Falcons: Weekly Analysis (Big opportunity here)

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Falcons play at home against the Vikings. The spread currently is 5 1/2 or 6.

On the Falcons side, they look to be almost completely healthy, for the first time in the last 3 weeks.
On the other hand, the Vikings are decimated, particularly on defense. They've lost their starting safety (and special teams leader), Sharper is banged up and didn't play last week and both starting defensive ends will be out. Burleson is also injured.

I watched the Vikings/Saints game. In essence, Saints shot themselves in the foot from the opening kickoff, which they fumbled. The Saints committed another crucial turnover and were called for penalties on numerous key plays. Aaron Brooks looked terrible, but their penalties put them in tough spots. Despite this, the game was actually close (8 pts) in the 3rd quarter.

The Vikings running attack is weak at best. Mewelde Moore runs about as good as Justin Griffith (Falcons fullback). They have big play ability with Williamson and Culpepper, but I can't see them exploiting the Falcons secondary too badly as long as Webster is healthy (which he is expected to be).

Another note: Deuce McCalister simply is not a good running back anymore. He rarely breaks tackles and seems slow.

The biggest threat the Saints had was their TE, Cromwell. Expect Alge Crumpler to have a very big game against the Vikings.

Vick should pretty much be able to do whatever he wants against this depleted defense, and Culpepper without Moss and Burlson simply isn't the same guy.

Falcons win at home by 20 or more.