Fans are looking ahead to Week 2 after putting a wild Week 1 in the rearview mirror. A pair of teams searching for their first win in 2022 meet head-to-head as the Los Angeles Rams host the Atlanta Falcons. Avoiding a dreaded 0-2 start is on everyone's mind, especially for the reigning Super Bowl champs.
The Rams will be aiming to bounce back after falling short versus the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 and need a win get back in the divisional race. Meanwhile, the Falcons choked away a 16-point lead against the New Orleans Saints and need a win just to get their spirits back. That's asking a lot here, though.
Should Los Angeles really be favored by almost 10 points against a feisty Atlanta squad? Do the Falcons have any chance of shocking the NFL world with an upset victory? Here's what projection models and experts across the industry have to say about the Falcons vs Rams Week 2 matchup.
Falcons vs Rams Projections
ESPN FPI:'Rams (81.5%)
numberFire:'Rams (82.0%)
FiveThirtyEight:'Rams (79%)
Betting Favorite:'Rams (-9.5)
Projected Winner:'Rams (4)
Falcons vs Rams Expert Picks
ESPN Experts:'Rams (10)
Sports Illustrated Experts:'Rams (5)
CBS Sports Experts:'Rams (8)
Expert Totals:'Rams (23), Falcons (0)
Well, that's about as clear as a consensus can get. All 23 of the experts listed chose the Rams to get back on track with a win, which lines up with what the betting markets are saying.
The projection models are backing up those picks, too. Every model gave the Falcons less than a 22% chance of pulling off the upset on the road in Week 2.
Week 1 showed that upsets can happen in any matchup, however, so fans shouldn't overlook this game on Sunday.