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New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons - Week 1
Game Preview

Fantasy | Game Notes | Results & Schedule | Injury Report | Stat Comparisons | Weather | Team vs. Team History

GB
SEA		 16
 36
PrePost
BUF
CHI		 23
 20
PrePost
TEN
KC		 26
 10
PrePost
OAK
NYJ		 14
 19
PrePost
NO
ATL		 34
 37
PrePost
NE
MIA		 20
 33
PrePost
MIN
STL		 34
 6
PrePost
JAC
PHI		 17
 34
PrePost
CLE
PIT		 27
 30
PrePost
CIN
BAL		 23
 16
PrePost
WAS
HOU		 6
 17
PrePost
SF
DAL		 28
 17
PrePost
CAR
TB		 20
 14
PrePost
IND
DEN		 24
 31
PrePost
NYG
DET		 14
 35
PrePost
SD
ARI		 17
 18
PrePost

Week: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
Playoffs: Wild-Card | Divisional Playoffs | Conference Championships | Super Bowl

Prediction: Saints 31, Falcons 27
by Mike Krueger | Follow @FF_Today

Player Rankings and Projections
New Orleans Saints
Rank  Player Projections
QB 2 Drew Brees Pass: 330, 3 TD Rush: 0, 0
RB 35 Mark Ingram Rush: 40, 1 TD Rec: 1-10, 0
RB 41 Pierre Thomas Rush: 20, 0 TD Rec: 4-30, 0
RB 66 Khiry Robinson Rush: 20, 0 TD Rec: 0-0, 0
WR 24 Marques Colston Rec: 6-70, 1 TD
WR 34 Kenny Stills Rec: 4-60, 1 TD
WR 56 Brandin Cooks Rec: 4-50, 0 TD
TE 1 Jimmy Graham Rec: 8-90, 1 TD
K 13 Shayne Graham FG: 1/1 XP: 4/4
DEF 26 Defense / ST  
 
Atlanta Falcons
Rank  Player Projections
QB 13 Matt Ryan Pass: 280, 2 TD Rush: 0, 0
RB 21 Steven Jackson Rush: 60, 1 TD Rec: 3-20, 0
RB 42 Jacquizz Rodgers Rush: 20, 0 TD Rec: 3-20, 0
RB 62 Devonta Freeman Rush: 10, 0 TD Rec: 0-0, 0
WR 4 Julio Jones Rec: 8-110, 1 TD
WR 8 Roddy White Rec: 6-80, 1 TD
WR 61 Harry Douglas Rec: 3-40, 0 TD
TE 38 Levine Toilolo Rec: 1-10, 0 TD
K 12 Matt Bryant FG: 2/2 XP: 3/3
DEF 30 Defense / ST  

Game Notes

Saints Ranked 2nd in NFL in pass offense (307.4) & pass defense (194.1)... Pro Bowl QB Drew Brees was 2nd in NFL in pass yards (5,162), TDs (39), comp. (446) & comp. pct. (68.6) last year. Had 104.7 passer rating, his 4th season with 100+ rating. Has 3 consecutive 5,000-yard seasons & 4 overall, most in NFL history... NO is 8-1 (.889) when RB Mark Ingram has 14+ att...Pro Bowl TE Jimmy Graham had 86 catches for 1,215 yards & 16 TDs last year, 1st TE in NFL history with 1,200+ yards & 10+ TDs in 2 different seasons. His 16 TDs are 2nd most by TE in season. Had 6 100-yard games, tied for most ever in season by TE. Since 2011 (incl. playoffs), leads NFL TEs with 286 catches, 3,717 yards & 39 TDs. WR Marques Colston had 75 catches for 943 yards last year, his 7th season with 70+ catches & 900+ yards. WR Kenny Stills led NFL with 20.0 avg. (32 catches for 641 yards)... Pro Bowl DE Cameron Jordan (12.5) & LB Junior Galette (12) each set career-highs in sacks. LB Curtis Lofton led team with 125 tackles & LB David Hawthorne was 2nd on club with 89 tackles. CB Keenan Lewis led team with career-best 4 INTs...

