In a huge NFC South battle, the Atlanta Falcons will host the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football. This is the first game of the Week 14 schedule. The New Orleans Saints are coming into the game fresh off a win over the Carolina Panthers. The Saints are now 9-3 on the season, and hold a 4-2 record on the road. The Saints are a game ahead of the Carolina Panthers in the divisional standings.
For the Atlanta Falcons, they are 7-5 on the season. The Falcons had a three game winning streak going, until they got beat last week at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings. The Falcons are trailing the Panthers and Seattle Seahawks by a game for the final wildcard out of the NFC. The New Orleans Saints are -2 at MyBookie in this National Football League battle on Thursday.
Falcons Looking for Spark
The Atlanta Falcons will need to find their consistent offense, and find it quickly. The Falcons scored 95 points in three games and won all three of them over the Cowboys, Seahawks and Buccaneers. Then, when they hosted Minnesota in Week 13 – they scored just 9 points. The Falcons on the season are scoring 22.8 points per game. The Atlanta defense is allowing 20.3 points per game.
Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are a connection that needs to lead the Atlanta offense. Ryan has tossed for more than 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, but Jones, the top receiver on the team just has 2 of them. Devonta Freeman came back in the loss to the Vikings, and was fairly ineffective following his concussion.
Saints Seeking 10th Win
The New Orleans Saints, led by head coach Sean Payton are the surprise in the NFL. The Saints lost their first two games of the season at the Vikings and to the Patriots, and then in Week 12 to the Los Angeles Rams. The Saints have won their other 9 games on the season.
New Orleans is scoring more than 29 points per game. That ranks 3rd in the National Football League. Drew Brees has tossed for more than 3,200 yards and 17 touchdowns. The top target for the Saints has been Michael Thomas. Thomas needs just 125 yards to reach 1,000 on the season. Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara have been elite as the running back combination, and Ingram needs just 78 yards to reach 1,000.
Falcons Edge Saints
This should be a great game in the National Football League. These two teams play twice in three weeks, as they will head to New Orleans in Week 16. The Falcons know they can control their own destiny, but cannot afford a slip up. A loss at home here would pretty much end the Falcons chances at the divisional title.
Look for the Atlanta offense to get going, and beat up on the New Orleans secondary. A short week is not a good thing for young, beat up defenders. The Thursday Night Football game is going to go towards the home team. Bet on the Atlanta Falcons +2 over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football at MyBookie.
