In what could be a fever dream or an Oktoberfest hangover, the Atlanta Falcons are set to take on the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin on Sunday, a game where they are 6.5-point underdogs, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
This is not a great time for the Falcons to be taking on one of the top teams in the AFC, and especially across the pond. Atlanta is 1-2 all-time in Europe games, winning its first contest in 2021 against the New York Jets.
They won’t be taking on the Jets, however — it will be the Indianapolis Colts who sit at 7-2 and atop the AFC South. These same Colts also just added two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline, making an already daunting task look that much more difficult.
The Falcons lost Sunday’s game in the most Falcony way possible, with (now former) kicker Parker Romo failing to hit a game-tying field goal late in the fourth quarter. Atlanta cut bait with Romo and will head to Berlin with new placekicker Zane Gonzalez in tow.
The loss moved Atlanta to 3-5 on the season, and a loss on Sunday could very well seal their playoff window for 2025.
Indianapolis is also coming off a loss, falling 27-20 to Pittsburgh in Week 9. Quarterback Daniel Jones threw three interceptions in the defeat.
If the Falcons hope to sniff the playoffs, they need to get back into the win column in Germany against the Colts. It will certainly be tough sledding against a powerhouse Indy offense, but if the Atlanta run game can make an appearance, I’d say a 6.5-point line seems about right for Sunday.
