New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: Complete Week 1 Preview for New Orleans
The New Orleans Saints will kick off their 2014 season on Sunday, as coach Sean Payton’s club visits the Atlanta Falcons for a key NFC South matchup.
The game marks the second straight season the Saints will have opened the season against their divisional rivals. Atlanta was the visitor in the 2013 season opener, a 23-17 loss to New Orleans. The results of that contest set the tone for how each squad’s season went afterward.
The Saints went on to an 11-5 regular season and a road playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. They ran into a buzz saw in the divisional round, however, and were bested by the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
In an effort to close the gap on the Seahawks, New Orleans addressed its shortcomings this past offseason with numerous personnel changes on both sides of the ball. Gone are safety Malcolm Jenkins, cornerback Jabari Greer, running back Darren Sproles and wide receiver Lance Moore, among others.
New Orleans then brought in a host of newcomers via free agency. The most notable of these was heavily pursued safety Jairus Byrd, who signed a lucrative six-year contract with the Saints. The team also inked fullback Erik Lorig and center Jonathan Goodwin to free-agent deals, while bringing back safety Rafael Bush and offensive tackle Zach Strief.
In another key move, the Saints traded up in the first round of the NFL draft in order to snag explosive wideout Brandin Cooks. The former Oregon State standout is expected to add a big-play threat to an already potent passing attack.
These acquisitions have significantly upgraded the Saints’ roster, and many now believe New Orleans to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2014.
As for Atlanta, coach Mike Smith’s squad is looking to rebound from an abysmal 4-12 campaign a year ago. The Falcons entered the 2013 season with high expectations, but poor play along both the offensive and defensive lines stunted their championship hopes.
Like the Saints, Atlanta brought in several new faces this offseason, as Smith attempts to get off on the right foot in 2014.
Following is a preview of this important divisional showdown, which gets underway on Sunday at 1 p.m ET (noon CT).
Preseason Recap
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The 2014 preseason allowed the Saints to get a good look at how the newcomers would mesh with their returning players.
New Orleans opened its preseason on the road, scoring a 26-24 victory over the St. Louis Rams. The game provided Saints fans with their first glimpse of Cooks in the black and gold, and he didn’t disappoint in scoring a touchdown on a 25-yard pass play.
In Week 2, the Saints returned home to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, but they turned in a lackluster performance in a 31-24 win over the Tennessee Titans. New Orleans accumulated an astounding 22 penalties in the contest, drawing the ire of Payton after the game.
After missing the first two games with a strained oblique, quarterback Drew Brees saw his first action of the preseason in a 23-17 road win over the Indianapolis Colts. The All-Pro signal-caller wasn’t perfect, but he was highly efficient in leading the Saints to two 80-yard touchdown drives.
Starters from both sides played extended minutes in the contest, which, as the third preseason game, was referred to as the “dress rehearsal.” New Orleans’ starting defense overwhelmed Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis offense for nearly an entire half of football, and the performance marked the Saints’ best outing of the preseason.
The team’s final exhibition proved to be quite forgettable, as the Baltimore Ravens had their way with the Saints in the Superdome in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the 22-13 score indicated. With final roster cuts looming, starters played sparingly, and the bulk of the playing time was given to reserves fighting for roster spots.
For the most part, the preseason was successful for Payton’s club. In addition to earning three wins, the Saints showcased a deep, talented roster, and they demonstrated why they’re the favorites to take home the NFC South divisional crown in 2014.
News and Notes
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One-sided Rivalry
The Saints and Falcons have been bitter rivals for the better part of both organizations’ histories, and Atlanta holds a 46-43 edge in the series. Lately, however, the series has been thoroughly dominated by New Orleans.
With yet another season sweep of Atlanta last year, the Saints have won 13 of their last 16 meetings with the Falcons. Since Payton and quarterback Drew Brees arrived in New Orleans in 2006, the Saints have swept the Falcons five times and beaten Atlanta at least once in every season.
No Dunking
For the better part of his career, Saints All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham has celebrated his touchdowns by dunking the ball through the goalpost crossbar. No more.
The NFL outlawed the practice this offseason, thanks in large to Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay, who also happens to be chairman of the league’s influential competition committee.
