AsylumGuido

Sporting News Picks Against the Spread

NFC Game of the Week: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-3)

Sunday 1 p.m., Fox

The Saints needed a better defensive performance against the Browns last week, and they got it. The Falcons' offense woke up against the Panthers, but on defense, the effects of not having Deion Jones and Keanu Neal in the middle of the field almost cost them. Drew Brees will exploit that weakness and out-duel Matt Ryan.

PICK: Saints win 27-24.

I sure am hoping for a bigger margin than that.

K Major

Turbo, don't even think he saw the field vs Cleveland. Kinda surprised to be honest.

Papa Voodoo

I saw him on STs, but not on D.

turbo_dog

WTF?

The Dude

It’s a division game and usually both teams show up for these. Records and past performances go out the window for these. This gives me hope.

Crusader

**** the Falcons.

With a chainsaw.

homerj07

In the ass!

K Major

Yep.

Not sure if you caught any of the MNF game but the Bears pass rush was just consistently over whelming (I know they have Mack but still) & no one is ready to anoint their corners as being good.

If we can disrupt Matty, stay disciplined @ linebacker, eventually he'll throw it in the hands of Lattimore and/or Marcus. Dennis Allen just doesn't need to over think things.

Saints by 7 .

st thomas

Just what I saw Chico’s push is like in fast foreword mode

Rugby Saint II

We still are trying to find our rhythm along the O-line, the running backs, wide receivers and tight ends are all strugglig on offense. Training camp was spent cross training everybody everywhere and no one developed chemistry at any position. Drew spent almost no time with his current receivers and we still have TQS, Carr, getting up to speed and Cameron Meredith still coming back from a knee injury two seasons back. I've never seen Drew miss his targets this much. He needs to get the ball to someone not wearing a #13 or #41 jersey. Since Drew elevates his receivers why isn't that happening now? We are moving our O-line pieces so much it looks like we're playing checkers. Drew will settle in and I'm not worried about him. However, the O-line is a different story. This is not the same O-line that owned the power rankings last year.

The defense has struggled this off season because every time the defense plays well we get rid of several players and bring in players that we hope will be an upgrade at their position but aren't. We keep paying MLB'ers to come here and move them to another position. Why? Why can't we find packages that work? Where the Hell is Aaron Glenn and his ability to put players in the right place? Who's busting coverage? What has happened to the D-line? I know that they are playing because I can see where the announcers show the starters on the big screen. Other than the occasional penalty they are pretty much nonexistent at stopping the run or getting pressure on the QB. Davenport looks good for coming back from a groin injury while missing valuable training camp snaps. He will be a force in the future......hopefully it will be soon.

One more thing. Why does every successful Saints off season defense change the scheme so much that they out think themselves and blow assignments and look lost? Personally, I believe that Payton gets involved. He knows how to beat a good defense but not how to run a good defense. I believe that is why GW had success here. He didn't let Payton get involved and insist on copying the latest trend on defense. Payton is a brilliant strategist and offensive mind but I have no faith in his defensive strategy.