Betting Preview
Game Details
- Matchup: Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 15 (Week 6)
- Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
Odds Summary
- Moneyline: Commanders +110, Falcons -130
- Spread: Commanders +2.5 (-110), Falcons -2.5 (-110)
- Total: Over/Under 42.5 (-106/-114)
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Subject to change.
The 2-3 Washington Commanders and 3-2 Atlanta Falcons are set to collide in Week 6 of the 2023 NFL Schedule.
Each team has shown signs of promise but has taken steps back in shaky recent performances.
The Commanders need a win in this game to help them stay in contention in the always-unpredictable NFC East.
Currently in third place behind the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, they are fighting to keep up with those Super Bowl contenders.
The Falcons are tied for second in the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints, so a win for them would also be crucial.
Atlanta has better odds to win the Super Bowl, with futures odds of +8000 to Washington’s +12000.
Moneyline
The Falcons are a questionable team heading into Week 6, but the Commanders have gradually gotten worse defensively.
That makes Atlanta a better pick with -130 odds on the moneyline.
Washington has allowed 33 points or more in each of its last four games and just let the sputtering Chicago Bears put up 40 on them.
Surprisingly, the run-heavy Bears cut through the Commanders in the air rather than on the ground.
Don’t be fooled, though. Washington gave up over 100 rushing yards in each of its three previous games, which bodes well for the Falcons’ offense and rookie running back Bijan Robinson.
He hasn’t been consistent on the ground thus far in his NFL career, but the matchups are the key. Against the suspect run defenses of the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars, Robinson flourished and rushed for over 100 yards.
Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder hasn’t proved a touchdown machine, scoring only four times through the air. His mobility got him in the end zone on a rush last week, however, and he can create more openings against the Commanders’ defense.
Ridder has managed to take care of the ball relatively well through the air, turning the ball over only three times with interceptions.
Washington has only two picks this season and none since Week 2.
Point Spread
The Commanders will likely have to play from behind in this one thanks to their dodgy defense, making the Falcons a better choice on the spread.
With the spread at -2.5, Atlanta only needs to win by a field goal to cover, a doable feat against a vulnerable defense.
Sam Howell has proved quietly reliable for Washington this year and has decent weapons around him, like Brian Robinson, Terry McLaurin and Logan Thomas.
However, that’s not good enough when your defense routinely surrenders 30+ points.
The Falcons should have plenty of success running the ball this week and keeping it out of Howell’s hands, making a comeback even more difficult for the Commanders.
Over/Under
The Over on 42.5 total points at -106 feels like a relatively easy choice in this one with how easily Washington has given up points this year.
Only the Denver Broncos have allowed more points than the Commanders. Atlanta is poised to go over 30 points for the first time this year, which means Washington only needs to score a pair of touchdowns to push the total Over.
Neither offense is explosive, but both sides have enough talent to hit this relatively modest Over.
The Commanders’ defense should also do most of the heavy lifting on that front if its recent woes continue.
Player Prop
In what should be a fairly high-scoring game, it’s worth considering the Over on Howell’s 238.5 passing yards prop at -114 odds.
Howell has thrown often, with at least 29 pass attempts in every game this year. As a result, he’s comfortably surpassed 238.5 passing yards prop in three of his five games.
If Washington is playing from behind in this game as expected, Howell will need to keep throwing to keep up, enabling him to hit the Over on his passing yards prop for the fourth time in his last five games.
Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
