4 reasons the Las Vegas Raiders will beat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12
The Raiders need this game but the Falcons are spiraling
This is a classic late-season NFL game where two teams are heading in opposite directions and fighting for different goals. The Raiders are pushing for their first playoff berth in four years while Atlanta will have its eyes on the future of the team as they have an aging roster and an interim head coach.
Interim head coach Raheem Morris is auditioning for his next job and while it may be with Atlanta, the franchise must be eyeing the 2021 NFL Draft and the group of quarterbacks that could be available at the top of the first round. Matt Ryan is due a lot of money in the next few years but will be 36 when the 2021 season kicks off and they will be looking for his successor and they could find one in what looks to be a deep QB class.
While teams in the NFL rarely tank the way teams do in the NFL, they could make decisions like keeping players dealing with injury out of the lineup even though they could play if the game was important enough. The Falcons have some calls to make on Sunday concerning the health of players like Julio Jones who is reportedly a game-time decision for the Week 12 matchup and the team may decide to hold him and others out in a meaningless game for them.
Of course the Raiders can’t rely on Atlanta to roll over and give them this game so they have to come in with the same desire they had against the Chiefs knowing they are fighting for their playoff lives. The Raiders have more talent than Atlanta but that won’t mean a thing if they don’t come out ready to play on Sunday.