Falcons +6, right?

[RipIt3]

Ya, just confirming what I said above.... Carolina won 4 of their final 5 games to reach 7-9. Their losses to Atlanta were the 4th and 8th games of a stretch of losing 8 in a row. True, they got pummeled a combined 71-0 in those 2 games, but when you're falling to 3-8 losing that 8th game in a row, does the fact it's Atlanta spankin' your ass really piss you off that much, or do you just want to go home and forget about the season?

AND...if revenge is a valid factor... then why, after losing 30-0 to Atlanta the first go around, did Carolina come out and get beaten even worse, 41-0, in the rematch at home 4 weeks later? Wouldn't that anger and revenge from thrashing #1 have been far fresher in their minds and much more relevant???

GM - I think you made your counterpoint. On a 7 game slide, a team doesn't have much confidence, especially with a hotlanta team with MVick running around like a madman. So, there isn't much fuel for revenge factor.

The difference this year is three-fold: Carolina has been playing some tough ball and have to believe they have a shot at the playoffs. MVick isn't a factor = confidence boost at burying Atlanta in the standings before he comes back. Finally, there is a revenge factor. With a streak of 7 losses at that point in the season, you said it best, most teams will look at going home and forgetting about the season. This year is a lot different and instead of having Atlanta burying them and knocking them out of any type of contention, they have a chance to start the same thing to Atlanta.

Atlanta's run D sucks my butt, Davis will have a big day - again - and Carolina should cover. Also, look for the total to go under...

GLTW guys!