Falcons QB Matt Ryan had 4,515 yards last year, his 3rd consecutive 4,000-yard season. Is 36-10 (.783) at home in career & 60-34 (.638) overall. Has 153 pass TDs & needs 1 to tie for franchise record... Since entering NFL in 2004, RB Steven Jackson leads league with 10,681 rush yards... WR Julio Jones is 1st in NFL history with 80+ rec. TD in each of 1st 3 seasons. Since 2007, WR Roddy White ranks 4th in NFL with 626 rec. & 8,484 rec. yards. Has 6 1,000-yard seasons in past 7 years. Last year, WR Harry Douglas set career-highs with 85 catches & 1,067 rec. yards... T JAKE MATTHEWS is 4th son with HOF father (BRUCE MATTHEWS) to be drafted in 1st round (No. 6 overall)... LB Paul Worrilow led team with 127 tackles last year. CB Desmond Trufant had team-high 17 PD in 2013 as rookie. Trufant & CB Robert Alford each had 2 INTs. S William Moore had team-high 3 INTs. Since 2010, Moore is only S in NFL with 3+ sacks (3.5) & 14+ INTs (14). DE Osi Umenyiora had team-best 7.5 sacks last season.


Results and Schedule

New Orleans Saints
Week Date Opp H/A Score Dif
1 2014-09-07 ATL A    
2 2014-09-14 CLE A    
3 2014-09-21 MIN H    
4 2014-09-28 DAL A    
5 2014-10-05 TB H    
6   Bye      
7 2014-10-19 DET A    
8 2014-10-26 GB H    
9 2014-10-30 CAR A    
10 2014-11-09 SF H    
11 2014-11-16 CIN H    
12 2014-11-24 BAL H    
13 2014-11-30 PIT A    
14 2014-12-07 CAR H    
15 2014-12-15 CHI A    
16 2014-12-21 ATL H    
17 2014-12-28 TB A    
   

Atlanta Falcons
Week Date Opp H/A Score Dif
1 2014-09-07 NO H    
2 2014-09-14 CIN A    
3 2014-09-18 TB H    
4 2014-09-28 MIN A    
5 2014-10-05 NYG A    
6 2014-10-12 CHI H    
7 2014-10-19 BAL A    
8 2014-10-26 DET H    
9   Bye      
10 2014-11-09 TB A    
11 2014-11-16 CAR A    
12 2014-11-23 CLE H    
13 2014-11-30 ARI H    
14 2014-12-08 GB A    
15 2014-12-14 PIT H    
16 2014-12-21 NO A    
17 2014-12-28 CAR H    

Injury Report

New Orleans Saints
Out  CB Champ Bailey (foot)
Doubtful  FS Jairus Byrd (foot)
 WR Kenny Stills (other-excused)
Questionable  DE Glenn Foster (ankle)
Probable  RB Travaris Cadet (foot)
 WR Marques Colston (foot)
 OLB Junior Galette (hamstring)
 ILB Kevin Reddick (shoulder)
 WR Nick Toon (chest)
IR  ILB Khairi Fortt (undisclosed, 9/3/2014)
 WR Joe Morgan (knee, 8/27/2013)
PUP  OLB Victor Butler (knee)
   

Atlanta Falcons
Probable  K Matt Bryant (back)
 DT Corey Peters (achilles-tendon)
 SS Dezmen Southward (concussion)
 WR Roddy White (knee)
IR  QB Sean Renfree (undisclosed, 8/30/2013)
 OLB Marquis Spruill (knee, 8/24/2014)
PUP  WR Drew Davis (foot)
 SS Zeke Motta (neck)

Offense Stats Comparison

  NO
 Offense 		 ATL
 Offense 		 NFL
 Avg. 		  Adv. 
Points for 19.3 23.0 23.4 ATL
Rushing yards 82.8 77.8 116.8 NO
Rushing yards per attempt 3.60 3.79 4.26 ATL
Completion % 69.0% 69.6% 61.2% ATL
Passing yards 296.0 242.3 228.9 NO
Passing yards per completion 10.05 8.72 10.71 NO
Passing yards per attempt 6.93 6.07 6.56 NO
Interceptions 0.5 0.8 1.0 NO
Fumbles lost 0.3 0.8 0.6 NO
Sacks allowed 2.0 3.8 2.4 NO
3rd down conversions 43.0% 47.7% 38.3% ATL
4th down conversions 50.0% 50.0% 50.5% -
Time of possession 30:05 33:02 30:22 ATL
  Defense Stats Comparison

