FALCONS (1-1) VS. SAINTS (0-2)
MONDAY, 8:30 P.M. ET, MERCEDES-BENZ SUPERDOME, NEW ORLEANS uTV: ESPN
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
About the Falcons: Atlanta scored perhaps the most important victory of coach
roller-coaster, 18-game tenure with an inspired 35-28 win at the Oakland Raiders. It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but after losing eight of their past 10 games dating to last season, the Falcons will take it. QB posted a stellar 131.5 passer rating (26-for-34, 396 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the red zone) and ran for a twopoint conversion. The Falcons converted their last three trips inside the red zone for touchdowns after scoring one TD in their first seven this season. TE (11 catches, 126 yards and one TD) has been a pleasant surprise through two games.
About the Saints: If coach can get his team to play complementary football, he might have something. But that hasn’t been the case after two last-minute losses. QB and the offense amassed 507 yards in a 35-34 home loss against Oakland in Week 1. In a 16-13 road loss to the New York Giants, an injury-riddled defense kept the Saints close with three takeaways and two goal-line stands. Special teams have struggled, specifically rookie K who missed two field goal attempts against the Raiders and saw a blocked field goal attempt returned for a TD against the Giants. The Saints are 0-2 for the third year in a row and the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Jones continues to put up good numbers (nine catches, 172 yards, two TDs) despite a nagging ankle injury. Look for Saints defensive coordinator to put his most experienced cornerback against Jones, which promises to be a tough assignment for Moore.
Player to watch: Brees has been brilliant on Monday Night Football, establishing an MNF record for most games with at least 300 passing yards (12). In the last 18 games in which the Saints have hosted a home game in prime time, Brees has passed for 5,712 yards
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
with 55 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Saints’ record against the Falcons under Payton’s watch, including a memorable 23-3 win Sept. 25, 2006, that marked the reopening of the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. That was Payton’s introduction to the rivalry.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Weather the storm: In what promises to be an emotionally charged evening because of the game’s historical significance in the Saints’ 50th anniversary season, the Falcons should anticipate a revved-up sellout crowd and be ready to match the home team’s energy from the outset.
2. Melt Matty Ice: After zero sacks and no takeaways in Week 1, the Saints defense showed signs of life against the Giants with two sacks and three fumble recoveries while allowing no touchdowns. To help out a depthchallenged and inexperienced secondary (CB likely will undergo concussion protocol), look for Allen to bring different pressure packages to rattle Ryan and disrupt the Falcons passing game.
3. Run-and-gun: The Falcons displayed a solid running game against Oakland with RBs
and who combined for 139 yards and one TD on 29 carries. It marked the team’s first 100-yard game since Week 12 of last season. If the Falcons can continue to get that kind of production from offensive coordinator
outside zone-blocking scheme, it will help take pressure off Ryan.
Brian Allee-Walsh