Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 7, 2013 Sean Payton is looking to take the focus off of him as he returns to the sideline for the New Orleans Saints. The defending NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons know all too well how dangerous the combination of Payton and Drew Brees have been. Payton will be in the spotlight when these division rivals open the 2013 season Sunday at the Superdome in a matchup that has been dominated in recent years by the Saints. The Saints coach was forced to sit out the 2012 season as punishment for his role in New Orleans' bounty scandal. New Orleans slumped to a 7-9 record as its run of three straight playoff appearances ended. Payton is trying not to treat his first game since a postseason loss in San Francisco following the 2011 season any differently. "We play in a lot of games with a lot of hoopla around it, whether it's Sunday nights, Monday nights, or postseason games, it's still about protecting the football," he said. "It's still about blocking and tackling. It's about all the things that we have control over, but those other things, we will try to eliminate as best as we can." The Saints are 10-2 against the Falcons with Payton and Brees together, with the quarterback throwing for 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Now Brees has his trusted play caller back. "Sean is a very good football coach," Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. "His record speaks for itself. He is one of the best play callers in the league right now. He is an important part. When you have your play caller back, we anticipate we are going to see some things different than what we've seen last year, when he wasn't there." Atlanta may now be considered the team to beat in the division after going 13-3 last season to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs for the second time in three years. Smith and Matt Ryan finally earned their first postseason victory after three defeats by beating Seattle. Atlanta fell one game short of the Super Bowl by blowing a 17-point lead in a 28-24 loss to the 49ers in the conference title game. The Falcons know that the Saints remain their biggest challenger in the South. New Orleans ended Atlanta's 8-0 start with a 31-27 home victory last Nov. 11 before the Falcons won 23-13 at home 18 days later. "Obviously it is a place we are very familiar with, (and) a team we are very familiar with," said Ryan, who is 1-4 at the Superdome. "We know it's going to be a tough challenge for us down there, (it) always is." Brees has unpleasant memories of the last meeting as he threw five interceptions for the first time in his career and saw his NFL-record streak of 54 games with a touchdown pass end. "It was crummy," he told the Saints' official website. "It's funny because I watched the film and it's like, I could have very easily thrown five touchdowns, instead of five picks. But coulda, shoulda, woulda." Offense wasn't a problem last year for a Saints' unit ranked first in the NFC with 422.8 yards per game, but a defense that allowed a league-record 7,042 total yards certainly was. That resulted in the dismissal of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who was replaced by former Dallas coordinator Rob Ryan. Ryan's unit will start the year without Jonathan Vilma, who has been placed on short-term injured reserve. Fellow linebacker Will Smith is out for the year with a torn ACL. The Falcons faced Rob Ryan with the Cowboys last season, and feel they will be ready for his 3-4 scheme. "It's not like the 3-4 is something that has just been invented," Smith said. "Rob does an outstanding job with his defenses everywhere he's been. He will create some issues for offenses." The Falcons are unsure whether Roddy White will be available, although the wide receiver returned to practice Wednesday after being out with an ankle injury. White led Atlanta with 1,351 yards receiving in 2012, with Julio Jones adding 1,198 as the duo combined for 17 TD receptions. Matt Ryan finished with career highs of 32 touchdowns and 4,719 yards while Brees led the league with 43 TD passes and 5,177 yards. The biggest offensive addition for either team is Steven Jackson, signed by Atlanta to a three-year deal this offseason. The former Rams running back has topped 1,000 yards for eight straight years. "Steven has been great for our football team," Ryan said. "He is a great leader. Obviously, he has been an incredible player for his tenure in the league. He is a huge addition for us." Both teams feature terrific tight ends. The Saints' Jimmy Graham was second among all tight ends with 982 yards a season ago with an NFC-high nine TD catches, while Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez had 930 yards and eight TDs as he returns for a 17th season after initially saying 2012 would be his final campaign. Atlanta has tried to bolster a pass rush that produced 29 sacks - with 10 coming from since-released John Abraham - for the league's fifth-worst total a year ago by signing veteran defensive end Osi Umenyiora from the New York Giants. First-round pick Desmond Trufant, a cornerback out of Washington, says that he will be targeted by Brees - who expects a tight game in Week 1. "Seven of our 10 games with the Falcons, since Mike Smith's been the head coach, have been decided by the last possession," Brees said. "Seven out of 10. It just goes to show you the type of battle this always is with these guys." Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 7, 2013 Saints in an early season shootout! 34 38 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted September 7, 2013 Saints are tough to beat in the dome, but the Falcons are a good team. I'm not sure if they'll pull out the win, but I do know it'll be one hell of a shoot out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted September 7, 2013 It'll be a fight to the death..but it's a good way for Trufant and Alford to show me what both are made of early. Both can hold their own..but I fear drew brees' mind will beat them. However...the tandem of Quiz and SJax makes us more dimensional. I know Koetter started to work the screen game into our offense last year..but Turner is just not that type of back..no hands whatsoever. It'll be a typical Saints Falcons game..and I expect NO to be a madhouse..but I truly believe that this is our toughest game of the year. If we can win this..we can win anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted September 8, 2013 (edited) This is matchup that I enjoy and definitely will watch because it has the potential to be a very good game. I'm also eager to see how the Saints perform with Sean Payton back and the state of their defense. I'm equally interested to see how Steven Jackson will play. Is his tires running low or will he take advantage of the Falcons aerial dynamic attack and the opportunities it will open up. I also want to see Julio in his 3rd year. He was very exciting last year and it will be interesting to watch his development and eventually wind up to be the clear #1 receiver on that team. He's not their yet but it's only a matter of time before he is. Not to mention if Osi can fill in John Abraham's shoes. I expect special things from the Saints this year and think they win this one. 38 31 Edited September 8, 2013 by dutchff7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 8, 2013 30-27 New Orleans... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
southgadawg 52 Posted September 8, 2013 I am a big Falcons fan but honestly I have trouble picking them to beat the Saints, especially in New Orleans in Sean Payton's first came back. Falcons 31 Saints 35 (although honestly either team could win it). I think this will be a game worth watching if you like high scoring affairs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 8, 2013 Saints declared WR Robert Meachem, OLB Martez Wilson, WR Andy Tanner, RB Khiry Robinson, S Isa Abdul-Quddus, OT Terron Armstead and DE Glenn Foster inactive for Week 1 against the Falcons. Falcons LCB Asante Samuel (thigh) is inactive for Week 1 against the Saints. It's a huge loss for the Falcons in a likely shootout in New Orleans, and makes Drew Brees that much stronger of a play. The Falcons will go with Robert McClain in Samuel's absence. It will be just his sixth career start. Also inactive for the Falcons are RB Josh Vaughan, S Kemal Ishmael, OT Jeremy Trueblood, OG Harland Gunn, DT Travian Robertson and DE Stansly Maponga. As previously reported, Roddy White (ankle) is active. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 8, 2013 Falcons D, so far impressive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted September 8, 2013 Steven Jackson had one nice long run, but other than that he has really been held in check. Not sure this is the impact they thought he would bring. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
southgadawg 52 Posted September 8, 2013 As predicted...close to the end. Either the Saints defense is marketable improved or the Falcons just can't get it done on offense (maybe a combination of both?). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 8, 2013 Teams that switch to the 3-4 always tend to show improvements the first year over. This is week 1 so it's probably an overreaction for me to say they will be much improved, but there is a history. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted September 9, 2013 42 31 17 23 Atlanta's defense played better than I expected, but their offense (esp. OL) were concerning. Hard to know how to judge this one- the Saints could be a tough front 7 all season long and this game wouldn't look so bad. Or they could be a middling to below average defense, and Atlanta's offense line is in trouble. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 9, 2013 Steven Jackson had one nice long run, but other than that he has really been held in check. Not sure this is the impact they thought he would bring. Well, we all know they were foolish to think they were getting THE Stephen Jackson. He's old for an RB. He'll bust off a nice run, here and there, but he's likely to get injured or just not be that productive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
