Falcons-Saints: Atlanta Flying into New Orleans on Injured Wing

By Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano

Falcons @ Saints -11.5 O/U 55.5

The New Orleans Saints, 6-0, are now one of two undefeated teams left after the Broncos fell to the Ravens. Indy, 7-0, remained unbeaten slipping past the 49ers.

The question is will the Saints remain undefeated after tonight when they host the division rival dirty birds, more commonly known as the Atlanta Falcons.

No one has really been able to slow the New Orleans offense. Surprisingly, the only two teams to hold them to under 30 points have both come from the AFC East, and those were the Bills (27) and the Jets (24). Both who have good corners and at least in the case of the Jets an overall good defense. The same I believe could be said for the Bills if they were fully healthy this season.

The Saints rank first overall in points (39.7) and total yards (427.3) per game while ranking sixth in passing yards (272.8) and third in rushing yards (154.5).

The Saints haven’t only been lighting it up on offense. They have also been limiting teams on the defensive side of the ball, which has been the knock against this team in the past.

Well, I believe the critics must be silenced somewhat by now with the Saints defense posting fairly respectable numbers and sitting in the middle of the pack at 18th in points allowed (21.2), 11th in total yards allowed (306.7), 16th in passing yards allowed (214.3), and having stuffed the rush and standing at sixth in rushing yards allowed (92.3).

The health of a team is always a factor, and though many of the Saints are banged up, most had full participation in practice and are probable aside from starters LB Scott Fujita (calf) DNP who is questionable and DT Sedrick Ellis (knee) DNP who is out.

The Atlanta Falcons, after a strong season last year (11-5) and the offseason acquisition of future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzales, were primed for another run to the playoffs, and they have continued on that path, posting a record of 4-2. Their losses have come to New England as Tom Brady found his groove and to a Dallas team just off their bye week.

Their offensive stats are all middle of the pack, and their defensive stats are all in the bottom third aside from points against, which sits at 13th overall, allowing an average of 24 points per game.

The Falcons are banged up, and contrary to the Saints' health, most are questionable for this game and were either limited in practice or did not participate.

The New Orleans Saints' offense with their versatile weapons will be too much for this banged up Falcons team to hang around with, though the Falcons should put some points on the board. In the end, though, the Saints will dominate and stay undefeated.

New Orleans wins 45-28.