Seattle Seahawks @ Atlanta Falcons

1:00 PM

Seattle is 0-4-1 in its last 5 Week 1 games.

Atlanta is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games vs NFC West teams.

The OVER is 7-2 in Atlanta’s last 9 games vs Seattle.

Seattle was one of the NFL’s most dominant teams in 2019 through its first 12 games with a 10-2 record. But after going just 1-3 over the final four games of the regular season, the Seahawks landed in a wild-card spot as the San Francisco 49ers won the NFC West. The Seahawks defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 17-9 in the first round of the postseason before losing to the Green Bay Packers 28-23, wrapping up a 12-6 SU and 8-9-1 ATS campaign on a 2-4 SU and 1-4-1 ATS skid.

Losing Jadeveon Clowney was a big blow to this defense. Without significantly improving a defense that finished 26th in total yards allowed (381.6 per game) and 22nd in points allowed (24.9 per game) last season, the Seahawks will once again rely heavily on Russell Wilson to outshoot the opposition in 2020.

Seattle are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games.

Seattle are 12-6 SU in their last 18 games.

Seattle are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against Atlanta.

Seattle are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games against Atlanta.

Instead of bouncing back from a disappointing 7-9 campaign in 2018, the Falcons stumbled out of the gate to a 1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS start last season. Remarkably, Dan Quinn managed to keep his job through Atlanta’s bye week in Week 9 despite having lost six straight games going into the bye. And even more remarkably, the Falcons did a complete 180 over the second half of the season, going 6-2 SU and ATS with impressive road upsets over the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco as double-digit underdogs.

The Falcons allowed 31.3 points per game on defense through their first eight games and tightened up to allow only 18.6 points per game over the second half of the season. Which version of the Falcons is going to show up this year – the one that looked like a doormat in the first half or the one that looked like a Super Bowl contender in the second?

Atlanta are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games.

Atlanta are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 7 of Atlanta's last 9 games against Seattle.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

4:25 PM

The total has gone OVER in 12 of Tampa Bay’s last 14 games.

New Orleans is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 home games in September.

New Orleans has won 13 of its last 17 games vs Tampa Bay.

The Bucs might be the NFL’s most hyped team going into the 2020 campaign, and it’s not just because of the off-season signings of Brady, Gronkowski and running back Leonard Fournette. There was already a lot to like about Tampa Bay before those acquisitions, even though the Buccaneers finished last year with six losses in their last seven games and have won just four of their last 23 on the road.

Tampa Bay led the NFL in passing yards in 2019, was third in total yards, fourth in points scored and had the league’s best rush defense. The Bucs just couldn’t overcome 33 turnovers by QB Jameis Winston, as six of their nine losses came by a touchdown or less. To put Winston’s turnover numbers into perspective, Brady has thrown just 29 interceptions in his last four seasons combined.

If you’re looking to play DFS this week, be sure to take a look at receiver Chris Godwin. The 24-year-old caught a pair of 26-yard touchdown passes and finished with 125 receiving yards when Tampa Bay visited New Orleans last year, and he’s scored five majors in eight career games vs the Saints.

Tampa Bay are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games.

Tampa Bay are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against New Orleans.

Tampa Bay are 4-13 SU in their last 17 games against New Orleans.

The Saints have been notoriously slow starters under head coach Sean Payton. Last year, they needed a 58-yard field goal by Wil Lutz at the final gun to edge Houston 30-28 in Week 1 and avoid their sixth straight season-opening loss. New Orleans is also just 1-7 ATS in its last eight home games in September.

Once the Saints do get rolling, however, they’re expected to look a lot like the team that has posted consecutive 13-win seasons. Already with WR Michael Thomas, TE Jared Cook and pass-catching back Alvin Kamara at his disposal, Drew Brees was given yet another weapon with the acquisition of Pro Bowl wideout Emmanuel Sanders.

Defensively, Cameron Jordan is coming off a career-high 15.5 sacks and three-time Pro Bowl strong safety Malcolm Jenkins returns to the Big Easy after six seasons in Philadelphia.

New Orleans is gunning for its fourth straight NFC South title, and success in divisional games has been a big reason why. The Saints have won nine of their last 11 games overall against divisional foes, and nine of their last 12 at home.

New Orleans are 12-3 SU in their last 15 games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans' last 5 games against Tampa Bay.

New Orleans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games at home.

The Rams are 0-7 SU in their last 7 games as home dogs.

The away team is 2-6 SU and ATS in the last 8 meetings.

The OVER is 3-1 in LA’s last 4 September home games.

Mike McCarthy is one of five new head coaches in the NFL, and he has definitely inherited the best team of the bunch. The former head coach of the Green Bay Packers who led them to a victory in Super Bowl 45 will still have his challenges, though, as quarterback Dak Prescott is seeking a long-term contract extension after receiving the franchise tag designation.

Prescott should be extra motivated to earn that big deal, but performing up to those lofty expectations is often easier said than done. McCarthy also has one of the league’s best running backs (Ezekiel Elliott) and a top wide receiver (Amari Cooper) to go along with one of the steals of the NFL draft (CeeDee Lamb). All of these players should have a chip on their shoulders and could be a dangerous group if they perform like it.

The total has gone OVER in 13 of Dallas' last 19 games.

Dallas are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.

Dallas are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games against LA Rams.

Dallas are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against LA Rams.

A year ago, Los Angeles experienced the typical hangover reserved for the Super Bowl loser on an almost annual basis and was lucky to finish with a winning record in a tough NFC West. But Dallas won one fewer game, prompting the team to move on from former head coach Jason Garrett.

The Rams chose to give quarterback Jared Goff a juicy contract extension before last season, and his numbers were down across the board except for pass attempts and completions. That said, Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay believes in him enough to keep him around over the long term, and the pressure should be off him heading into 2020.

A strong defense led by Aaron Donald also remains, and the unit should be motivated after giving up 44 points in the last meeting.

LA Rams are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Rams' last 6 games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Rams' last 5 games against Dallas.

LA Rams are 12-4 SU in their last 16 games at home.