Both the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants are 0-2 heading into their Week 3 matchup. The nature of their losses, however, was somewhat different. The Giants are coming off a 1-point, last-second heartbreak against the Washington Football Team. The Falcons, meanwhile, are currently averaging a weekly deficit of 24.5 points. One of these teams won’t be winless anymore after Week 3 — but which one will it be? Below, we have our Falcons vs. Giants prediction, NFL odds, and channel options for optimal viewing.
Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants prediction and odds for Week 3
Odds are from DraftKings sportsbook.
- Spread: Giants -3 (-105)
- Moneyline: Giants -158, Falcons +140
- Over/Under: 48 (Over -110, Under -112)
The Giants may be 0-2, but they met the spread in Week 2. The spread against Washington was 3.5, and New York lost by 1 point on a last-second field goal. Things haven’t been so close for the Falcons. Atlanta is comfortably — or uncomfortably — 0-2 against the spread. The Falcons were 3.5-point favorites against the Eagles and lost by 26. Then, they lost to the Buccaneers by 23, falling below a spread of 12.5.
The over/under of 48 seems about right for these two teams. While the Falcons have been less than inspiring this season, they did get up to 25 points while playing catch-up against Tampa Bay. Furthermore, the Giants put up a solid 29 points against the vaunted Washington defense, widely regarded as one of the better units in the league. Both offenses have lacked a certain extra gear to this point, but the Falcons’ shoddy defense will be a good catalyst for an eventual attempt at a comeback by Atlanta.
Falcons vs. Giants prediction
It’s easy to see why the Giants are the favorites in this game. Although New York wasn’t facing a world-beater at quarterback in Taylor Heinicke last Thursday, they faced a Washington roster that’s solid all around. Even amidst injuries on the offensive line, the Giants kept the game close. When he wasn’t pressured, Daniel Jones was surprisingly efficient. He miraculously avoided the fumble bug and also provided value on the ground.
Atlanta’s Sunday performance in Week 2 wasn’t so inspiring. In a predictable outcome, the Falcons were eventually buried by the defending Super Bowl champions — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Atlanta did fight back after falling behind early. At the end of the third quarter, the score was 28-25. But the Buccaneers scored 20 unanswered points in the game’s final period, leaving the Falcons in the dust. Tom Brady threw 5 touchdowns, and Dean Pees’ defense had no answers for Tampa Bay’s cast of playmakers.
Neither team is perfect, but the Falcons’ lack of consistency is concerning
The Giants and the Falcons both have their flaws. Neither team has been very good in the trenches so far this year. The Falcons have been inconsistent on both the offensive and defensive lines. New York’s defensive front has been solid, but it’s not a prolific unit when it comes to generating pressure. A lot of help comes from New York’s secondary, which is stocked with quality players like James Bradberry, Logan Ryan, Adoree’ Jackson, Xavier McKinney, and Jabrill Peppers.
Losing OL Nick Gates hurts the Giants, but the Falcons’ defensive line still hasn’t done enough to prove it can exploit New York’s blocking unit. Maybe LB Deion Jones creates trouble for Daniel Jones, who loves to utilize the middle of the field. However, Daniel Jones has a vast allotment of weapons with Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton, and first-round rookie Kadarius Toney. It’s also possible that TE Evan Engram returns to the lineup this week after missing the first two games of the season.
Atlanta’s offense has enough firepower to stick with the Giants. Still, Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, and Azeez Ojulari might have a better time generating consistent pressure against a line that’s struggled early on. Throw in New York’s stalwart secondary, and Ryan might be holding the ball longer than desired. The G-Men’s offensive line isn’t stellar either, but the Falcons’ defense has been abysmal for two weeks. A drastic turnaround isn’t likely to happen so quickly.
Falcons vs. Giants Prediction: Giants 31, Falcons 22
How to watch Falcons vs. Giants this week
- Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- TV channel: FOX
- Start time: 1:00 PM ET
- Live streaming options:
- Hulu + Live TV
- fuboTV
- YouTube TV
- Paramount+
Check with your streaming service to confirm the availability of specific channels.