It’s not elite, but good enough to get the job done, since the offense has been able to compliment their play. And while I expect that to continue this week there is only so much Newton can do to cover up a bad passing game and a below average ground attack. Moving on to the Atlanta defense, there are certain areas where it measures up well against the Saints. There is no reason why No. 9 can’t do the same thing. “Man, I’m telling you, the way he finishes, there’s a little bit of violence in how he plays in a good way”.
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Let’s move on to the Saints’ defense. If they do come away victorious it will be due to the correction of several items on their grocery list of faults above. However, that changed as the game went along.
Atlanta has trailed in the fourth quarter against all four mediocre NFC East teams and the defense is giving up a middling 22.4 points per game. This is where the offense needs to step in. The difference maker in this game is going to be Brandon Marshall and the Jets secondary. “They are playing pretty well right now”, Brees said. It’s becoming a reoccurring theme every week. “They just won’t stop backing off and competing”.
If this defense is not careful, a potent Atlanta offense will have it reeling all game. The only thing is that Denver has built a better team around Manning with the offense and the defense.
Matt Ryan looks to shake off a poor performance against the Redskins. Jones already has 43 receptions for 545 yards and four TDs. Sunday’s beat down from the Philadelphia Eagles says it all – the Black and Gold aren’t ready to be great again. “He’s comfortable over the tight end, or tackle or standing up”, Quinn said. Soon, though, the Saints should have their full slate of players available, and Vaccaro will have the stabilized view he craves.
Texans @ Jaguars: JJ Watt will have his best day of the season as he gets after the Jaguars offensive line gathering up a total of three sacks and a forced fumble. His practice time with Ryan has been minimal. So far the Saints have only seven sacks. But the big con in this matchup is that Jones and Hankerson are playing on three days rest.
But football was his way out, earning Freeman a scholarship to Florida State.
New Orleans has allowed 679 rushing yards so far this season, second worst in the league.
Freeman is coming off a monster game on Sunday against Washington when he rushed 27 times for 153 yards and a touchdown. This guy is explosive and can hit a home run at any time.
The Saints do not have any swag factor this year, and as much as I am tempted to pick them in an upset this week because they are home vs. a division rival, I just can not do it. New Orleans’ biggest deficiencies lay up front on both sides of the ball and that is a recipe for failure in the game of football. The Black and Gold will have to be gap sound with this guy. He played in two games with the Saints with whom he played from 2012-14. It comes down to the basics for the Black and Gold: blocking, running, throwing, catching, tackling, kicking, punting and scoring.
A cliche used across sports is “you are what your record is”. The Cardinals on the other hand look like one of the best teams in the NFC and while I think they are I like the way that the Steelers match up against this team.
That’s a long way from happening, especially when you consider that team won 11 games and added a victory in the playoffs. However, the team is getting enough production out of such wideouts as Ted Ginn and Brenton Bersin to stay relevant through the air.
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Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) carries the ball as New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) and inside linebacker David Hawthorne (57) defend during the second quater at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Colts started the year with a few blunders, but they look to finally be putting it together.
