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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

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.