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Atlanta Falcons host New Orleans Saints in season finale

By John Buhler

Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) breaks a tackle by New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) on a touchdown run during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) breaks a tackle by New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) on a touchdown run during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Falcons will host the hated New Orleans Saints in the 2015 season finale on Sunday. Kickoff is at 1:00 PM ET and Fox will broadcast the game.

Sunday marks the end of the 2015 NFL regular season. Although the 8-7 Atlanta Falcons are not playing for a playoff spot this weekend, there is a ton at stakes in Week 17 as this is a major rivalry game for the Atlanta Falcons as the dreaded New Orleans Saints are coming to town.

OddsShark.com has the Atlanta Falcons as a six-point home favorite over the Saints. However since this is the biggest rivalry in the NFC South, 60% are siding with the Saints getting points, assuming this game will ultimately come down to a field goal. The over/under in this game is 52.5, with 59% siding with the over, as the New Orleans Saints boast a historically bad defense. Look forward to a shootout, folks!

With a win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons would finish above .500 at 9-7 with probably the 7th or 8th best record in the NFC, not good enough to make the NFC Playoffs, but solid enough to get out of the Top 10 in the 2016 NFL Draft. Three years in a row in the Top 10 isn’t good for anybody.

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The Atlanta Falcons also have three players on offense that could achieve seasonal milestones or even NFL records in this game. Matt Ryan needs only 243 yards passing to reach 4,500 for the fourth straight season. He needs only one more touchdown pass to have 20 for the seventh year in a row. Devonta Freeman needs 20 rushing yards to hit 1,000 for the season.

Julio Jones have an outside shot at breaking two NFL single-season records. Jones would need 17 receptions to pass Marvin Harrison‘s single-season receptions record and 243 receiving yards to break Calvin Johnson‘s mark. With a historically bad New Orleans Saints defense and Jones being Ryan’s favorite receiving target, these potential NFL records aren’t impossible, just unlikely.

The Atlanta Falcons lost their first game of the season to the Saints in this biannual rivalry. Atlanta fell to New Orleans, 31-21 on October 15th on Thursday Night Football in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Week 6.

Atlanta will try to limit what Saints quarterback Drew Brees can do, as he will have to win a shootout to beat this Atlanta Falcons’ team. A low-scoring game should favor the Falcons who are riding a two-game winning streak after dropping the previous six.

Next: Tevin Coleman to miss 2015 finale with concussion

As do most games in the NFC South’s oldest and most hostile rivalry, I expect this game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints to go down to the wire with the victor winning by less than a touchdown. I’ve like how balanced the offense has looked in the last two weeks and that should get the Atlanta Falcons over the top to win this rivalry game.

Prediction: Atlanta Falcons 31, New Orleans Saints 27

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