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METAIRIE, La. — List Atlanta’s many weapons on offense and you likely think of Matt Ryan’s endless array of options in the passing game.
Julio Jones. Roddy White. Tony Gonzalez. Harry Douglas.

It’s Steven Jackson, an offseason addition to the backfield, however, who is likely to take the Falcons offense to the next level.

And Sunday, minutes after the clock pushes past noon, the Saints will get the first opportunity to test out their reconfigured defense against one of the NFL’s most-underrated running backs and most-talented offenses.

“Unless you’re playing the Saints, you can look at offenses all across this league and you won’t see this much talent at every position,” Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “We see it twice a year and it has been that way for a minute. They’ve had premier guys at every spot before.”

But it’s Jackson’s addition that could be the issue. In the past 10 games against the Falcons, the Saints have lost three of the five games in which Atlanta has reached the century mark on the ground.

The five times Atlanta failed to eclipse 100 yards? All Saints wins, including last year’s 31-27 win in New Orleans when they knocked Atlanta from the ranks of the unbeaten.

“They went and got Steven Jackson for a reason so they’ll definitely be using him,” Saints safety Roman Harper said. “We understand that.”

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Related article: New Orleans Saints face new challenge in Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson | NOLA.com

TheOak

They all seem to forget a tank without armor is just a gun....

Porous O-Line

QBREES9

One game at a time. Don't look passed today.

cmike

“They went and got Steven Jackson for a reason so they’ll definitely be using him,” Saints safety Roman Harper said. “We understand that.”


Now see,Harper knows what's up. I truly believe stopping Jackson is the key to victory. Go back and watch highlights of Jackson against us, we've never dialed up any answers for him. Remember Mike Mckenzie hawking down Jackson and Mike getting hurt on the play, almost ending his career. Plays like that can't happen. Containing Jackson is the #1 key to victory.

Heck, we've gifted them 2 of there last 3 victories.

westbankdaze

There is no doubt in my mind that Sjax will be the deciding factor in a falcons win. People are blowing him off way too easily on this forum. I hope I don't have to come back to this forum on Sunday to say I told you so.

Supertek

Everyone knows what SJ can do and it is huge for us. We are going to have to play a lot of man to man coverages and take our chances there in order to keep him from running all over us and eating up clock. I hope payton has game planned for this. When we had the vote this was my main concern to stop their running game. On top of that we need to bring a running game to them. Think I would take a bet on under 54 points.

hagan714

big test for our DE and OLB. i fear passes in the flats

TheOak

People are blowing SJ off not because of any doubt of SJ but because of Atlanta's o-line.. and because he is not much of an upgrade if any to Turner.

Even the best backs struggle running through a hole that isn't there.

Rugby Saint II

Coach won't let them.

homerj07

Jones will the biggest test. We can't get burned by the long play.