Falcons-Rams playoff odds: Atlanta opens up as a touchdown underdog on the road

The Atlanta Falcons just slipped into the playoffs, and their very first matchup will pit them against one of the NFC’s best offenses and a very solid defense. The Los Angeles Rams are playing their first season in California under rookie head coach Sean McVay, but they’re a formidable opponent with the talent to make a deep playoff run. It will be a stiff test for our beloved birds, to say the least.

Predictably, the Falcons are underdogs in this game. They’re listed as 5.5 point underdogs most everywhere, and that makes perfect sense considering the questions around Atlanta’s week-to-week performance, the fact that the Rams are at home, and the fact that there are legitimate questions about whether the Falcons can stop Todd Gurley for a full game. I’m hoping Atlanta can answer those and come away with a win, but the line is not a surprise whatsoever.

The Falcons have experience working in their favor, and a defense that has swung between good and genuinely great over the last month. If that defense shows up, the offense can do more than just pile up the field goals,