3 keys to a Saints win:
 

1. -- Offensive balance
Pick a back, any back and the Saints can seemingly run the football. The Saints are 6-0 when they rush for 100 yards or more and 0-3 when they don’t. Last week’s win proved the point even further as the Saints rebounded to beat the Bucs. A mix and match of Drew Brees and the run game would keep the Falcons off balance.

2.- Jumping out to a lead
The Saints are at their scoring worst in the first quarter with only 62 points in the opening 15 minutes through nine games. They’ve had to play catch up a lot more than you would think for a 6-3 team and the Saints have struggled on the road going 2-3 with sluggish wins vs. Jacksonville and Carolina. A fast start in at Atlanta would be clutch.

3.- Slow down Turner
The Saints run defense surrenders nearly 120 yards per average, while the Falcons gain 119 rushing yards per game. So stopping Falcons RB Michael Turner, who averages 4.4 yards per carry along with seven rushing TDs, would be crucial. Turner is also the main ground threat inside the red zone and the Saints have the league’s worst red zone defense.
by Larry Holder - of Sports - CBSSports.com Sports News, Fantasy Scores, Sports Video

Turnovers.

On the year; Falcons +6 Saints -2.

Ball security is key.

Probably gonna take 30+ from our offense to win today.

Good stuff Saintswrath.

I'd also add stopping Gonzalez. With Vilma out they will focus on getting Gonzalez between the LBs and Safties.

While Vilm a has played poorly this year (by his standards) he's done pretty well in pass protection. Jo-Lonn Dunbar has not done very well in pass protection, and we still have Shanle. Not good.

We will be forced to cheat up to stop Turner and thats when they'll sneak Gonzalez in the seam for those 10-15 yard backbreakers.

The O-line is going to be the key today,they need a good push for the run. On the defensive side the front 4 need to put Ryan on the ground and pressure him relentlessly each time he drops back, on running plays contain Turner, our lb's play smart at the second level not giving up on tackles, that will give the birds a short field to play on, the constant pressure will make Ice,Ice Baby make mistakes and our secondary feast on them. Just my thoughts.

Getting our defense to finally play a complete game.

Force them to put the ball in Ryan's hands due to us having an early lead, set junior, will smith and cam Jordan loose! Let them smack shatty ice

I don't see them abandoning the run, we won't get that much of a lead...

Unless something miraculous happens and we shut down the run game...

I also agree that we have a difficult time with the best tight ends in the league and in the past Gonzales has played well against us.

Force them to punt..