***MNF IN THE SWAMP - ATL @ SEA***

***ATLANTA FALCONS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS***

We got a bird game on our hands for MNF tonight as the 5-4 Atlanta Falcons look to build off a solid home win last week and head into Seattle, to take on the 6-3 Seahawks. Both teams have been recently hit with big time injuries. The Falcons just lost RB Devonta Freeman with a concussion. While that is indeed a HUGE hit to the offense, backup RB Telvin Coleman has proven long ago that he is fully capable of holding down the fort as he is usually heavily involved in the gameplan any way. Tonight, he will surely get a bigger workload and a chance to shine as the starter. The Seahawks on the other hand, are in trouble with their injuries. They just lost CB Richard Sherman with a torn achilles in last week's TNF matchup in Arizona. Now fellow Legion of Boom member, Safety Kam Chanchellor is headed to the IR as well. They should get back their other Captain in the secondary in Safety Earl Thomas tonight who has been out with an injury as well. Needless to say, even with Thomas back the LOB will be lacking some boom juice tonight. That does not bode well up against an always dangerous passing attack in the Falcons even though they have not looked like it much this season. I think it is safe to say that the Super Bowl loss hangover, especially in their severe case, had a lingering effect on these guys as they struggled the first half of the season to get it together. Finally last week while hosting the Cowboys, they seemed to snap out of it as they beat them down to a final score of 27-7. While that win looks less impressive after the Cowboys were again dominated last night on SNF at the hands of the Eagles, I believe the win will still do wonders for this Atlanta team moving forward.

The Falcons needed a game like that to gain some confidence back. They are still very much alive in this playoff race as things begin to heat up while the season winds down to an end. The win against the Cowboys answered a ton of questions for Atlanta. Atlanta Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian has taken a ton of criticism with the lack of consistency this offense has had since he took over after the departure of Kyle Shanahan in the offseason. Last week, after another slow start, QB Matt Ryan got things going. I believe that also had something to do with Atlanta's defense stepping up BIG time as they smothered Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. DE Adrian Clayborn took full advantage of Dallas OT Tyron Smith's absence, sacking Prescott SIX times. Inevitably, this got the Falcon fans going crazy which I think helped provide the spark and confidence the offense was missing. The Falcons fed off that momentum and energy and wouldn't ya know turned over a new leaf and stepped on the throat of the opponent for once and finishing them off. I know most would disagree after last night, but that is a good Dallas team. Yes they were manhandled by Philly but let's face it- the Eagles may be the best team in the NFL right now. Now tonight they go into Seattle, a place we all know is among the toughest, if not THE toughest environment to play in, especially on Prime Time. However, with all the injuries that Seattle has to deal with, everything is falling in Atlanta's favor tonight. Not only is Seattle banged up in the secondary, but they still have plenty of troubles amongst the offensive line. OG Luke Joeckel is out tonight and the newly acquired veteran Tackle Duane Brown is questionable. With the momentum this Falcons defensive front will be carrying into tonight's game from last week, that isn't a good mix. However, as we know Seattle QB Russell Wilson is one of the best in the pocket as far as being elusive as one can be. The man is as slippery as it gets. He pulled off some plays last week in Arizona that were mind boggling. So, even with a weak offensive line, Wilson finds ways to get the job done. In my opinion, as I stated in my writeup for last week's TNF game where I backed the Cards and the points and was lucky enough to get the backdoor cover, this Seahawks offense is pretty simple. To me, it just looks like Wilson runs for his life and ad-libs passes up to his WR core. He literally runs around and waits to chuck it up backyard style. Amazingly enough, his WRs are some of the best I've seen at going up and coming down with those 1 on 1 jump balls, and they aren't the biggest guys in the world. Remarkable stuff really. However, I do think Atlanta's defense is still as good as it was last season and that they will continue to rise up to that level in these next couple of weeks. In my opinion Wilson will have little luck tonight driving down field as I think the Atlanta secondary will be locked in and make some plays.

Looking back at Seattle's game last week in Arizona, it was incredibly frustrating how many passes the Cardinals dropped that hit them right in the hands. In my opinion they could've and should've won outright if not for those missed opportunities. That was with backup QB Drew Stanton, one of the most inaccurate downfield passers in the NFL in my eyes. Now without some key pieces in their secondary, I think Matt Ryan will have himself a game connecting with his WRs. It is time for Ryan to light it up with Julio Jones, Mohammad Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, and TE Austin Hooper, and tonight I think he will have success slinging it around. These two teams have a bit of bad blood brewing between them. Last season the Hawks pulled out a controversial 26-24 win in Seattle during the regular season but Atlanta then got their revenge in the NFC Divisional round, beating them 36-20 in Atlanta. The Falcons have a great opportunity in front of them once again. Will they take advantage of it and make a run for a Wild Card spot in the playoffs? Only time will tell, but with the recent surge of the Saints and the Panthers well in the mix as well, and plenty games against both left on the schedule, it won't be easy. They need to win this game tonight against a team that is battered with injuries and about to head in a different direction. I think Seattle will falter from here on out and miss the playoffs, but we shall see. The old Georgia Dome was crumbled to pieces today, and maybe that signifies new beginnings for this Atlanta team. Bad voodoo be gone, Dirty Birds get it done tonight.

FALCONS-1