The Atlanta Falcons (200000 to win the NFC South) are not going places this season, which can’t be said about the New Orleans Saints. But the Falcons have an opportunity to show everyone that they are still a capable team worthy of respect despite their record when they take on the Saints on the road this coming weekend. Are we about to see an upset? Or will the Saints (-2000) cruise into another win?
It’s safe to say that it’s a lost season now for the Falcons, who are looking for their first win of the season since Week 2’s magical 24-20 home win over the Philadelphia Eagles. From then on, they have lost sixth straight games, including their Week 8 27-20 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks before taking a bye in Week 9. An extra week of rest should clear the heads a bit of the Falcons, though, they are clearly aware that they’ve hit the end of the road for their Super Bowl 54 aspirations, as evidenced by their trading of Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots recently. Matt Ryan didn’t play in the Seattle game due to an ankle injury, but head coach Dan Quinn has said in reports that the former NFL MVP was almost good to go if Atlanta had a game in Week 9. Matt Schaub started in place of Ryan against the Seahawks and amassed 460 yards and a touchdown with an interception on 39-of-52 completions.
The under is 2-0 in the last two games of the Falcons, who are averaging 20.6 points per contest.
Betting on the New Orleans Saints (7-1)
The biggest story out of New Orleans right now is that Drew Brees is back. After a lengthy absence due to a hand injury, Brees went back to work and even played as though he wasn’t affected by rust at all during the Saints’ 31-9 home win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8. Brees threw for 373 passing yards and three touchdowns against an interception on 34-of-43 completions in that game. New Orleans’ offensive line deserves much credit too, as it kept Brees upright all game long with zero sacks allowed. New Orleans has one of the best pass protection in the league, with just 12 sacks allowed on the season. It also doesn’t seem that Atlanta’s pass rush will be of any difficult test to the Saints. Atlanta has the fewest sacks in the NFL thus far this season with a measly total of 7.0 quarterback takedowns. Running back Alvin Kamara has missed the last two games because of an ankle problem and could be given the green light to play again after an extra week of rest. If he can’t go, the Saints still have the reliable Latavius Murray to shoulder much of the rushing chores for New Orleans.
