The Cincinnati Bengals face another uncommon NFC opponent in Week 7, this time by hosting the Atlanta Falcons.
It’s an encounter that comes right after the Bengals stood in a similar spot on the road a week ago during the win over the Saints.
This time, it’s a 3-3, first in the NFC South Falcons team and the Bengals are 5.5-point favorites, according to the lines at Tipico Sportsbook.
That line sitting at under a touchdown despite the Bengals playing host for the encounter isn’t all that surprising. The Falcons have been a superb rushing team on the ground, in part due to quarterback Marcus Mariota’s versatility. The Falcons played those Saints within one point and the Rams within a few while also picking up wins over the likes of the 49ers.
Adding to the complexity of the matchup is the struggling Bengals defense that is already without DJ Reader and will now miss star linebacker Logan Wilson for an unknown chunk of time.
That’s not to say the Bengals don’t look like a solid roll of the dice here — Joe Burrow is the better quarterback and his offense is starting to heat up. But it is to suggest it’s another uncomfortable line, just like Week 6 in New Orleans.
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