Final Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints thoughts and predictions

This is going to be a long season for the Atlanta Falcons as they deal with a massive$64-million dollar dead cap hit and attempt to turn the page moving on from Matt Ryan. In all likelihood, this team is one more year away from being a wildcard contender and back in the conversation. However, when week one kicks off and the Falcons are facing the New Orleans Saints all of this goes out the window.

It doesn’t matter who has the better roster (as evidenced by last season’s series split) or who the home team is when these two teams play it is going to be a highly contested game. One that is going to surprise Atlanta Falcons fans and get the season off to the right start.

Final score Atlanta Falcons-31 New Orleans Saints-27

Atlanta is going to beat New Orleans in week one getting their season off to a promising start and proving Arthur Smith has this team heading in the right direction. There is some added urgency in this game for Atlanta as well considering the team is scheduled to face the defending champs in week two. Starting the season 0-2 wouldn’t be shocking but it would certainly make Atlanta’s road to respectability this season incredibly difficult.

This game is going to be defined by the two quarterbacks Winston’s inability to make the clutch plays at the end of the game and Marcus Mariota showing the talent that made him the Titans’ 2nd overall pick.

Winston is 1-5 in his last six games against the Falcons and will continue his struggles against Atlanta getting the Falcons off to a great start. Aside from Mariota, bigs games from Arnold Ebiketie, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts will carry Atlanta in a big week one upset the Saints.