NFL preview: New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons
If you’re a Dallas native the biggest game of the weekend no doubt is the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Houston Texans, but from a neutrals point of few there might be a better game this weekend.
Current Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints, host the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome this weekend in what should be a close and entertaining match-up.
The Falcons struggled in their opening match away at Pittsburgh – put that down to first-week rust – but showed last week against the Arizona Cardinals their offence is nothing to mess about with, racking up 41 points.
Quarterback Matt Ryan threw three touchdown passes that game and Jason Snelling rushed for 129 yards with two touchdowns. Add Michael Turner’s 75 yards rushing and all-round it was a hugely impressive performance.
The Saints on the other hand haven’t been what you would call spectacular. Ranking just 21st in offence so far this season the Saints have struggled to find their offensive rhythm. Consider they’re supposed to be an offensive juggernaut, it’s not been a fantastic start for Drew Brees and his men. But they are 2-0 and their defence has, so far, performed way above expectations this season.
Take into consideration Brees’ recent dominance of the Falcons and home-field advantage all-signs point to the champions improving to 3-0. But on Monday New Orleans were outgained by 130 yards by the San Francisco 49ers who aren’t exactly an offensive force.
That stat will give the Falcons hope this weekend they can produce an upset. If Ryan, Turner and Snelling continue the form they showed against the Cardinals, the Saints might find it too much to stop all three.
Brees, however, is looking forward to the tough challenge.
"We knew exactly what we had to do, just find a way to win. We've shown that we can win in a lot of ways. To be battle tested like this, just in the first two weeks of the season, is going to serve us very well as we go forward,” He said.
Saints’ running back Reggie Bush will miss the game after he fractured his foot on Monday night, a loss they couldn’t afford, ranking bottom in the NFC with just 2.6 yards per carry.
The Falcons could welcome Michael Jenkins back to the side after missing the first two games with a shoulder injury, but back-up quarterback Jerious Norwood will miss the game after being placed on the injured reserve list.
If the Falcons are going to win they may not want to throw any interceptions this weekend.
New Orleans is 22-3 since 2008 when it intercepts a pass.
Tags: