Our Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta Falcons prediction breaks down the Week 17 matchup featuring two teams with eyes already fixed on next season.
Let’s take a look at the current NFL betting odds and key storylines to watch and make a prediction for the Cardinals vs. Falcons game. All odds are from Draftkings Sportbook as of Tuesday, December 27.
Cardinals vs. Falcons Odds
- Spread
- Falcons -4
- Moneyline
- Falcons -200, Cardinals +170
- Over/Under
- 41 points
Cardinals vs. Falcons Prediction
Two teams destined for the couch this postseason, the Falcons head to the desert to take on the Cardinals in Week 17. Like every other NFC South team, the Falcons needed to win out, and the chances of being playoff-bound were reasonably high if they did so. Instead, Atlanta has endured a four-game losing streak, eliminating them from playoff contention.
Week 16’s 17-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens showed the strides Atlanta still needs to take between now and the 2023 season. The defense needs work. Yes, they have been able to hang on in many games, but in the end, a big play or busted coverage led to a loss this season for Atlanta. Outside of cornerback A.J. Terrell, the Falcons could improve in all areas.
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Second is the quarterback situation. Rookie QB Desmond Ridder may not be the answer. However, drafting him in the third round gives the Falcons wiggle room to determine where he ends up long-term. The rushing attack that head coach Arthur Smith has built is one of the best in the league, and an experienced and capable quarterback could bring this team to the next level. The Falcons just need to discover where that signal-caller is.
As for Arizona, head coach Kliff Kingsbury is still around for now. With Nathaniel Hackett’s firing in Denver, Kingsbury has withstood a third axe falling around the NFL before Arizona drops their own on his time with the Cardinals.
With QB Kyler Murray done for the season with a torn ACL, the Cardinals are in the midst of their own embarrassing five-game losing streak. They have been so poor down the stretch that they have fallen below the Los Angeles Rams for last in the NFC West.
Thankfully for Arizona, Colt McCoy has been upgraded from out to questionable this week as he continues to recover from a concussion sustained in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos. This should make the offense somewhat better, as Trace McSorley won’t be throwing passes, but the Cardinals’ offense has struggled no matter who’s been under center this year. More of a reason to sever ties with Kingsbury.
The Falcons will lean heavily into the rushing attack as they usually do. However, the Cardinals are no slouch defending against the run. All-Pro and future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt will be firing on all cylinders as he gears up for the final two games of his career. The best thing for the future of both franchises is for them to lose the next two weeks and improve draft stock, but someone has to win this game, presumably.
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Atlanta’s young roster has more to play for at the moment. Smith should be given at least another year, if not more, to get the Falcons back on track, and they seem to be headed in the right direction. Between rookie RB Tyler Allgeier taking over the running game or Ridder, WR Drake London, and TE Kyle Pitts figuring out their fits, the Falcons are on the up.
Atlanta takes advantage of a weak opponent to get back into the win column and build momentum ahead of the 2023 offseason.
Cardinals vs. Falcons Prediction
Cardinals 13, Falcons 24