Gus Kattengell’s Saints Report: Falclowns Game

Well it's time for THE Rivalry to renew as the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons do battle Sunday. All week Saints players and coaches expressed not only what the game means in terms of their goal of winning the NFC South, but what it means to Saints fans.

Cornerback Leigh Torrance is one of those players that knows Atlanta is not just another game...

Torrance could see a lot more action with the secondary issues the Saints have this week. Tracy Porter is coming back from a trip to the hospital due to a hit back on Sunday, has practiced on a limited basis. Corner Patrick Robinson is suffering from a stomach ailment, non football related. Head Coach Sean Payton saying earlier this week the team thought it could have been appendicitis, but tests came back negative.

Linebacker Jonathan Casillas is another players who tells us what its like to face the Dirty Birds...

Saints quarterback Drew Brees also giving his take this week on what he feels will be another tough battle against a team standing in the Black and Gold's way of a division championship...

One big topic on the defensive side of the ball this week in the locker room is new Falcon receiver Julio Jones. Jones has a break out game last week in Seattle with three catches for a 131 yards. Saints safety Maclolm Jenkins knows, a reason Atlanta paid a hefty price draft day to acquire Jones, was for games like this...

One key for sure is being able to pressure and make it a rough Sunday for Falcons QB Matt Ryan. Saints linebacker Jo-Lunn Dunbar says that's not an easy task...

The Saints inconsistency scares me a bit in this game. Atlanta has won three in a row and yes the Saints played big boy ball last Sunday against Tampa Bay. In order to play big boy ball, however, they needed extra motivation that week from the staff (the BAT GAME). Atlanta is good at home, have their running game going (we know how good the Saints are at stopping running backs), Tony Gonzalez is a match-up nightmare for the Saints secondary (probably hasn't slept all week cause he can't wait to lineup against LB Scott Shanle), and Julio Jones could have an impact play or two against a beat up Saints secondary. I'm going 27-23 Atlanta, putting the Saints 6-4 heading into next week's bye.

Reminder, you can catch the action here on 97.3 The Dawg. Pregame is 10am with kick-off at noon followed by your calls and comments after the big game.

Filed Under: atlanta falcons, drew brees, gus kattengell, jo-lunn dunbar, jonathan casillas, leigh torrance, New Orleans Saints, patrick robinson, saints report

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