The New Orleans Saints enjoyed a much-needed bye over the past week. Through the first ten games of the year, they sit at 5-5 overall.
Before the bye, the Saints fell short of pulling off a comeback against the Vikings, losing 27-19.
In that contest, Josh Dobbs and the new-look Minnesota offense cruised up and down the field early on, leading to a 24-3 halftime lead. The lead would get as large as 27-3, and then Derek Carr went down with an injury.
Jameis Winston entered and put together a couple of touchdown drives to give the Saints life and get the lead down to 27-19. However, he committed a couple of turnovers as well which thwarted the comeback effort and contributed to the Saints’ loss.
No one seems to want control of the NFC South, and the Saints still lead the division at 5-5. This week, they travel to Atlanta to face a bitter rival in the Falcons. The Dirty Birds sit at 4-6, but a win over the Saints would give them an early tiebreaker and thus a division lead.
The Saints and Falcons will face off inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at noon on Sunday.
BACK TO THE ORIGINAL
Derek Carr and Desmond Ridder began the season as the starting quarterbacks for each team. After a couple of injuries to Carr and a benching for Ridder, we saw both Jameis Winston and Taylor Heinicke take reps for their respective teams in the last few weeks.
However, both teams’ quarterbacks are healthy, and both teams will go with their original signal caller in this critical matchup.
RIDDER RUNNING AROUND
A common theme for the Saints defense this season has been an inabiity to defend mobile quarterbacks. Ridder certainly fits that mold, and New Orleans will have to contain him in the pocket.
Dobbs ran for 44 yards on eight carries in the last matchup for New Orleans, continuing the trend of success for quarterbacks who use their legs. If the Saints are going to have success on Sunday, it starts with making Ridder beat them from the pocket.
RENEWING A RIVALRY
The Falcons represent the biggest rival for the Saints, and the games between the two teams are usually competitive and close. To further that notion, the all-time series record is tied at 54 games a piece.
This time, there is plenty on the line when these old rivals meet again. The winner takes first place in the NFC South, and will get the chance to secure the full tiebreaker when they meet again in New Orleans later in the season.
SERIES RECORD: TIED 54-54
Last 5 Meetings:
2022: ATL 18 – NO 21
2022: NO 27 – ATL 26
2022: NO 30 – ATL 20
2021: ATL 27 – NO 25
2020: NO 21 – ATL 16
STAT LEADERS
SAINTS
Derek Carr: 220-334, 2231 yards, 10 TD, 4 INT
Alvin Kamara: 104 carries, 388 yards, 2 TD
Chris Olave: 56 catches, 448 yards, 3 TD
Carl Granderson: 5.5 sacks
Demario Davis: 73 tackles (45 solo)
Paulson Adebo: 4 INT
Blake Grupe: 19-of-24 field goals, Long of 55
FALCONS
Desmond Ridder: 161-246, 1740 yards, 6 TD, 6 INT
Bijan Robinson: 125 carries, 612 yards, 2 TD
Drake London: 40 catches, 474 yards, 2 TD
David Onyemata/Arnold Ebiketie: 3.5 sacks
Jessie Bates III: 73 tackles (48 solo)
Jessie Bates III: 3 INT
Younghoe Koo: 21-of-22 field goals, Long of 54
NOTABLE INJURIES
SAINTS
Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ankle, Out
Kendre Miller, RB, Ankle, Out
Michael Thomas, WR, Knee, Out/IR
Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Right Groin, Questionable
FALCONS
Taylor Heinicke, QB, Questionable
Mack Hollins, WR, Out