Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: Tale of the tape
The defenses
Last season, Atlanta and New Orleans owned the No. 32 and No. 31 defenses respectively. There have been improvements, but neither unit can be classed as a team strength just yet.
The Falcons hired Dan Quinn as head coach, who of course was defensive coordinator with Seattle for both Super Bowl runs in the past couple of years. They were aggressive in free agency and in the draft in attempt to rebuild a struggling unit.
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So far this season, the run defense has been dominant. Atlanta currently allows fewer rushing yards per game than any other team. The pass defense is currently No. 29, but hey, Quinn is a great coach but he’s not a miracle worker. It’s going to take time.
New Orleans is No. 23 against the pass, and even more worrying is the fact the run defense is No. 31. The unit is going to be tested early and often, particularly against the run. Freeman has rushed for 362 yards and seven touchdowns in the past three games. Quinn will want the ball in his hands often on Thursday night.
Next: NFL Power Rankings: Week 6 standings