Clayton's First...And 10

saintfan · 12-22-2011, 06:55 PM

Biggest NFL games of Week 16 -- John Clayton's First & 10 - ESPN

3. One of the league's under-the-radar great rivalries: I rank the Falcons-Saints rivalry as the third-best in football behind the Steelers-Ravens and Bears-Packers. When these teams meet, games are close and tensions are high. It's Drew Brees going against Matt Ryan. The last four times these teams have met, each game has been decided by three points. The last six games have been decided by eight points or fewer. The Saints have the edge. First, they are home -- although the Falcons pulled the upset last year in the Superdome early in the season. Sean Payton has won five of the past six games against the Falcons, who probably won't catch the Saints for the NFC South crown but could set up a possible meeting later in the playoffs.

What's going to trouble the Falcons is how well the Saints' offense matches up against the Falcons' style of defense. The Falcons love playing Cover 2. Thanks to the development of tight end Jimmy Graham and the addition of halfback Darren Sproles, Brees destroys Cover 2 defenses. That is reflected in ESPN Stats and Information numbers. Over the past six games, Brees is completing 79.6 percent of his passes inside the numbers with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions.

RockyMountainSaint · 12-22-2011, 07:00 PM

LOVE IT!

Once again, my vote for Saints MVP is Mickey Loomis!

Thanks Saintfan!

AlaskaSaints · 12-22-2011, 07:02 PM

A blowout would be GREAT, but I'm expecting...

A BLOWOUT!!!

Alaska

Danno · 12-22-2011, 07:13 PM

Saints by 13, easily

AlaskaSaints · 12-22-2011, 07:18 PM

Yep, Danno. I'm feeling that 13 you speak of. We've got to break this hold that Atlanta has over us with respect to close games! We are the better team here, although I appreciate their concerted effort when they come to town. LOL

However...

I DO NOT want to play them then play them again in the playoffs. Law of averages will not make that a favorable matchup no matter how you look at it.

Alaska

Danno · 12-22-2011, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by AlaskaSaints

Yep, Danno. I'm feeling that 13 you speak of. We've got to break this hold that Atlanta has over us with respect to close games! We are the better team here, although I appreciate their concerted effort when they come to town. LOL

However...

I DO NOT want to play them then play them again in the playoffs. Law of averages will not make that a favorable matchup no matter how you look at it.

Alaska

True, statistically speaking beating a good team three times in a season is almost impossible. And yes, the birds are good, not great, but even Saints homers must admit they're pretty good.

RockyMountainSaint · 12-22-2011, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

True, statistically speaking beating a good team three times in a season is almost impossible. And yes, the birds are good, not great, but even Saints homers must admit they're pretty good.

Remember all of the statistical reasons that we couldn't win in '09?

Throw ALL that crap out of the window!

TWO DAT!

Mardigras9 · 12-23-2011, 10:07 AM

If the Seahawks don't beat the Niners on Sat, it doesn't matter as much if we beat the Falcons, we will have the #3. Most of us at the beginning of the season would have been fine splitting with Atlanta anyway. Would really suck to lose to them in the Dome.

UK_WhoDat · 12-23-2011, 03:48 PM

I don't like John Clayton....... but I like what he said about the Saints leading into this game.

pumpkindriver · 12-23-2011, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by UK_WhoDat

I don't like John Clayton....... but I like what he said about the Saints leading into this game.

Yeah me either, but its nice that he is recognizing this rivalry. I can't wait for Monday night to get here.

12-22-2011, 06:55 PM	#1
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Clayton's First...And 10 Biggest NFL games of Week 16 -- John Clayton's First & 10 - ESPN 3. One of the league's under-the-radar great rivalries: I rank the Falcons-Saints rivalry as the third-best in football behind the Steelers-Ravens and Bears-Packers. When these teams meet, games are close and tensions are high. It's Drew Brees going against Matt Ryan. The last four times these teams have met, each game has been decided by three points. The last six games have been decided by eight points or fewer. The Saints have the edge. First, they are home -- although the Falcons pulled the upset last year in the Superdome early in the season. Sean Payton has won five of the past six games against the Falcons, who probably won't catch the Saints for the NFC South crown but could set up a possible meeting later in the playoffs. What's going to trouble the Falcons is how well the Saints' offense matches up against the Falcons' style of defense. The Falcons love playing Cover 2. Thanks to the development of tight end Jimmy Graham and the addition of halfback Darren Sproles, Brees destroys Cover 2 defenses. That is reflected in ESPN Stats and Information numbers. Over the past six games, Brees is completing 79.6 percent of his passes inside the numbers with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. WhoDat!656 and Michigan_SF like this.

12-22-2011, 07:21 PM	#6
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Originally Posted by AlaskaSaints Yep, Danno. I'm feeling that 13 you speak of. We've got to break this hold that Atlanta has over us with respect to close games! We are the better team here, although I appreciate their concerted effort when they come to town. LOL However... I DO NOT want to play them then play them again in the playoffs. Law of averages will not make that a favorable matchup no matter how you look at it. Alaska True, statistically speaking beating a good team three times in a season is almost impossible. And yes, the birds are good, not great, but even Saints homers must admit they're pretty good.

12-22-2011, 08:19 PM	#7
RockyMountainSaint Mmm That Smell! Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Metairie Terrace Posts: 3,073	Originally Posted by Danno True, statistically speaking beating a good team three times in a season is almost impossible. And yes, the birds are good, not great, but even Saints homers must admit they're pretty good. Remember all of the statistical reasons that we couldn't win in '09? Throw ALL that crap out of the window! TWO DAT!

12-23-2011, 07:33 PM	#10
pumpkindriver 500th Post Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Killeen, Tx. Posts: 932	Originally Posted by UK_WhoDat I don't like John Clayton....... but I like what he said about the Saints leading into this game. Yeah me either, but its nice that he is recognizing this rivalry. I can't wait for Monday night to get here.

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12-22-2011, 07:00 PM	#2
RockyMountainSaint Mmm That Smell! Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Metairie Terrace Posts: 3,073	LOVE IT! Once again, my vote for Saints MVP is Mickey Loomis! Thanks Saintfan!

12-22-2011, 07:02 PM	#3
AlaskaSaints 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 2,484 Blog Entries: 2	A blowout would be GREAT, but I'm expecting... A BLOWOUT!!! Alaska RockyMountainSaint likes this.

12-22-2011, 07:13 PM	#4
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Saints by 13, easily

12-22-2011, 07:18 PM	#5
AlaskaSaints 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 2,484 Blog Entries: 2	Yep, Danno. I'm feeling that 13 you speak of. We've got to break this hold that Atlanta has over us with respect to close games! We are the better team here, although I appreciate their concerted effort when they come to town. LOL However... I DO NOT want to play them then play them again in the playoffs. Law of averages will not make that a favorable matchup no matter how you look at it. Alaska

12-23-2011, 10:07 AM	#8
Mardigras9 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Land Mass between LA and AL Posts: 4,375	If the Seahawks don't beat the Niners on Sat, it doesn't matter as much if we beat the Falcons, we will have the #3. Most of us at the beginning of the season would have been fine splitting with Atlanta anyway. Would really suck to lose to them in the Dome.

12-23-2011, 03:48 PM	#9
UK_WhoDat 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Wherever I lay my hat Posts: 3,947	I don't like John Clayton....... but I like what he said about the Saints leading into this game.