Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints preview: Week One
By Brad Rowland
UPDATE: The Falcons have issued their official injury report for Sunday’s game, listing both Corey Peters and Dezmen Southward as “probable”.
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The NFL is here in full force, as the Atlanta Falcons open their 2014 schedule in the Georgia Dome on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Any true Falcons fan understands the importance of any match-up against the rival Saints, but after a 4-12 disaster in 2013, the opener takes on some additional magnitude, especially for Mike Smith and company. Let’s take a look at the specifics.
Opponent: New Orleans Saints
Time/TV: 1:00 pm ET, FOX
Falcons Offense vs. Saints Defense
It is very, very nice to see the Atlanta Falcons offense in tact from a health standpoint. The team is set to deploy the “core” of Matt Ryan, Steven Jackson, Julio Jones and Roddy White together at the start of Sunday’s game, and that is a blessing in itself. Even with the myriad of injuries a year ago, the Ryan-led attack did manage to finish 14th in offensive DVOA and 7th in passing yardage, but with healthy weapons, there is no reason to think that the Falcons don’t have a top-10 attack.
Defensively, the Saints were actually quite good a year ago (10th in DVOA), and they added an impact piece in safety Jairus Byrd on the back end. In short, New Orleans has an embarrassment of riches in the secondary, as they added a Pro Bowl piece to a group that finished second in the NFL against the pass last season, setting the stage for the “prime” match-up of the week between the Jones-White duo and the deep secondary from the Saints. Fortunately, New Orleans is not exceptional at cornerback, so that could lead to some favorable match-ups if Atlanta can scheme appropriately.
The revamped offensive line for the Falcons gets a test here in attempting to handle Junior Galette and company, and we should all begin to pray for Lamar Holmes. With that said, this is a vastly improved group (remember who Jon Asamoah and Jake Matthews are replacing from last season), and the Falcons are in need of a real barometer to evaluate what they have.
Falcons Defense vs. Saints Offense
This is less than ideal.
New Orleans finished 5th in offensive DVOA a year ago (which seems low), and they added a top-flight young receiver in Brandin Cooks. It remains to be seen whether Cooks can be an impact player right away, but with Marques Colston and Kenny Stills in the mix, it may not matter. Fortunately, cornerback is probably the strongest part of the current alignment for the Falcons, and if pressed for an answer, Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford likely win both match-ups against their counterparts at wide receiver.
Unfortunately, the Saints also possess the best tight end in the game in Jimmy Graham, and that is an issue. Weatherspoon’s athleticism would have much needed against the likes of Graham, and without him available, we will see a lot of smaller players against Graham, including a significant amount of Dwight Lowery and William Moore. Holding Graham under 100 yards may be a pipe-dream, but keeping him from breaking the back of the defense is a must.
On the ground, New Orleans is nothing special. Former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is still best known as a former Heisman Trophy winner, lending credence to his below-average work in the NFL, but Pierre Thomas can be dynamic in the passing game, and that is probably the biggest worry. Darren Sproles is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, which takes pressure off from a speed perspective, but if the Saints are running the ball with effectiveness, we can all go home.
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The New Orleans Saints enter as a popular “darling” to reach the Super Bowl this season, and with good reason, as they are extremely talented with the benefit of an elite quarterback on their side. However, home field advantage (especially in week one in front of a raucous crowd) cannot be discounted, and as such, the Atlanta Falcons certainly have a puncher’s chance to “upset” their chief rival.
Stay tuned for post-game coverage, and a live game thread that will open on Sunday morning. Be sure to follow ATL All Day for the latest on the Falcons.