  NO
 Defense 		 ATL
 Defense 		 NFL
 Avg. 		  Adv. 
Points against 18.5 25.0 23.4 NO
Rushing yards 106.8 136.0 116.8 NO
Rushing yards per attempt 4.22 5.01 4.26 NO
Completion % 65.8% 64.2% 61.2% ATL
Passing yards 194.5 220.8 228.9 NO
Passing yards per completion 9.68 11.52 10.71 NO
Passing yards per attempt 6.37 7.39 6.56 NO
INT return 0.3 0.5 1.0 ATL
Fumble recoveries 0.0 1.0 0.6 ATL
Sacks 3.0 1.5 2.4 NO
3rd down conversions 37.7% 46.8% 38.3% NO
4th down conversions 50.0% 0.0% 50.5% ATL
Time of possession 29:55 26:58 30:22 ATL

Special Teams Stats Comparison

   NO   ATL  NFL
 Avg. 		  Adv. 
Yards per punt return 5.2 9.6 9.5 ATL
Yards per kick return 19.9 23.1 23.1 ATL
Yards allowed per punt return 8.6 7.6 9.5 ATL
Yards allowed per kick return 25.1 25.6 23.1 NO
  Misc Stats Comparison

   NO   ATL  NFL
 Avg. 		  Adv. 
Penalties 6.3 5.0 5.9 ATL
Penalty yards 60.0 47.8 50.2 ATL

Note: Team statistics are shown as the average per game through Weeks 12 to 17 of the 2013 season after deducting the best and worst value from the data set. The exception is yards per rush attempt, completion %, yards per pass completion, yards per pass attempt, 3rd and 4th down conversions, special teams and the NFL averages, which are each calculated based on totals through Weeks 12 to 17 with no adjustment.

Weather

Dome Stadium

Team vs. Team History

New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons
 Season   Week   Date   Vis   Home   Score   Winner 
2000 8 2000-10-22 NO ATL 21-19 NO
2000 16 2000-12-17 ATL NO 7-23 NO
2001 6 2001-10-21 ATL NO 20-13 ATL
2001 13 2001-12-09 NO ATL 28-10 NO
2002 8 2002-10-27 ATL NO 37-35 ATL
2002 11 2002-11-17 NO ATL 17-24 ATL
2003 7 2003-10-19 NO ATL 45-17 NO
2003 11 2003-11-16 ATL NO 20-23 NO
2004 12 2004-11-28 NO ATL 21-24 ATL
2004 16 2004-12-26 ATL NO 13-26 NO
2005 6 2005-10-16 ATL NO 34-31 ATL
2005 14 2005-12-12 NO ATL 17-36 ATL
2006 3 2006-09-25 ATL NO 3-23 NO
2006 12 2006-11-26 NO ATL 31-13 NO
2007 7 2007-10-21 ATL NO 16-22 NO
2007 14 2007-12-10 NO ATL 34-14 NO
2008 10 2008-11-09 NO ATL 20-34 ATL
2008 14 2008-12-07 ATL NO 25-29 NO
2009 8 2009-11-02 ATL NO 27-35 NO
2009 14 2009-12-13 NO ATL 26-23 NO
2010 3 2010-09-26 ATL NO 27-24 ATL
2010 16 2010-12-27 NO ATL 17-14 NO
2011 10 2011-11-13 NO ATL 26-23 NO
2011 16 2011-12-26 ATL NO 16-45 NO
2012 10 2012-11-11 ATL NO 27-31 NO
2012 13 2012-11-29 NO ATL 13-23 ATL
2013 1 2013-09-08 ATL NO 17-23 NO
2013 12 2013-11-21 NO ATL 17-13 NO

Note: Only playoff games from the 2004 to 2010 seasons are included in the team vs. team history. Playoff games from seasons prior to 2004 are not currently included in the database.