Atlanta at Detroit

This is gut-check time for the Lions who suffered their first loss of the season last week. The Lions finally lost a game after winning 13 straight (counting their four preseason games this year). A team that used to be a joke has turned good draft picks into wins. One of those choices was Javid Best, but unfortunately for the Lions he is injured and out for this game. They traded for Ronnie brown, but they will miss Best coming out of the backfield on passing plays. Usually when a player goes down on offense, the defense gets inspired in the first game without a star, especially at home. When coming off a loss, I think the defense will play inspired football. Remember that they allowed just 13 points to the Bears and just 3 to the Chiefs here this season. Don't forget that they also closed last season at home by allowing just 3 points to Green Bay and 13 to Minnesota in their last two in this building. That means that in their last five home games they have allowed 55 points or 13 ppg. Last year everything broke right for Atlanta as they had one of those years where the record exceeded the level of the talent, losing just three games all season. They have already equaled those three losses this year through six weeks, and this is not a playoff team in my estimation. In their last 11 games overall, the Falcons have not beaten a team with a winning record and have averaged just 15.5 ppg against them. Detroit has been a cover machine in their last 27 at 18-7-2 ATS. Take the Lions to roar back here after their first loss. I also like the UNDER in this game. Atlanta;s offense has produced just 18 points per game on the road this season while Detroit has kept foes to just 13.7 per game in this building. Atlanta is now 23-9-1 to the UNDER in their last 33 on the road as a dog from +3.5-10 and the Lions’ defensive efforts at home have led to a 4-1 UNDER mark in their last five here.  Take Detroit and play on the UNDER in this one.