Saints go for historic win against Falcons

NEW ORLEANS -- Rarely in 43 seasons have the Atlanta Falcons tasted success.

Eleven.

That’s the number of winning seasons for New Orleans’ oldest rivals.

But there’s one fact that’s even more staggering – Atlanta has never had back-to-back winning seasons.

Tonight on Monday Night Football, the Falcons will take one step closer to fixing that or will move one step nearer another horrible follow-up.

And the undefeated New Orleans Saints are the ones standing in the way, the same Saints team trying to get to 7-0 for the second time in franchise history.

“They’re a very good football team,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. “We traded shots with them last year, home and home, and the fact is I think they are a team that has really started to build something. They play with a lot of confidence; they have a great core group of players that they kind of fill around.”

The Falcons finished 2008 with a final tally of 11-5, splitting two games with the Saints on their way to playoffs for the first time since 20004. Thus far into 2009, Atlanta has broken to a 4-2 start.

New Orleans is sitting on a two-game lead over Atlanta in the NFC South and a win tonight would put the Saints in possession of a three-game lead. But a loss gives the Falcons life, setting Atlanta only a game back.

Mike Smith is Atlanta’s second-year coach. Matt Ryan is his second-year quarterback. And together, they’ve never lost two games in a row.

A week ago, the Falcons fell to Dallas 37-21.

But Smith and Ryan aren’t interested in history. Instead, they’re looking at the current state of the franchise. Smith said he didn’t know the fact about Atlanta never having back-to-back winning seasons until local media brought it up to him at the end of his first year.

“When we got here, our mindset was going to be that we were going to change the culture not only in the locker room but in the entire building,” Smith said. “I think that’s something that we have done and something that we are continuing to do.”

“I think Coach Smith has set that tone,” Ryan said. “I can’t speak on anything before, but since I’ve been there, the culture throughout the locker room and the organization has been that we expect to win.”

Ryan has a lot to do with that.

“I think that in this league, your quarterback play is very important,” Smith said. “I think that Matt has continued to play like he did in his first year here, but it’s a team game.”

But it’s not going to be all sunshine and cake for Ryan against the Saints. New Orleans leads the NFL in takeaways, including 13 interceptions. And free safety Darren Sharper leads the NFL with six interceptions, including three pick-sixes.

The New Orleans defense is the No. 11 unit in the NFL, but it ranks No. 8 in passing net yards per play. Additionally, the Saints’ defense is No. 8 in rushing yards per game.

Stopping Michael Turner, then, will be key for New Orleans. Turner helped the Falcons into the top three in the NFL in 2008 in rushing and so far in 2009, has a team-high 403 yards and seven touchdowns on 118 carries.

Limiting the running game puts the ball in Ryan’s hands and in the past two games, Ryan has cooled off, combining for four interceptions and a 67 passer rating.

Don’t let that fool you, Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said.

“He’s one of those guys that grasp what they’re doing pretty quickly,” Payton said. “To their credit, they’ve done a good job with balance there, just like you’ve been able to see week to week, he’s very good with his play faking. He locates the ball well and he’s an excellent quarterback. He doesn't look like a second year player.

“He didn’t look like a first year player last year.”