The Saints have hit the magical 6-0 mark for only the second time in franchise history. One more win ties the club-best start from 1991. New Orleans has won games by 18, 26, 20, 14, 21 and 12 points, or an 18.5 point per game average.
It’s All History
Atlanta is New Orleans’ most common opponent and it hasn’t quite gone the Saints way.
The Saints trail in the series 35-44, but New Orleans does own a 6-4 record in the past 10 games against Atlanta.
This will be the third Monday night affair between the Saints and Falcons and I don’t think I have to remind you what happened the last time. But, in case you were wondering, the Saints won 23-3 in the return to the Superdome following Katrina.
The series is tied 16-16 in games played at the Superdome.
New Orleans’ largest margin of victory is 38 points, coming in a 38-0 shutout in Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium on Nov. 1, 1987. The Saints biggest loss came 36 years ago when the Falcons won by 55 (62-7 in 1973 at Tulane Stadium).
The longest win streak in the series is 10 for Atlanta while New Orleans’ longest streak is six.
The most points scored by New Orleans is 45 (2003) while the fewest is 0 (twice, 1982 being the last time).
The most points by the Falcons is 62 (1973) while Atlanta has been shut out two times (1987 being the last time).
We Love the Falcons
Why wouldn’t this group of Saints love playing the Falcons? The current crop of New Orleanians have put together some fairly stellar career stats against Atlanta.
- QB Drew Brees has a 95.9 career passer rating with 11 touchdowns and only four interceptions in six games as a Saint.
- RB Reggie Bush has 296 total yards against the Falcons in four games. He also has one touchdown.
- DE Charles Grant has had some standout games against Atlanta. He had a sack and five tackles in one game, a sack and six tackles in another and on Nov. 24, 2004, he had an interception and nine tackles.
- DE Will Smith has six sacks and three forced fumbles in 10 games against Atlanta.
Team Records Being Approached
If you haven’t figured it out, this Saints team is kind of special. Players are beginning to approach all-time franchise records
Some players are beginning to approach franchise marks.
Drew Brees is 19 touchdown passes short of the franchise mark. Aaron Brooks has that one with 120 and Archie Manning has 115.
Courtney Roby is a yard short of sitting atop the list for highest return average. He is at 25.4 yards on 34 returns while Walt Roberts finished his one-year career in New Orleans with a 26.3 average on 28 returns.
Reggie Bush’s four returns on punts and kickoffs are one shy of Tyrone Hughes’ five.
Darren Sharper, with six interceptions, is four off the career interceptions in a season mark set by Dave Whitsell in 1967. And with 317 return yards, he has already set a record.
Sharper isn’t done, though. He’s also one pick-six short of tying Sammy Knight’s career -record of four.
Thievery At Its Best
In 2008, the Saints were minus-four in turnover differential. A year later, they’re plus-eight, good for third in the NFL behind Green Bay (plus-10) and New England (plus-nine).
Additionally, the Saints have 18 takeaways, which leads the league. New Orleans also is tops in the NFL with 13 interceptions. But with 10 turnovers – five interceptions and fumbles apiece.
3's Company (third-down analysis)
82 plays overall of which 19 were runs and 63 were passes. They have averaged 4.05 yards per run and 7.89 yards per pass play.
- Third-and-short (1-2 yards) - 8 runs, 7 first downs; 10 passes, 3 first downs
- Third-and-(3-5) - 3 run, 1 first down; 15 passes, 11 first downs
- Third-and-(6-10) - 1 runs, 0 first downs; 22 passes, 10 first downs
- Third-and-(11-15) - 5 run, 0 first downs; 10 passes, 3 first downs
- Third-and-(16-plus) - 0 runs, 0 first downs; 6 passes, 1 first downs.
The thing that stands out is when comparing third-downs from a week ago, New Orleans had 15 third downs and didn’t run once. The Saints went 5-for-15, all passes.
