Vin+ 3,121 Posted November 10, 2012 (edited) Much has been made of the Atlanta Falcons beating inferior opponents - often unimpressively - en route to a perfect record at the season's halfway point. They'll get another team with a losing record Sunday, but the New Orleans Saints appear to be on the rise. In what could be a high-scoring affair at the Superdome, the Falcons look to remain unbeaten when they face a Saints team trying for a fourth win in five games. Atlanta (8-0) is running away with the NFC South, ahead of second-place Tampa Bay by four games - the largest division lead in the league. Defending South champion New Orleans (3-5) is five back. The Falcons are just the 15th team since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to start 8-0, yet they're still receiving criticism. They haven't had to face the stiffest competition, having played teams with a combined winning percentage of .369, and they've occasionally struggled. "We're not concerned with the doubters," Michael Turner said after last Sunday's 19-13 home win over Dallas. "This team's main focus is coming out and getting a win each game." Last weekend's game was another close one, as Turner had a tiebreaking 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter - Atlanta's lone TD. None of the Falcons' four home wins have been by more than six points, and their last five games overall were all against teams which currently have losing records. "I think at the end of the day it's a league that's based on wins and losses and (Sunday) was a solid effort by this team and we did what we needed to do to come out with a win," said Matt Ryan, who threw for 342 yards but had his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass end at 22. Drew Brees has the NFL record in that category and extended it to 51 games with a pair of TD throws in Monday's 28-13 win over Philadelphia. It was the Saints' third win in four games following an 0-4 start. "There are defining moments throughout a season," said Brees, among the league leaders with 2,549 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. "Big plays, big wins, that kind of bring you together and let you see a vision of what you can be, what you can accomplish. "This," he added, "is the type of momentum we want going into the second half of the season." The running game has been an area of concern for New Orleans, which is averaging 31.3 points in its victories, but Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram combined for 136 yards on the ground against the Eagles. The Saints came into the game ranked last in the NFL in rushing with an average of 72.6 yards. If New Orleans can build on that performance against a Falcons team yielding 127.5 rushing yards per game - second-most in the NFC behind the league-worst Saints (176.5) - it should open up things for Brees, not that he needs much help. The six-time Pro Bowler has usually been just fine in this series, going 10-2 against the Falcons since joining the Saints, averaging 303.3 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He'll be facing a defense that could be closer to full strength, with linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and tackle Peria Jerry possibly returning. Weatherspoon, who has a team-high 52 tackles, missed last week's game with a sprained right ankle. Jerry left in the first half with a knee injury. New Orleans continues to play with end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who are appealing their bounty suspensions, but remains abysmal defensively. The Saints have yielded at least 400 yards in each of their first eight games, the longest such streak since at least 1950, and maybe in the history of the NFL. They're allowing an average of 471.3 yards - 53.4 more than the next-closest team - and are well on their way to shatter the record for most yards allowed in a season. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging a 105.1 passer rating, and Ryan enters third in the NFL with a 103.0 mark. The Falcons are 29-0 when he has a quarterback rating of at least 100, but he has an 85.2 rating in his last three games against the Saints and lost them all. Turner, who had his second 100-yard game of the season last week, also hasn't enjoyed much success in the last three meetings, averaging 61.0 yards without a score. Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Edited November 17, 2012 by Vin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted November 11, 2012 If anyone is ending the Falcons undefeated talks, it's the Saints. Gonna say it happens today in a good close game. 24 27 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted November 11, 2012 I've also got the Saints. Jimmy Graham hopefully wrecks some birds. If not this week...where do you have the Falcons losing?If they beat Philly, I could see the Saints beating them. 27 30 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted November 11, 2012 I woke up with an awful feeling this morning about this game. I know that we can win, I just have a rather bad sense of what's going to happen today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KiLaSix9+ 398 Posted November 11, 2012 Saints are handing birds their first loss. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted November 11, 2012 Last week, I had the Saints winning this game but it's so hard to trust their historically bad defense... Last week when my Eagles got into the Red Zone 5 times, I believe another team that doesn't have Off-line issues or a hesitant QB would have capitalized on those opportunities and scorched the Saints. Going to go with the Falcons on this one. 31 30 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted November 11, 2012 Chris Ivory's TD makes it 10-7 Falcons.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Franchise 5 1 Posted November 11, 2012 Falcons up in the redzone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted November 11, 2012 Jimmy Graham hopefully wrecks some birds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted November 11, 2012 typical saints falcons game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted November 11, 2012 A TD or two from Roddy White would be great.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted November 11, 2012 No. A win. would be nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted November 11, 2012 No. A win. would be nice. You're right.. And Roddy White's 2 TD would give you a win Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted November 11, 2012 Tony G is Mr Reliable Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted November 11, 2012 What a game to watch if you're a Tight End fan. Two of the best and one of the best ever if not the best. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted November 11, 2012 What a catch by Julio Jones! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted November 11, 2012 They should have gone for it on 4th down.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted November 11, 2012 FG for Saints..Falcons need a TD.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
housemd 338 Posted November 11, 2012 Saints stop Falcons on their own 1 yard line..4th and goal.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KiLaSix9+ 398 Posted November 11, 2012 Know I wasn't the only one but I called it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted November 11, 2012 Well, this is what Roddy White gets for running his mouth. Hey, guess what, Atlanta? You're never as good as you think you are. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
