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I think the Saints are a matchup nightmare for Atlanta. But I hope the defense is watching those two receivers. Shoddy and Julio can be damn good. Hester is still fast. I'm sure RR has a plan.

Tobias-Reiper

Huh... really? Not phased? Not even a little bit?

So that whole "getting tough" routine, based on all the butt hurt over the one run-of-the-mill bang bang play (from which any other QB just gets up and keeps on playing) that happened on the first game of last season, that is just a charade?

My ass. This Sunday's game is going to make or break the Clowns' season.

saintsfan1976

TR you're right. And it's all the rage on local radio here in Atlanta- how this is "just the first game......not a make or break.....not the biggest game of the year".

Folding pre read by the fans. I love it.

the-commish

The fans don't play this game... the players do. Quite frankly, I am a bit apprehensive about this one... opening on the road against your biggest rival.

Lets hope the Saints come out ready to play. If not....

billyt81

The Falcons always play us close. They very easily could've won our first matchup last year and they ended the season like 4-12 right? Trying my best to be objective, I see our offense having a distinct advantage against their defense, but I could also see Julio and Roddy White causing our secondary some real problems. Looking at the game as a Saints fan, I think the Saints are way better than the Falcons and I wouldn't be surprised by a blowout. Devin Hester is not a great WR and a healthy Colston and Graham plus Cooks and our improved running game is way too much for the Falcons D which has a suspect secondary and can't rush the passer.

SaintnDE

Some of ya'lls attitudes are what get us in trouble in games like with the Rams!

SaintFanInATLHELL

But that's an apples and gorillas comparison. There are two defensive phases that can down any offense: stopping the run and pressuring the QB, especially up the middle. The Rams front 7 have the ability to do that in spades, especially because their front 4 can create tremendous pressure without blitzing. In Rams games as of late, Brees has been on his back, rushed, and throwing out of balance. The results are easy to see.

The thing is that the Falcons have none of this. Last year QBs had a collective 100+ passer rating against that defense. And it just didn't get much better in the offseason. On the other hand the emergence of Armstead and the upgrade from DLP to Goodwin (backed by Lelito) along with Grubbs and Evens being healthy has solidified the Saints offensive line.

On the other side the return of Jones and White to health is problematic. However, remember that a defense that can stop the run and pressure the QB can neutralize any offense. The Saints have an upgraded backend and a rush with Gallette, Jordan, and Hicks that can get to the QB. The Falcons' offensive line, which was below average last year at best, only improved slightly in the offseason with the addition of Matthews and their free agent guard from KC whose name I can never remember. Then they lost Baker once again during camp. You can have the best receivers in the world, but a QB cannot throw to them from his back.

The NFL is all about matchups. The Rams are a tough matchup for many a team in the league for exactly the reasons that I outlined above. The Falcons, not so much.

So it's like comparing apples... and gorillas.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

|Mitch|

Seriously? Our attitudes as fans is the problem as to why the team struggles every so often?

Maybe we should all start watching game film and preparing for the game, just like the players do...

RockyMountainSaint

What a load of crap!
I have never seen a coach be in another coaches' head like Payton is in "Master Of Panic" Mike Smith's.
I have been waiting for the day when they finally lead him away in a straightjacket.

ScottF

I agree with you to an extent...
that game in Atl last November showed that the Falcons can still get up for the Saints and show heart & emotion even when their season is over. Other than that blowout when Brees broke the record, the games are always close.

My point is that the Falcons are pissed off, but the past 5-6 years they have been getting outplayed (and outcoached). Emotion only goes so far.
I expect a war on Sunday.