One word to describe the 2013 Atlanta Falcons? "Woof."
Saints vs. Falcons 2014 game preview: Falcons looking to start strong against a tough Saints defense
After a 4-12 season marred by injuries, the Falcons get a fresh start against a strong Saints squad. Will Matt Ryan be able to end Atlanta’s two-game losing streak against New Orleans?
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After losing all of their preseason games, the Falcons started out 2013 with a loss to the - you guessed it - Saints. They lost eleven more times while losing receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White, running back Steven Jackson, and left tackle Sam Baker to injury. Without his typical escape routes in Jones and White, quarterback Matt Ryan threw more interceptions in 2013 than in any season prior.
But a Week 1 win over their NFC South rivals (the two franchises are the oldest in the Deep South) could do a lot to restore confidence in Atlanta. The Saints are coming off an 11-5 season, finishing second in the division before losing to Seattle in the second round of the playoffs. Drew Brees was phenomenal in 2013, throwing 39 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions.
Here’s everything you need to know about this intriguing matchup in the first week of NFL action.
Meet the Saints
Sean Payton’s offensive strategery has led to the Saints being one of the most prolific offenses in football. In 2013, the Saints finished 4th in total offense - 2nd in passing offense (only behind the Denver Broncos). Drew Brees and tight end Jimmy Graham were a deadly combination, with Graham picking up 1,215 yards receiving and becoming the first tight end in Saints history with more than 1,000 yards. After locking down a 4-year $40 million dollar deal in the offseason, Graham looks to continue his success in 2014. He’ll rejoin veteran receiver Marques Colston and a talented group of running backs, including Pierre Thomas, Khiry Robinson and Mark Ingram.
But Brees was the real star in 2014. In 16 regular season games, Brees was the leading passing in all but 4. He finished with more than 5,000 yards for the 4th time in his career.
The real surprise of last year’s Saints? Defense. In 2012, New Orleans finished last in the league in total defense. In 2013, first-year defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s unit finished 4th, allowing just 19 points per game. The Saints emphasized defense in the 2014 Draft, adding to a powerful group that will make life very, very, very difficult for opponents.
Meet the Falcons
The 2013 season was utterly forgettable for Atlanta. With the rash of injuries noted above, Matt Ryan's quality of play sank considerably. In 2012, Ryan threw for 32 touchdowns and 14 interceptions - in 2013, he threw for just 26 touchdowns and was picked off 17 times. He had his lowest quarterback rating since 2009 (the last time the Falcons didn't make the playoffs.) But Ryan will be getting back Julio Jones this season after Jones missed most of last year with a foot injury. That's good news for the Falcons - in 2012, Jones picked up more than 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, the offensive line will be missing LT Sam Baker again after the left tackle tore the patallar tendon in his right knee in a preseason game against the Texans.
The 2013 defense wasn’t much better for the Falcons. Atlanta finished 27th in total defense - 29th in sacks and second-to-last in the league against the rush. The defensive line took a big hit in the offseason when middle linebacker Sean Witherspoon suffered a torn Achilles tendon, making an already tenuous defense even more shaky.
There will be new coaches on the Falcons sideline, as Atlanta will also be breaking in line coaches on both sides of the ball, adding in Mike Tice (yes, former Vikings coach Mike Tice) as offensive line coach and Bryan Cox as defensive line coach.
Injuries
The Falcons took a big blow when starting left tackle Sam Baker went down with a torn patallar tendon in his right knee in the preseason, but otherwise the team looks healthy heading into Week 1. Neither running back Steven Jackson or Jon Asamoah, both of whom battled lower body issues during preseason play, appear on the official injury report.
The only key player listed on the Saints' report is wide receiver Kenny Stills, who has been bothered with a quad injury since the start of camp.
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Odds:
According to Oddsshark.com, the Saints are favored by 3 points.
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