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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons are ready to prove they aren’t defenseless against Drew Brees.

Since Brees joined the Saints in 2006, Atlanta is 2-10 in the NFC South series, and the Falcons know why.

Brees hasn’t just beaten Atlanta with his right arm. His footwork, field vision and game preparation are just as lethal.

“That’s why we’ve got to finish plays,” Falcons safety William Moore said. “That’s the biggest thing. You will think the play’s over, and Drew will step up and hit something big.”

Maybe when the Falcons (8-0) face New Orleans (3-5) at noon Sunday, Atlanta will have a better chance at success now that Mike Nolan is their first-year defensive coordinator.

Atlanta has dropped three straight in the series, and its blowout loss in Week 16 last December at the Superdome was one reason the Falcons weren’t exactly disappointed when Nolan’s predecessor, Brian VanGorder, left for Auburn.

Nolan, now in his 14th year as an NFL coordinator, says that Brees not only has great players around him, but adds that the record-setting quarterback is also blessed with an elite intangible — pocket presence.

Nolan respects Brees’ innate ability to avoid sacks and pressure by knowing which way the pocket is moving, all while keeping his eyes downfield.

“Whether it’s to step up or move to the left or the right and to avoid it when a guy’s coming, he’s not looking at you,” Nolan said. “The good ones look down the field. They’re not thinking about all the stuff going on around them, but they have an ability to kind of move where the pocket allows them to stay alive. He does a great job with that.”

Read more: Atlanta Falcons know they can

Stealthman

Knowing and doing... are TWO DIFFERENT things.

WhoDat!

QBREES9

And they will

pumpkindriver

Now I know another reason Auburn sucks so bad this year.