK pts/g (38.4) behind the 3rd most rec & 4th most yds
- 20 WRs had 70+ vs the Rams in 21 games
- The Rams did only allow the 2nd most WR TDs (10) during the regular season
- 3 BUF WRs scored in W1 and Diggs (122) & Davis (88) cleared 70 yds
- London finished with 5:74 in his first career game against NOR
- London tied Pitts for team lead in tg (7) in W1
Kyle Pitts:
- Pitts only put up 2:19 on his 7 tg in W1
- Pitts has been contained by NOR all 3 times, but he’s playing with a QB who historically favors his athletic TE
- Delanie Walker had 800+ yds in all 3 of his seasons with Mariota in TEN
- Darren Waller went for 9:150:1 on 12 tg in the 2020 Mariota LV game
- TEs with 40+ yds vs LAR in 2021: Kmet (42) // Doyle (64) // Gronk (55, 85) // Williams (66:1) // Hock (48) // Akins (53), Jordan (41:1) // Kittle (50:1) // Ertz (42) // Everett (60) // Conklin (44) // Andrews (89)
- Knox went just 1:5 on 2 tg in W1
Cordarelle Patterson:
- Only three teams allowed fewer RB DK pts than LAR in 2020 (6th fewest RB rush yds)
- Only six teams allowed fewer RB DK pts than LAR in 2021 (9th fewest RB rush yds)
- BUF RBs in W1 vs LAR: Singletary (48, 14) // Moss (15, 21) // Cook (2)
- Patterson rounded out ATL’s big 3 in terms of volume (22 att, 5 tg)
- He finished with 120 rush & 16 rec yds in what is usually one of the toughest RB matchups in football against NOR
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