NFL - Falcons can fly highest on Monday night in Seattle

NFL expert Tom Selwyn (@Tom_Selwyn) shares his expert opinion on the best bet available from Monday Night Football.

Atlanta Falcons @ Seattle Seahawks | Tuesday 21st November 2017, 01:30 | Sky Sports

Despite the injuries that both teams have suffered recently – CB Richard Sherman and SS Kam Chancellor for Seattle, RB Devonta Freeman for Atlanta – I’m looking forward to this matchup between two NFC powers.

Neither team has been totally convincing this season, but with Falcons putting together a very nice game against Dallas last week I think there’s value to be had in backing them for this Monday night game – Atlanta it is.

Without two members of the famed “Legion of Boom” in Seattle’s secondary (and the third, Earl Thomas, will be in first game back from injury) I think the Falcons have a big advantage over the Seahawks, especially with WR Julio Jones.

Jones has form against Seattle’s backup CBs in their most recent matchup too; when lined up on anyone other than Sherman, Jones was responsible for QB Matt Ryan having a perfect passer rating when throwing to him – it could be a similar story for one of the league’s best WRs this time as well.

Of course, it would be remiss of me not to talk about the star of Atlanta’s win last week – DE Adrian Clayborn. Clayborn destroyed the various backup LTs of the Cowboys to the tune of six sacks and it looks like he’ll be going against another backup LT this week as Duane Brown looks set to miss out for Seattle.

With Seahawks QB Russell Wilson responsible for pretty much all of his team’s offense (over 80% of Seattle’s yards from scrimmage), if Clayborn and the rest of Atlanta’s defensive front can summon up something close to last week’s dominant performance and put Wilson under pressure then they’ll be in good shape (although you can never truly contain him due to his incredible ability to escape and make plays).

It would be foolish to dismiss the Seahawks, who have consistently found ways to win even when they’re the not at their best, but the Falcons are coming into this game fresh off their best performance of the season and look to have advantages in crucial areas. I think it will be close, but I can’t ignore the Falcons here.