RYAN, FALCONS LOOK TO STAY PERFECT

Well the time is here… This is the game that Falcon fans circled when the schedule came out. This year the tables seem to be turned as Atlanta is heading toward a division crown and the Saints are hanging on to wildcard hopes while sitting at 3 – 5. Don’t let these records fool you. This game will be close but Atlanta fans should leave leave with a belly full of gumbo and victory to boot.
The Falcons are coming off a 19-13 home victory over the Cowboys. A game that saw streaks end and records broken. Roddy White broke the franchise record for receptions and in the same game Ryan failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 22 games, but still stayed unbeaten.
This is a good sign considering that the Dallas defense ranked fourth in the league, while the Saints are dead last. Even during their last four games, which the Saints won three, the defense is still allowing over 400 yards a game. Ryan should be able to pick apart New Orlean’s secondary and Turner and Rodgers should have a big day against the league’s worst rushing defense. Points shouldn’t be hard to come by, but hey…that’s why they suit up and play, right?
Defensively, Atlanta will be without Sean Weatherspoon again, but the return of Peria Jerry should bolster a very serviceable defensive line. Hopefully Atlanta’s defense will remember what happened the last time they visited New Orleans and come out with more aggression and really get after Brees and company. The pass rush has got to be more productive this week and force Brees into bad decisions. And we all know the best way to beat an elite QB like Brees is to keep him on the sideline in his brand new football cap. Either that or switch his Day-Quill with Ny-Quill while he’s not looking.
Seriously though, we know New Orleans is going to score points. I like the idea of playing this game a bit more conservatively. A bigger dose of Turner and Rodgers is in order and trust me, Mike Smith knows that. Keep that clock moving and play solid defense and we should all be happy around 4pm on Sunday. Streak or no streak, we owe the Saints an old fashioned beatdown, and I think it’s inevitable. The Birds win and the city if New Orleans starts saving their brown grocery bags again… Atlanta 35, Aints 24.