Monday Night Football Betting: Falcons Picked

After sitting out a season recovering from multiple surgeries on his neck Peyton Manning passed his first official test last week, leading his new team, the Denver Broncos, to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

So Denver, which now looks like it could be a real threat in the AFC, shoots for a 2-0 start when it takes on the 1-0 Atlanta Falcons Monday night at the Georgia Dome (8:35 pm Eastern, ESPN).

Most online sportsbooks opened this game with the Broncos getting 3.5 points from Atlanta, but as of Monday afternoon Denver had been bet down to +3 at most places. Still many feel the Falcons (5-0 ATS in past fine Week 2 games when they are at home) will cover the spread.

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And while the total started off at 49 at most NFL betting outlets, by Monday it had been bet up to 52 at many shops.

The Broncos opened their season last week with a 31-19 win over Pittsburgh, repeating their performance from that classic playoff win over the Steelers last January, except with Manning behind center rather than Tim Tebow.

Manning finished 19-of-26 passing vs. Pittsburgh for 253 yards and two scores, with nary an INT, leading the Denver offense on three scoring drives of 80 yards against a supposedly stout Steelers defense.

Atlanta, meanwhile, began its season last week with a 40-24 victory at Kansas City. That game was tied at 17 late in the second quarter, until the Falcons scored the next 23 points to put it away.

Atlanta QB Matt Ryan threw for 299 yards and three scores vs. KC, and ran for another. The Falcons are now 44-19 in regular-season games with Ryan starting at quarterback, which includes a 26-6 mark within the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome.

On an injury note Atlanta took hit last week when CB Brent Grimes tore an Achilles tendon; he's now lost for the season.

These teams last met four seasons ago, when the Broncos, with Jay Cutler at QB, scored late to hand Atlanta one of its rare Georgia Dome losses of the Coach Smith/QB Ryan era, a 24-20 decision