WhoDat!656

I am not buying the bird droppings are better

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The New Orleans Saints missed the playoffs last year as the Atlanta Falcons opportunistically leapt to the top of the division. The Falcons are better, the Saints have their coach back, and their Week 1 match up could be one of the best games of the 2013 season.

The Saints stumbled out of the gate, adjusting to the random suspensions handed out by the league. Without head coach Sean Payton, the Saints failed to work around one of the worst defenses in football. The offense stumbled a bit, which left a porous defense exposed. The Saints fell apart, but they were much better than their record showed last season.

The Falcons got better again. A talented passing attack made up for a mediocre rushing game, but the Falcons addressed their imbalanced attack this season. By bringing in ferocious rusher Steven Jackson and letting Michael Turner go, Atlanta should be able to pick apart weaker defenses like the Saints’.

Still, Drew Brees and the Saints have an offense so powerful that it could again make up for their weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball. They’re one of the best passing attacks in the history of the game, and they should be able to produce points against a middling Falcons secondary and pass rush.

The Saints have their work cut out for them in Week 1, and they have a difficult path back to the top of the division, but if they can survive this first-week contest, they’ll be in a great position to make the playoffs again in 2013.

Read more at Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints, Week 1 NFL Preview

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

homerj07

Lets see what develops over the next few months

WillSaints81

I don't know, Ryan wasnt an effective passer last time falcons were running the ball. And that was when Turner was good. There are going to be run defenses that stop Jackson and then what is Ryan gonna do? If Jones, White are getting less targets than what they got last year how can you expect them to make plays when targeted? Personally, White is more dangerous than Jones and his big mouth should have defenses covering him more than Jones. I think Jones is capable of missing balls and dropping passes if he's targeted less because of the run. The falcons seem to be keeping tightlipped about Jackson's role but after a couple drives in week 1, we'll figure it out. The key to beating Atlanta cover White and Gonzo and run it down their throats. Jones isnt going to make all the plays thrown at him.

hagan714

lmao it is atlanta anything goes, they hate us as much as we hate them

saintsfan1976

How does the first game of a season position you well for the playoffs??

The Falcons have their own issues that seem to be getting glossed over... Let em get exposed week one.

iceshack149

And Saints fan or not, which coach would you worry more about if you were to play against his team for the first game of the season?

saintsfan1976

At home, no less... I am soooo looking forward to being in that number come September!

saintsfan403

I just can't ****ing stand Matty Meltdown and the **** hawks anymore. It's so much worse that now, after 5 seasons, he has a single playoff win and is somehow now legit. It's great to have another Tony Romo in the league...

Choupique

it doesn't really matter.

if they even make it again, atlanta will lose in the playoffs.

you can bank on it.

Rugby Saint II

I'm a little worried about our defense being able to stop anyone at the start of the season. It's going to take awhile to get the team working as a unit.