New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons Matchup Preview (11/18/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons Matchup Preview (11/18/21)

Week 11 opens with the New England Patriots traveling to Atlanta to play the Falcons.  New England (6-4) is coming off a 45-7 trashing of Cleveland at home last weekend.  The Patriots have scored 45 or more points twice in the last four weeks.  Atlanta (4-5) is coming off a road demolition at the hands of Dallas, 43-3. The Falcons were down by 33 points at the half and their three points scored were the fewest points they’ve scored in a game since December 13, 2015; in a shutout loss to the Panthers.  

New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons Betting Odds

New England is a 5.5-point road favorite.  Atlanta is 4-5 against the spread this season; 0-3 at home.  The Patriots are 134-8 (.944) when scoring at least 30 points in a game since 2000; the highest winning percentage in that span.  The Falcons have allowed at least 30 points in a game four times this season.  

With a defense that is ranked in the top 10, a quarterback who doesn’t turn the ball over often, solid running, strong tight end play and timely catches by their receivers this Patriots team can be a danger in the AFC. 

The Falcons need to simply find ways to score and for the defense to not be trampled, if not they run the risk of their season completely spiraling out of control.

My Prediction:  Patriots 31-14, Patriots cover, but under 46.5 points.

TV Schedule

Date: November 18th, 2021
Time: 8:20 PM ET
Location: Mercedes Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA
TV Coverage: FOX

New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons Live Stream

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New England Patriots Analysis

In the week 10 victory over Cleveland, Mac Jones was 19-23 with three touchdowns and no interceptions.  Jones is the first rookie in team history with three or more touchdown passes in a game with no interceptions.   The 15^th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft simply has fantastic timing and anticipation, throwing receivers open.  During the Patriots, four-game winning streak, Jones has thrown for 861 yards, six touchdowns with a 102.45 passer rating.  The Alabama product who has thrown at least one touchdown pass in eight games this season, has easily been the best rookie quarterback this season and must be the favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.  

Rhamondre Stevenson had a big day for New England in the victory over Cleveland in week 10.  After missing practice all week while in concussion protocol, Stevenson ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns: averaging five yards a carry vs. the Browns in the first start of his NFL career.   He became the fifth rookie in Patriots’ history with 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a game.  Overall, the Patriots have rushed for more than 120 yards in six straight games, their longest single-season streak since 1988.

Jakobi Meyers is the Patriots leading receiver this season with 50 catches for 483 yards and a touchdown.  Meyers touchdown against the Browns this weekend was his first in his NFL career; per PFF, his 197 targets were the most by a wide receiver before their first career touchdown since 1992.  Kendrick Bourne is New England’s second leading receiver, catching 33 balls for 520 yards.  Bourne’s three receiving touchdowns in 2021, are one more than he had all last year with San Francisco.  

New England’s defense is ranked sixth in the NFL allowing 328 yards per game.  The Patriots held the Browns to 217 total yards and one for 11 on third downs.  During the Patriots four-game winning streak, they’re allowing 12.5 points per game.  Matt Judon one of the Patriots big free agent signings last off-season has been impressive in his first year as a Patriot.  Wearing #9, he has 9.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits in 2021.  Look for an aggressive game plan from Bill Belichick against a below average offensive line and an immobile quarterback.  

New England Patriots Depth Chart

QB: Mac Jones
RB1: Damien Harris
RB2: Brandon Bolden
WR1: Jakobi Myers
WR2: Nelson Algohor
WR3: Kendrick Bourne
TE1: Hunter Henry

Atlanta Falcons Analysis

The leader of the Atlanta offense, Matt Ryan was awful against Dallas on Sunday, going 9-21 for 117 yards and two interceptions.  Ryan had a 21.4 passer rating, the lowest in a game in his illustrious 14-year career.  On the season the Falcons #2 has thrown for 2,274 yards while throwing 15 touchdowns with a 67.7 completion percentage.  Ryan can still make big plays, but at times he looks slow, and one questions if the end is coming quicker for the 36-year-old signal caller than expected?  

Russell Gage was expected to be go-to receiver with Calvin Ridley out indefinitely (non-football related), but that hasn’t happened.  Against Dallas, he was only targeted three times, in the last two games he’s been targeted 11 times.  Rookie tight end Kyle Pitts is the Falcons most dangerous pass catcher. Unfortunately, in the loss to the Cowboys, Pitts had four catches for 60 yards.  In 2021, Pitts has 40 receptions for 606 yards and a touchdown.  Per NFL.com, Pitts has surpassed Junior Miller, five in 1980, for the most games with at least 50 yards receiving by a rookie tight end in Atlanta’s history.  Additionally, he has the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in Falcons’ history with 606 yards.  The former Florida Gator must be the main threat in Atlanta’s passing attack helping to stretch the field, giving the Falcons ground game an opportunity to balance the offense.   But most importantly he needs to be a safety valve for his veteran quarterback.

After playing the last two season with the Chicago Bears as a kick returner and part-time running back/wide receiver, gaining 550 yards of total offense in both seasons combined, Cordarrelle Patterson is one of the most surprising players of the 2021 season. Listed as a running back, Patterson has rushed for 303 yards on 77 carries, caught 39 passes for 473 yards and scored seven touchdowns (five receiving and two rushing).  His five receiving touchdowns are tied for the most in Atlanta’s history by a running back in a season.  The former first round pick of the Vikings in 2013 has already scored seven touchdowns this season, only two off from his career-high of nine reached in 2013.  

Atlanta Falcons Depth Chart

QB: Matt Ryan
RB1: Cordarrelle Patterson 
RB2: Mike Davis
WR1: Tajae Sharpe
WR2: Russell Gage
WR3: Olamide Zaccheaus
TE1: Kyle Pitts

New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons Daily Fantasy Picks

New England tight end Hunter Henry is showing what he can do when healthy, unfortunately throughout his NFL career that has been a big issue for the former Charger.  The free agent acquisition is quickly becoming a reliable receiver and effective in the red zone (think Rob Gronkowski in his Patriots heyday).  Henry has seven receiving touchdowns this season: the most since his rookie season in 2016.  

Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo could have value being in your lineup.  One of the best kickers in the league, last season he led the NFL in points with 144.  For the season he’s 17 for 17 in extra point attempts and has made 15 field goals this year totaling 62 points.  In his 36 career games he has scored 308 points.  Koo could be the difference in winning or losing your fantasy matchup this week.