The oddsmakers, reflecting conventional wisdom, think the Atlanta Falcons will have their hands full in the NBC primetime game Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers. According to Odds Shark, after the line opened at +4.5, Atlanta is now a touchdown underdog against Green Bay.
Through the first four weeks of the season, the defending Super Bowl champion Packers have looked like the NFL's best team. Led by QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay has the league's highest-scoring offense, averaging 37.0 points per game.
Rodgers exposed the Falcons defense in last-season's divisional round playoff game, throwing for 366 yards as Green Bay rolled to a 48-21 victory. While this game will be billed as a good barometer for how far Atlanta has come, especially in the wake of their massive draft day trade to acquire WR Julio Jones, the Falcons have more immediate concerns.
At 2-2, they are currently in third place in the tough NFC South, and a loss here will give them as many as they had all last season.
Visit Odds Shark for more on Week 5 NFL odds. Check out Acme Packing Company for more on the Green Bay Packers and The Falcoholic for more on the Atlanta Falcons.