The New Orleans Saints won their first 13 games last year before going on to win the Super Bowl. They aren’t quite to 13 yet this season, but they are two steps of the way there heading into Sunday afternoon’s clash with the Falcons.
However, while the 2009 Saints mostly dominated their way to a 13-0 record, this New Orleans squad could very easily be 0-2 rather than 2-0. The Saints kicked off the season at home by winning a defensive struggle 14-9 over Minnesota in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship. In Week 2, they went on the road for a Monday night battle at San Francisco and needed a last-second field goal to edge the 49ers 25-22.
If anything has changed in New Orleans, though, at least one thing has remained the same: Drew Brees. The reigning Super Bowl MVP has completed 55 of 74 passes for 491 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception through two games. Despite no semblance of a running game so far, Brees and his 105.2 passer rating have led the Saints to an unblemished—albeit unspectacular—record.
“It’s been kind of crazy, but I think we’ve adjusted well,” Brees said in a conference call with AtlantaFalcons.com when asked about his team’s unique early-season schedule (New Orleans played on Thursday night in Week 1 prior to the Monday night tilt at San Francisco. “It’s nice to be able to get back to playing Sunday games again, kind of get back into your in-week routine and not have to adjust it.”
Added Brees, when asked about playing the Falcons: “Any team that you play in the division, the fact that you play them twice a year every year, there is a level of familiarity. I think a lot of times the games are close because of that on both sides of the ball.”
The Saints and Falcons already know a thing or two about close games this season, as three of their four combined games have been decided by 14 points; eight points if you’re only talking about regulation and take away Atlanta’s 15-9 overtime loss at Pittsburgh.
Falcons’ cornerback Dunta Robinson is not necessarily anticipating a close game, but he knows it is a huge game and is expecting a major challenge against Brees and company. “If we want to go to the top, the next step is to beat the Saints and we gotta take that next step,” Robinson said in an interview with AtlantaFalcons.com. Robinson went up against Brees—without much success—in his first career NFL game as a Houston Texan. “I have come a long way since that time. That game was a huge learning experience for me. Now I’m just trying to take my game to the next level and no better place to do it than New Orleans on Sunday. This is one of those games you circle on the schedule.”
Injuries: Just as the Falcons will be without playmaking running back Jerious Norwood (out for the year with a torn ACL), the Saints will be missing explosive running back and punt returner Reggie Bush. The former former Heisman Trophy winner (yes, you read that right) fractured a fibula against San Francisco and will be sideline for four to six weeks. Tight end Jeremy Shockey is probable for New Orleans, while running back Michael Turner is probable for Atlanta.
Recent meetings with Falcons: New Orleans has won seven of the past eight games against Atlanta dating back to the 2005 season. Although the Falcons were recently swept for a third time in the last four years, both of the 2009 contests were competitive. The Saints prevailed 35-27 last November 2 at the Georgia Dome, then edged the Falcons 26-23 at the Superdome on December 13.
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