The New Orleans Saints (11-3) host the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) on Monday night with both teams jockeying for playoff position, in what has become one of the greatest rivalries in the NFL. Three of the past four meetings between these squads have been decided by three points, the most recent coming in Week 10 when New Orleans defeated Atlanta in overtime 26-23.
The Saints are battling with San Francisco for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, and could clinch the division with a victory on Monday, while the Falcons will clinch a playoff berth if they win.
New Orleans has won six consecutive games and its offense has continued to be unstoppable. The Saints rank first in the league in offensive yards per game (456.7) and are led by quarterback Drew Brees, who is on pace to break multiple NFL records and is making a strong push for MVP.
Brees, who leads the league with 4,780 passing yards, needs only 305 yards to break Dan Marino’s single-season record of 5,084 set in 1984. His current 71.5 completion percentage would also be a single-season record if the season ended today (Brees previously set the record in 2009).
Last year’s AP Male Athlete of the Year is sizzling in the past six contests, as he is sporting an 18:1 touchdown-interception ratio, including a five touchdown performance in last week’s 42-20 beat-down of Minnesota.
Brees’ favorite target is second-year tight end Jimmy Graham, who ranks second in the NFL in receptions (87) and fifth in receiving yards (1,171). Graham, who is 6’6”, 260, plays like a wide receiver and is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Graham torched the Falcons in Week 10, catching seven balls for 82 yards and a touchdown.
The Saints have a very capable backfield as well. The four-headed attack of Darren Sproles, Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, and Chris Ivory possess a cumulative yards-per-carry average of 4.8, a very good number.
Sproles, in particular, leads the league with 6.5 yards-per-carry. The multi-faceted and lightning quick running back also leads his position with 79 receptions and 659 receiving yards, making for one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. Brees and head coach Sean Payton have found ways to get him the ball in space to utilize his speed, and Sproles has helped Reggie Bush seem like a distant memory to New Orleans’ fans.
The Falcons have won four of the past five games, including a 41-14 blowout of Jacksonville last week. Quarterback Matt Ryan is playing at a pro-bowl caliber level in his fourth year and is on pace for more than 4,200 passing yards and 30 touchdowns.
Ryan is benefitting from a well-balanced offense. Running back Michael Turner has produced 1,129 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and Ryan has three legitimate weapons to throw to in Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and rookie Julio Jones.
White has been Mr. Reliable for Atlanta, as he has posted his fifth consecutive season with at least 80 receptions and 1,100 yards. Jones, who the Falcons traded up to draft with the 6th overall pick in April’s draft, has prevented defenses from double-teaming White and is tied for fifth in the NFL with 18.0 yards-per-catch. The deep threat has filled the No. 2 wide receiver void that Atlanta has lacked ever since White has entered the league and is the perfect complement to the All-Pro White.
Even at the age of 35, Gonzalez has not slowed down one bit. The future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer is on pace for just under 950 receiving yards and more than 85 receptions. He propelled himself into second place in career receptions this year and currently stands at 1,143 catches.
Needless to say, both of these teams have dynamic offenses that cause opposing defenses fits. Thus, each squad’s defense might determine the outcome.
The Falcons boast the better defensive unit. They are in the top-10 in points and yards permitted per game and only allow 96.6 rushing yards per contest, good for fourth in the league.
The main key, as always against the Saints offense, will be how much pressure Atlanta’s defensive line is able to generate on Brees. The Falcons are 11th in the NFL with 34 sacks, and John Abraham and company will try to disrupt Brees’ rhythm and force him to get ride of the ball early.
Look for a high-scoring affair between these two NFC powerhouses. If Atlanta is able to jump out to an early lead, as well as control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, it may silence New Orleans’ raucous crowd and have a chance to clinch its third playoff appearance in the last four seasons.
