The Falcons are on a roll right now as they have won five games in a row to take the lead in the NFC South.  But in the first meeting between these two teams the Bucs gave the Falcons a tough game before Atlanta prevailed 27-21.  The Bucs are 3-2 at home this year but the crowds are small and don’t factor much in the game.  The Buccaneers are 0-4 this season against teams with winning records.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons are going to come out running in this game with Michael Turner pounding away against a Bucs’ D that is allowing 132.5 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per  carry.  The Bucs will likely trust their corners to defend Roddy White and Michael Jenkins one on one which will likely make Matt Ryan smile.  The Bucs’ starting pair of corners (Aqib Talib & Ronde Barber) already have 9 interceptions this year so Ryan will have to be careful.  Tony Gonzalez could have a big game as the Bucs are having problems at safety.

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Bucs are likely going to try to run the ball with LeGarrette Blount and Cadillac Williams against a Falcons’ D that is allowing only 93.7 yards rushing per game but 4.2 yards per carry.  If the Bucs’ O-Line can keep DE John Abraham (9 sacks) out of Josh Freeman’s face, he should have time to throw the ball.  The Falcons are giving up 252.9 yards passing per game so Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow should have some success on Sunday.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 24, BUCCANEERS 20

This is going to be a war this Sunday in the Georgia Dome.  The Falcons have won 4 games in a row and they are 5-0 at home this year outscoring the opposition 149-95.  The Packers are coming into this game RED HOT as they have won four games in a row by a combined score of 113-34!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons are going to come out running the ball for a couple of reasons.  1.) Michael Turner and Jason Snelling should have success against a Packers’ D that is allowing 112.1 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry and 2.) the Falcons want to control the clock and keep the Packers’ high octane offense off the field.  The Packers have 29 sacks and 15 interceptions so Matt Ryan is not only going to have to get rid of the ball quick but he’s also going to have to be careful. 

When the Packers have the ball:  The Falcons better get pressure on Aaron Rodgers or the secondary is going to have a long afternoon.  The Packers have quality WRs in Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and James Jones and Rodgers likes to throw to all of them.  So if you double cover one of them he just throw it to someone else.  The running game is pretty much an afterthought with the Packers as they don’t use Brandon Jackson much.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 27, PACKERS 24

The Falcons are hot right now as they have won three games in a row.  But, they are only 2-2 on the road this year and they are visiting a snakepit.  The Rams are 4-1 at home this year and they have outscored their opponents 103-63!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons always come out running the ball so look for Michael Turner to challenge the Rams’ run D which is giving up 97.8 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry.  If the Rams can’t get Turner going they will just turn Matt Ryan loose like they did last week against the Ravens.  The Rams have 28 sacks this year so they are going to be bringing the heat on Ryan.  The problem with that is his favorite receivers (Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Jason Snelling) are all adept at catching short passes and getting yardage after the catch.

When the Rams have the ball:  The Rams are likely going to have a very similar offensive gameplan as the Falcons.  They will be feeding the ball to Steven Jackson against a Falcons’ D that is allowing 98.1 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry.  The Falcons are giving up 245.3 yards passing per game so Sam Bradford will likely be able to make some plays down the field in this game. 

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 23, RAMS 20

The Falcons love playing at the Georgia Dome.  Head Coach Mike Smith is 17-3 in this building and starting QB Matt Ryan is an amazing 17-1 at home.  The Ravens are 2-2 on the road this season.  Both of these teams are in first place in their divisions so this is a HUGE game for both of them.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  I don’t look for the Falcons to change anything tonight against the Ravens whose D is vastly overrates.  The Ravens are giving up 104.8 yards rushing and 4.2 yards per carry so I look for Michael Turner to get his fair share of yards on the ground tonight.  Matt Ryan will need to be careful with the football with safety Ed Reed back as he already has 3 interceptions in only two games.  But, Ryan is usually smart with where he goes with the football as he only has 5 interceptions so far this year.  Roddy White is going to give it a go tonight despite being a tad banged up so look for Ryan to look to Michael Jenkins & Tony Gonzalez a little more than usual tonight.

