Atlanta Falcons

Falcons-Patriots Capsule

Published Oct. 19, 2017 12:55 p.m. ET

ATLANTA (3-2) at NEW ENGLAND (4-2)

Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT, NBC

OPENING LINE - Patriots by 4 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Atlanta 2-3, New England 2-4

SERIES RECORD - Patriots lead 8-6

LAST MEETING - Patriots beat Falcons 34-28, OT, Feb. 5 in Super Bowl

LAST WEEK - Falcons lost to Dolphins 20-17; Patriots beat Jets 24-17

AP PRO32 RANKING - Falcons No. 9, Patriots No. 3

FALCONS OFFENSE - OVERALL (5), RUSH (11), PASS (6).

FALCONS DEFENSE - OVERALL (10), RUSH (13), PASS (12).

PATRIOTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (19), PASS (1).

PATRIOTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (32), RUSH (20), PASS (32).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Teams meeting for first time since Patriots erased 25-point second-half deficit on way to 34-28 overtime victory in last February's Super Bowl. It marked largest Super Bowl comeback in history, earning Patriots their fifth championship. It was first Super Bowl that went to OT. ... James White had three TDs in win, including winner, and Tom Brady amassed Super Bowl-record 466 passing yards and was MVP for fourth time. ... Patriots have won four straight regular-season meetings between teams, including most recent in 2013. New England also won last meeting at Gillette Stadium, 26-10 on Sept. 27, 2009. ... Falcons QB Matt Ryan has thrown TD pass in 24 consecutive games, longest active streak. ... Ryan also has 200 or more passing yards in 60 consecutive games, longest streak in NFL history. ... RB Devonta Freeman leads NFC with five rushing TDs. ... WR Julio Jones has 53 catches for 822 yards and three TDs in past eight games vs. AFC. ... LB Deion Jones has 43 tackles, sack and two INTs in five career games vs. AFC. ... Brady leads NFL with 1,959 passing yards. Brady's 15 completed passes of 20 or more yards rank first in NFL. ... White leads team and ranks second among NFL RBs with 33 catches. ... RB Mike Gillislee has seven rushing TDs in 10 career games vs. NFC. ... TE Rob Gronkowski had two TD catches last week. He has 15 career games with two or more TD catches. ... WR Chris Hogan has five TD catches this season. ... LB Kyle Van Noy had two sacks in Week 6 and has 3 1/2 sacks in past three games. ... Fantasy Tip: Ryan has struggled this season, but could be due for big night against defense that gives up league-high 440.7 yards per game and allows league-high 324.8 passing yards per game.

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