JACKSON: Five things to know for Saints vs. Falcons

By Ross Jackson

The story of the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons is all about injuries. Each team will be without key players on their offensive lines and the Saints in particular are dealing with availability issues at other consequential positions. 

Here are five things you should know as the Saints travel to Atlanta to face a bitter rival. 

1.  Both teams are dealing with a lot of major injuries on the offensive line.

The Saints and Falcons will be without their starting centers, both of which have been moved to Injured Reserve. Atlanta will also be without starting right tackle Kaleb McGary. New Orleans will be missing its right guard Cesar Ruiz. 

This is less than ideal for both teams. (Some of my best analysis yet, I know.) Each has installed a new offensive system and trying to execute it without their offensive line’s anchor is a big test. The Saints’ defensive line will look to benefit off this. Edge defenders Chase Young and Carl Granderson have been a pair of menaces for opposing quarterbacks. They will look to further that reputation against Atlanta while the Saints offense seems to stabilize its rushing attack. 

       2. Wide receiver Chris Olave is “day-to-day” with a hamstring injury.

New Orleans had a weird week of practice. On Wednesday, wide receiver A.T. Perry popped up with a hamstring injury. Wideout Cedrick Wilson Jr. suffered an ankle injury on Thursday, and on Friday, Olave came out with a hamstring injury of his own. 

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the injury (which was initially reported by NewOrleans,Football’s Nick Underhill) has led to a “day-to-day” classification for the third-year receiver. He was listed as questionable on the team’s Friday injury report. 

       3. Linebacker Demario Davis will miss the first game of his career due to injury.

The Saints’ iron man has missed just one game due to COVID, but this will be his first time out due to injury. That is a wildly impressive feat for a 13-year veteran. 

Linebackers Pete Werner and Willie Gay Jr. will step into new roles this weekend to help navigate the uncharted territory for New Orleans. Gay Jr. laid it out plain and simple speaking with a few media members when he explained that Werner will step into Davis’ role while he steps into Werner’s. This will be an important test for the team young backers which the team desperately needs them to pass. 

        4. Do-it-all weapons Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill must play large roles in this game.

This becomes especially true if Olave is held out. Kamara and Hill can line up all along the offensive formation and contribute from just about anywhere. But even if the team has its top wideout, these two players will be relied upon heavily to get the run game going. New Orleans gained 370 rushing yards over the first two week of the season, but less than 90 in Week 3. The Saints have a tall task ahead with a beat up offensive line, but if they can pave the way to success for Kamara and Hill, the team’s ability to produce on Sunday grows exponentially. 

        5. The all-time series between these two teams is tied. 

The Saints and Falcons have met 110 times as their rivalry wages on. They are currently tied 55-55 in the series. The winner of this game, at least briefly, takes the lead. They will meet again in New Orleans for a Week 10 matchup wherein the losing team will get a chance to even things back up. Assuming there is no tie, of course.