Are the Falcons Ready to Prove they are an Elite NFC Team?

Even with those main players out of the game for the Falcs, we struggled mightily to squeak out a close one, when many of us (myself included) thought we’d blow them out big time.

maybe. we’ll see. they could be, but so could we.

We’ve got to see if we’re for real this year, too, and if we’re going to be a consistent powerhouse like the Colts, Pats, etc.

I’m thinking Dynastic thoughts, but we’ve got to take it one game at a time.

I’m also not sure what kind of team Atlanta has. I watched most of Game 1 and it was a low-scoring slugfest with the Steelers, but how much of that was due to the Steel Curtain effect? They pasted the Cards last week, but how much of that was due to the Arizona Stinks effect?

On paper, it could go a number of ways tomorrow.

So, after all that…what’s my conclusion? I got nothin’…

but I don’t see the Falcon’s defense being able to stop our offense. I think this game has the chance to be the one where our offense gets back on track!

…that The Saints are tired of the doubt they’ve been hearing about. They show why they won it all last year. That steely determination does not require a blowout and I’m not expecting one. But, I am expecting a little attitude.

Either I ate some bad tasso or I got a sickening feeling about this upcoming game. I’m nervous / excited and hope we can improve or correct some of the poblems that we had against San Fran. And I’m sure some of y’all will tell me to stop being cynical… but ………..

  I was disappointed in our O line last week. It just looked to me they got man handled. Without Reggie our Air Force will have to show up. That last two games looked a lot like the 11-0 Saints last year. Last years Saints at that point were crippled with injures and the load being carried by the rest was taking it’s toll. We were just getting W’s, That’s not the case now. We do have a couple of significant players out in Sharper and Bush, but should be playing better. I don’t think anyone in that locker room is happy with their play the last two weeks. We shall see. Geaux Saints

Or is this question in regards that the outcome does not matter.

a well written article, agree with all things you say. if I just might add a point – I think there’s something else that makes these two teams different. it’s more of a reason rather than consequence – it’s coaching. both head coaches are top tier professionals and good men. but Mike Smith is very conservative while Sean Payton takes his chances once in a while (how about that surprise onside kick during the SB? I can’t imagine Mike Smith going for it), and sometimes it pays off. I can understand the play-it-safe approach our coaches take, but fans love when we go for it on 4th down or when we take chances believing in the players.
We, Falcons fans, blame our offensive coordinator, Mularkey, for holding the offense back a lot and playing it too safe. in one of the games last year he called 4 identical plays in a row when we had 1st and goal at the 5 yard line, and we were stopped. in indirect confirmation for this blame is that any time the Falcons are in a no-huddle mode, Ryan has a better game.
We feel this time around the Falcons have good chances of winning, although I’m glad we’re the underdogs (in that Steelers game for some reason Falcons were the favorites and they lost). A loss in this game won’t change the fortunes a lot, but if it’s the Falcons who come up short, it would be safe to say we’d be aiming for a wild card from this early in the season.
I’d prefer if we split the games this season, with the Falcons winning at the Superdome tomorrow, and letting you guys have that game in Atlanta in week 16 when the division is already wrapped up :)

The talk of the town the last two years has been that Atlanta is the biggest threat to the Saints’ reign atop the NFC South.

At this point two years ago, the Saints were 1-2 and headed for NFC South basement.

As much as we all want to see Drew have one of his 350 yd, 3 TD games, I think the key to the Saints offense this Sunday will be the running game. The Falcons are ranked 26th in total run defense, allowing over 130 yds/game, and dead last in rushing average, 5.9 ypc. While it’s true that there weren’t facing pass happy offenses, it’s also true that the offensive lines they were against were not particularly good either, especially the Steelers. I don’t know if Payton has ever coached a Saints game with a 60/40 split of rushing/passing plays, but I’d sure like to see it this weekend.

Nervous