New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 10 Keys Determine NFC South Supremacy

The New Orleans Saints are first place in the NFC South. The Atlanta Falcons are in second. When the two teams face each other on Sunday, the winner will have the upper hand in the division going into the second half of the season.

Both teams have shown flashes of championship spirit.

Both have also been plagued by inconsistency.

Their rosters have enough talent to carry them to wins, but these teams will need to rely on more than talent as the season wears on and the playoffs begin.

A game between division leaders will reveal which team in the NFC South has the intangibles necessary to compete with the NFL’s elite teams. 

Here are the keys that will determine which team will reign supreme in their division. 

Quarterbacks: Drew Brees

Drew Brees is one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. He is completing over 70 percent of his passes and has thrown for over 3,000 yards with 21 touchdowns.

However, Brees has also been inconsistent this season. He has 11 interceptions, which is the second highest figure in the league. He has missed some receivers that he usually hits and does not look as sharp as he did in the Saints’ championship season in 2009. 

Brees, predictably, tends to dictate the Saints’ success.

In losses against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the middling Saint Louis Rams, Brees had a total of five interceptions. When New Orleans beat Tampa Bay, Brees completed 75 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and just one interception.

If Brees can play at the high level that he is capable of, the Saints will be a difficult team to contend with. If Brees looks uncomfortable and begins to make mistakes, the Saints are very beatable. 

Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan has been a quarterback that is hard to decipher. There are games, such as the win against the Carolina Panthers early in the season, in which Ryan looks elite. He can complete passes, keep control of the ball and make big plays.

At other times, Ryan appears overmatched and his team struggles.

Until October 16, the Atlanta Falcons had not won back-to-back games all season. The team is currently on a three-game winning streak. Tellingly, in two of those three games, Ryan has had a quarterback rating over 100.

Much like Drew Brees, his counterpart on the New Orleans Saints, Ryan is a large part of his team’s success. Ryan must get into the flow of the game early and gain confidence to be successful.

Which Saints Team Will Show Up?

The New Orleans Saints have had an up and down season.

The team has lost to a .500 team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was eked by the 2-6 Carolina Panthers and lost definitively to the previously winless Saint Louis Rams.

The Saints have also pasted the Indianapolis Colts 62-7, avenged their loss to the Bucs and won handily against the Chicago Bears.

Which Saints team will show up to play the Atlanta Falcons? Will it be the team that looked unstoppable and overwhelming on every play against the Colts and Bears? Or will the team struggle to move the ball and make costly turnovers the way it did against the Bucs and Rams? 

If the Saints want to win the NFC South and contend in the playoffs, they must become a consistent team that does not make mental mistakes. To beat the Falcons, a renewed focus and commitment must be on display and last for the rest of the season.

Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles has been the New Orleans Saints’ most important offseason acquisition. The running back's speed has given their offense an extra gear that they did not have in previous years. He can provide a spark or big play when the team is struggling.

Sproles is averaging an astounding seven yards per rush. The Atlanta Falcons have a solid rushing defense, but Sproles can surprise a lot of teams. 

If New Orleans can establish the run early, it will open up passing lanes for Drew Brees and allow the Saints’ offense to thrive. If Sproles is not effective, New Orleans could be in for a long night.

Julio Jones

Atlanta's rookie receiver Julio Jones has proved that he can make a huge impact on a game repeatedly this season.

Last week against the Indianapolis Colts, Jones had 131 yards receiving on three catches. Two were for touchdowns.

Jones can change the course of a game in seconds. He struggled in the beginning of the season with injuries and rookie mistakes but has gradually proved that he is worth the huge trade the Falcons made for him. 

If Jones can get going early, he could be in for a huge night. The New Orleans Saints have some good defensive players but are prone to giving up big plays. Jones should look to take advantage of that.

Jimmy Graham

The Saints' second-year tight end surprised a lot of people early in the season. Jimmy Graham quickly became Drew Brees’ favorite target, racking up 100-plus yard games week after week.

Recently, Graham’s production has tailed off slightly. Opposing defenses have begun to take note of the Saints’ best connection and are not allowing Graham as many open looks as he got in the first few games.

That being said, tight ends are notoriously difficult to defend. Graham fits the mold of someone who is too big for safeties, corners to cover and is too quick for linemen to keep up with.

He has all the tools to continue to make an impact, but he must figure out how to be effective while being covered.

Special Teams: Thomas Morstead

The New Orleans Saints’ special teams strength is pinning their opposition deep and not allowing them good field position.

Thomas Morstead has been the impetus behind the Saints' success. He leads the league in touchbacks per game and net yards per punt attempt. 

New Orleans should look to win the battle for field position. If Morstead can pin the Atlanta Falcons deep in their own territory, the defense can force three-and-outs. The Saints offense will not have far to drive.

The confidence that comes with starting possessions from around midfield should give New Orleans a clear advantage.

Special Teams: Matt Bryant

The Atlanta Falcons do not have the same special teams strengths as the New Orleans Saints. The Falcons are near the bottom of the league in kickoffs and punt returns and do not help themselves with field position. 

However, the Falcons make up for their weaknesses in punting with Matt Bryant’s superiority in kicking field goals. Bryant has made 28 straight field goals and is perfect on the season.

If the Falcons have a drive that stalls in opposition territory, they can turn to a reliable kicker to put points on the board. Atlanta would also have the edge in a close game late because they would be working with a shorter field and confidence in Bryant's ability to provide a win.

Thomas DeCoud and Corey Peters

The Atlanta Falcons’ defense has been successful at forcing turnovers, but their two most dynamic playmakers must step up in order to give the Falcons the edge in this game.

Thomas DeCoud is near the top of the NFL with three interceptions this year. He should look to take advantage of Drew Brees’ uncharacteristically high number of picks.

Corey Peters can stop the run and put pressure on the quarterback. He can help DeCoud by rushing Brees’ throws and taking away Darren Sproles’ effectiveness. Peters has had a great season with three sacks, two tackles for loss and one interception.

Atlanta's defense must attempt to force New Orleans to play a rushed and sloppy game. If the Saints get back into the bad habits that led to losses against the Saint Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Falcons can capitalize.

Roman Harper

Roman Harper brings a physical style of play to the New Orleans Saints that can disrupt opposing offenses. Harper does not shy away from hard hits and wants to make his presence known on each down.

The Atlanta Falcons have some young players on offense, including quarterback Matt Ryan and receiver Julio Jones. If Harper and the rest of the Saints’ defense can force receivers off their routes, make them drop balls and pressure Matt Ryan, the Falcons will make mistakes.

The Saints have not been incredibly successful at forcing turnovers this season. They need to step up and assert themselves if they want to make a run in the playoffs. A pivotal game against a division rival would be an ideal place to start.