When the Ravens have the ball:  The Ravens present a lot of challenges for the Falcons as they have a solid running game with Ray Rice & Willis McGahee and they have a good passing game too.  The Falcons’ front seven will have to handle rushing Joe Flacco and stopping the running game as the corners and safeties are going to have their hands full trying to stop the passing game.  Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Todd Heap and T.J. Houshmandzadeh give Joe Flacco a nice array of receivers.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 27, RAVENS 23

This is a matchup for the NFC South lead as the Bucs and Falcons are tied for first place.  The Falcons have been solid at home as they are 3-0 outscoring the opposition 96-53.  The Buccaneers have been road warriors this year though as they are 3-0 away from home, having outscored their opponents 82-63.  Something has to give this Sunday and here’s a look at the matchups:

When the Falcons have the ball:  Michael Turner & Jason Snelling have to be foaming at the mouth after watching game film of the Bucs’ D.  The Buccaneers are giving up 149.4 yards rushing and 5.2 yards per carry so far this year.  The Buccaneers only have six sacks so far this year so Matt Ryan will have a lot of time to throw the ball this Sunday.  I have a feeling that Tony Gonzalez is going to have a big role this Sunday in the passing game as the Bucs have a nice set of CBs but the safeties can be beaten.  Ryan won’t forget about Roddy White & Michael Jenkins though as he doesn’t back down from a challenge.

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Bucs will likely try to be balanced against the Falcons this Sunday.  The Falcons must stop RB LeGarrette Blount and force the Bucs to be one dimensional.  Josh Freeman only has 3 INTs so far this year so he hasn’t been making many mistakes.  The Falcons will likely turn up the pressure with DE John Abraham in an attempt to get into Freeman’s head.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 30, BUCCANEERS 24

The Falcons have been really good at home this year as they have outscored opponents 57-21 (they are 2-0).  The Bengals had a bye last weekend and they needed the rest after getting beat in consecutive weeks by the Buccaneers & Browns.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  Michael Turner will be ready to rock against a Bengals’ D that is averaging 111.0 yards rushing on 4.4 yards per carry so far this year.  Matt Ryan should have a lot of time to throw the ball against the Bengals who only have six sacks this year.  That should give Ryan enough time to survey the field and get the ball to whoever is open among Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez or Michael Jenkins. 

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Falcons are going to try to get after Carson Palmer to force him into making some mistakes.  But the Bengals’ O-Line protects him pretty well as he has only been sacked 7 times this year.  With Christopher Owens moving into the starting lineup in Dunta Robinson’s place, Palmer is likely going to pick on him.  The Bengals have a great bunch of receivers in Terrell Owens, Chad Ocho Cinco, Jordan Shipley and TE Jermaine Gresham.  The Bengals will also try to get Cedric Benson on track so ILB Curtis Lofton is going to have his hands full this Sunday.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 27, BENGALS 23

The Falcons are on a roll now having won 4 games in a row (2 of those on the road).  The Eagles have won three of their last four games but they are 0-2 at home this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Eagles are giving up 125.8 yards rushing and 4.3 yards per carry so I think that’s where the Falcons are going to attack them.  Michael Turner (421 yards rushing, 4.5 ypc) and Jason Snelling (244 yards rushing, 4.6 ypc) could both have big games this Sunday in Philly.  The Eagles will be blitzing when they get off the team bus as they have 15 sacks and 8 INTs so far this year so Matt Ryan will have to be careful with the football.  He likes to keep the passing game short anyway so look for Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez to have solid games.

