Saint stoppers

New Orleans’ tight end has been hard to cover

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham has been a matchup nightmare for the Falcons.

Last season, he caught seven passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ 26-23 win at the Georgia Dome. In the second meeting, at the Superdome in a 45-16 rout of the Falcons, Graham caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Linebacker Stephen Nicholas and safety William Moore will have primary coverage responsibilities and will be on the hot seat for this NFC South game.

Graham, who has been slowed by an ankle injury, is coming off a strong game against Philadelphia. He caught eight passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Graham also dropped a pass and has seven drops this season.

He had a breakout season in 2011 with 99 catches for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has 38 catches for 387 yards and five touchdowns this season, despite missing a game with an ankle injury.

“Jimmy Graham is practicing well,” Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said. “Jimmy Graham played last week. Jimmy Graham is fine.”

This is the second big assignment for Nicholas and Moore. They held Dallas tight end Jason Witten to seven catches for 51 yards last week.

“I thought (Nicholas) did a nice job in the game taking charge of the tight end,” Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said.

CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM Defensive linebacker Stephen Nicholas won praise for holding back Dallas last week.