Saints Nation: 5 Things To Watch for in Today’s Game @ Falcons

Gameday is finally here as the Saints get to play their archrival in the Atlanta Falcons. Let’s not mince words, the Falcons fans hate us and the feeling is mutual as we hate them just as much. The last couple of years these two have been the division winner and it should not be any different this year as both teams are fighting for first place in today’s game. It should be a great game especially when the Saints silence the Georgia Dome coming home with a win! Here are five things I will be looking for in today’s game.

1. Winner gets first place of NFC South. 

I know it is early and there is a lot of football left to be played but this is a big game for both teams as they are playing for first place. This is a fierce rivalry with the road team winning at both games last year. I like the fact that the Falcons are a good football team , a team that has playoff aspirations because it makes it that much better when the Saints beat them in front of their fans claiming first place in the process.

2. Newfound running game for the Saints.

The first three plays last week were running plays and it had me a little worried as I thought there might be something wrong with Drew and the passing game. If you watch the offensive line play, you could sense that getting Zach Strief back was a big addition but it was also the first time this year that these five guys have played together and it showed as they were able to create big holes for the running backs. I also think the fact that Dave Thomas was back in the lineup helped as he is more of a blocking tight end. The Saints should be able to get the running game on track, maybe as the Falcons stack the box, it will open up the vertical deep throws that Drew has missed on a couple times this year.

3. Can someone please cover Tony Gonzalez?

I remember when the Falcons got Tony in a draft day trade with the Chiefs and I thought this isn’t going to be good for the Saints. He has been a thorn in the side of the Saints secondary as he has put on a clinic on making plays for the Falcons. I don’t know what it is but it just seems that whenever there is a third down or a red zone opportunity he is getting the ball and everyone knows where it is going but the Saints still can’t stop it. Last year in the first game he torched the Saints as they put two guys on him but in the second game he had an average game while the Saints put Jenkins covering him and it seemed to work a little better so look for the Saints to do that a little more in this game.

4. Can we get a carryover of last week’s defense from the Saints?

While they didn’t shut the Bucs down last week, they did get the Bucs off the field in key situations. In previous weeks ,the reason the Saints lost was because of the defense but last week it was a team effort and a team win with all three phases having a good game. If I had to gameplan for the Falcons this week I would stop what the Falcons do best and that is stopping the run. It just seems that if the running game is ticking Matt Ryan will have an easier time in the passing game.

5. With the bye coming up next week, it couldn’t have come at better time.

Not looking ahead to next week as the Saints still have to play the Falcons today, but the bye week comes as a great time. It will allow the Saints to get healthy and rest up for rest of the upcoming season. The league did the Saints a favor as they get to play on Monday night, giving them an extra day off as they can spend more time preparing for that game.