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Falcons give up 223.4 yards passing per game so Kevin Kolb will be putting the ball up a lot this Sunday.  Eagles’ QBs have been sacked 19 times this year and he Falcons have 11 this year so Kolb will have to get rid of the ball quickly.  He’s going to have to be really accurate too because the Falcons already have 10 INTs this year.  I look for Brent Celek and Lesean McCoy to be his two favorite targets in the passing game.  The Eagles will still try to force the ball to Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin down the field so the Falcons’ CBs and safeties might have chances at some big, game altering plays this Sunday.  The Falcons are only allowing 86.6 yards rushing per game but 4.2 yards per carry so Lesean McCoy should get his fair share of carries as long as he can handle the pain.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 30, EAGLES 24

The Falcons are looking for a fourth win in a row this Sunday in Cleveland but it won’t be easy as the Browns play tough at home.  Here is a look at the match-ups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons will likely run a lot this week against the Browns.  Look for Michael Turner and Jason Snelling to pound away against a Browns’ D that is allowing 108.8 yards rushing per game.  It will be interesting to see if Matt Ryan spreads the ball around a little more in this game as the Browns will likely double cover Roddy White a lot in this game.  If the Browns do that then look for Ryan to look Tony Gonzalez way quite a bit.  The Browns have 8 sacks this year and the Falcons have given up 8 sacks this year and for Ryan to be effective he’s going to need time to throw the ball.

When the Browns have the ball:  The Browns like to run the ball as they have averaged 116.5 yards rushing and 4.1 yards per carry this year.  Curtis Lofton and the rest of the Falcons’ D better tighten up their chinstraps this week because Peyton Hillis of the Browns runs downhill and he tries to lower the boom on anyone trying to tackle him.  It looks as if Jake Delhomme might start this week for the Browns instead of Seneca Wallace.  That means  the Browns will likely throw more to the WRs than the TEs this weekend.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 24, BROWNS 17

The Falcons want to build on there big win last week against the rival New Orleans Saints.  They will likely enjoy the home cooking again just like they did in the home opener when they thrashed the Cardinals 41-7.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  I think the Falcons are going to throw the ball more than usual in this game as opposing QBs have a 108.7 Rating against the Niners’ D.  Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez are likely both in for HUGE games this weekend.  There will be a lot of high impact collisions in the middle of the field with Michael Turner & Jason Snelling meeting up with inside linebacker Patrick Willis of the Niners.

When the 49ers have the ball:  The Niners are likely to keep the ball in their best two players hands (Vernon Davis and Frank Gore) on offense.  The Falcons are allowing 238.3 yards passing per game and 5.1 yards per carry on the ground so the Niners could have success both through the air and on the ground.  But, the Falcons’ D has 7 sacks and 6 interceptions already this year so Alex Smith will have to be careful with the ball.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 27, 49ers 17

The Atlanta Falcons got swept by a combined score of 61-50 against the Saints last year.  With that in mind I look for the Falcons to get physical, especially on offense in this game.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Falcons have the ball:  I don’t think the Falcons want to get into a fire fight in this game with the Saints.  With that in mind I look for Michael Turner and Jason Snelling to get a lot of work against the Saints on the ground.  In the last meeting of these two teams in New Orleans, Turner carried the ball 20 times for 151 yards (7.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  The Falcons hope he repeats that feat this weekend so the Falcons can be balanced on offense.  The Saints are giving up 116.5 yards rushing per game and 4.8 ypc so Turner should have a big game.  I think this is the game that Matt Ryan looks to some other receivers as I fully expect the Saints to double cover Roddy White. 

When the Saints have the ball:  The Falcons’ D has 5 sacks and 4 interceptions already this year but that won’t stop Drew Brees from attacking their secondary.  Brees completed 56 of 73 passes (76.7%) for 604 yards with 5 TD passes and 1 INT against the Falcons last year.  The Falcons could also see a heavy dose of Pierre Thomas on the ground as the Falcons are giving up 130.5 yards rushing per game and 5.9 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 30, FALCONS 27