Saints-Falcons rivalry as strong as ever

Halo · 12-12-2005, 10:46 AM

Saints-Falcons rivalry as strong as ever

By CHARLES ODUM, AP Sports Writer
December 11, 2005
ATLANTA (AP) -- Poor records never have cooled the Saints-Falcons rivalry, so New Orleans receiver Joe Horn warns Atlanta's players not to expect anything but the normal intensity Monday night.

The Saints (3-9) have lost seven of their last eight games. The Falcons (7-5) are trying to move back into one of the NFC's six playoff spots. Atlanta's final three games are against playoff-caliber teams, but Horn says the Falcons know better than to overlook the Saints.

"I truly believe they know our game is going to be one of the hardest on their schedule this year," Horn said.

The teams have more in common than entering the league about the same time -- Atlanta in 1966, followed by New Orleans in 1967. They also share mostly inglorious histories.

The Saints had not won a playoff game until 2000. The Falcons still have never recorded back-to-back winning seasons, though two more wins this year will end that embarrassing 40-year streak of futility.

More often than not, at least one of the two teams in the NFL's longest Southern rivalry has been eliminated from playoff contention by December.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

12-12-2005, 10:46 AM	#1
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,245 Blog Entries: 45	Saints-Falcons rivalry as strong as ever Saints-Falcons rivalry as strong as ever By CHARLES ODUM, AP Sports Writer December 11, 2005 ATLANTA (AP) -- Poor records never have cooled the Saints-Falcons rivalry, so New Orleans receiver Joe Horn warns Atlanta's players not to expect anything but the normal intensity Monday night. The Saints (3-9) have lost seven of their last eight games. The Falcons (7-5) are trying to move back into one of the NFC's six playoff spots. Atlanta's final three games are against playoff-caliber teams, but Horn says the Falcons know better than to overlook the Saints. "I truly believe they know our game is going to be one of the hardest on their schedule this year," Horn said. The teams have more in common than entering the league about the same time -- Atlanta in 1966, followed by New Orleans in 1967. They also share mostly inglorious histories. The Saints had not won a playoff game until 2000. The Falcons still have never recorded back-to-back winning seasons, though two more wins this year will end that embarrassing 40-year streak of futility. More often than not, at least one of the two teams in the NFL's longest Southern rivalry has been eliminated from playoff contention by December. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns
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