It’s probably not a coincidence that in McKay's club’s home loss to the Saints last season, a Graham tomahawk dunk temporarily damaged the crossbar, causing a slight delay in the game.
This Sunday, Graham and the Saints return to the venue where the “Jimmy Graham Rule” was born, but don’t expect a goalpost-rattling encore from the 6’7” former Miami Hurricane basketball player.
Graham was fined $30,000 by the NFL for two dunks in the Saints’ preseason game against Tennessee, which will likely bring his post-touchdown tradition to a screeching halt.
The bigger issue in this contest is whether or not the Falcons defense can keep him out of the end zone.
Injury Report
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The Saints are in relatively good shape from an injury standpoint, as only three players are listed on the team’s injury report, as seen on NewOrleansSaints.com.
Wide receiver Kenny Stills (quad) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game, while fullback Erik Lorig (ankle) and safety Marcus Ball (hamstring) are out.
Stills, who's expected to start at wideout this season, was limited in practice on Wednesday and Friday and did not take part in team workouts on Thursday.
If he can't go on Sunday, the New Orleans receiving corps should be able to manage his absence, as the team re-signed veteran receiver Robert Meachem on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com Saints reporter Mike Triplett.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette vs. Jake Matthews
While success in the running game is important for each side, both offenses butter their bread with high-flying passing attacks. Among the primary objectives for each defense will be slowing down the opposition's highly productive passing game, and the best way to do that is with a fierce pass rush.
The New Orleans pass rush is spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette. The pair combined for 24.5 sacks a year ago, and both are primed for big seasons in 2014.
During the preseason, Jordan and Galette both saw snaps while lining up on the right side. The same can be expected on Sunday, which means rookie left tackle Jake Matthews can look forward to face time with both.
If Matthews and right tackle Lamar Holmes can’t get a handle on Jordan and Galette, Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense will be crippled from the get-go.
Terron Armstead vs. Falcons Pass-Rushers
Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has historically utilized both and three- and four-man fronts throughout games. No matter which one he employs on Sunday, the Falcons will attempt to apply heavy pressure on Brees.
New Orleans left tackle Terron Armstead is a promising young lineman, but he only has four career starts to his credit. His preseason performance, while not awful, left some room for improvement.
Armstead will likely square off against Atlanta ends Jonathan Babineaux and Jonathan Massaquoi for a good portion of the contest. While Babineaux can also slide over and man the tackle spot, Massaquoi will rush off the edge from a two-point stance when the Falcons are in a four-man front.
The Saints' left tackle could also see Falcons utility lineman/linebacker Kroy Biermann, who lines up all over the field in a roving fashion. Veteran end Osi Umenyiora, while no longer a starter, will still see action as a situational pass-rusher.
If Armstead can protect Brees’ blind side against these defenders and allow him time to see the field, the Atlanta defense will almost certainly be in for a long afternoon. In the event Armstead falters, however, and the Falcons are allowed to pressure Brees with consistency, the game will take on a whole new shape entirely.
Saints X-Factor of the Week: Linebacker Curtis Lofton
While the addition of Byrd should bolster a stingy New Orleans secondary, the Saints’ run defense still has some question marks.
Granted, Atlanta is a pass-first offense, but it would be a surprise if the Falcons didn’t try and soften up the Saints defense with power run plays from backs Steven Jackson and Antone Smith.
If Lofton can step up and deliver a solid performance to help clog the Atlanta ground attack, that will further enable the likes of Jordan and Galette to pin their ears back and get after Ryan.
Prediction
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All bets are usually off when bitter rivals clash, but the Saints-Falcons rivalry has been a bit predictable as of late.
Despite New Orleans’ recent dominance, Atlanta will prove to be a tough out in this one, as the Falcons will be out to avoid the slow start that plagued them a year ago.
In Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White, along with Steven Jackson, the Falcons undoubtedly have a solid collection of offensive weapons, and they’ll challenge the New Orleans defense on every possession.
That being said, the Saints have the better football team. They field a more accomplished offensive line, a stronger pass rush and a better secondary.
Expect a hard-hitting, extremely intense football game, but look for the Saints defense to make a big play at the end to secure the road victory.
Prediction: Saints 24, Falcons 19
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