Falcons at Saints: 3 things we learned
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints, 45-32 on Monday Night Football. Here are the three biggest takeaways from this NFC South rivalry game.
The Atlanta Falcons move to 2-1 on the year by defeating the New Orleans Saints, 45-32 on Monday Night Football in Week 3. Atlanta is in sole possession of first place in the NFC South. New Orleans is one of only four winless teams through the first three weeks of the 2016 NFL season.
This was Atlanta’s first NFC South win of the season and only the second for head coach Dan Quinn in eight tries over the last two years. An 0-3 hole this early might signify the beginning of the end for the Drew Brees/Sean Payton era of the Saints. A rebuild has to be coming to the Big Easy.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from this NFC South rivalry game on Monday Night Football:
1. We got the shootout we all expect in the Big Easy
Many expected a high-scoring affair on Monday night between the Falcons and Saints. Las Vegas had the over/under set at 54 points. Both teams eclipsed that threshold before the end of the third quarter.
Monday Night Football got a shootout in a huge rivalry game. One would think this would be excellent for ratings. Well, Hillary and Donald Trumped this with their first presidential debate simulcast on nine television networks.
However, the folks who tuned in for some NFC South football got themselves an outstanding shootout in the Big Easy. Both teams combined to score 77 points on Monday Night Football. This NFC South rivalry never fails to disappoint.
2. The Falcons have the best offense in football
Through the first three weeks of the 2016 NFL season, the Falcons have scored more points than anyone. They have 104 points on the season and look like they have the very best offense in football. The next closest team is the surprising 3-0 Philadelphia Eagles, with 92 combined points through three weeks.
Atlanta has its issues on defense to say the very least, but the Falcons can for now lean on its Kyle Shanahan West Coast offense. Quarterback Matt Ryan looks infinitely better under center in his second year in the offense. Adding Alex Mack at starting center has given Atlanta one of the best offensive lines in football.
Julio Jones wasn’t much of a factor in this game. That didn’t really matter, as Atlanta dominated the Saints in the running game. Tevin Coleman had three rushing touchdowns. Devonta Freeman had over 100 yards rushing. Atlanta isn’t a complete team, but has the best offense in the NFL.
3. This is the same sorry Saints defense
It’s more of the same with the putrid Saints defense. This team isn’t going anywhere if it gives up 45 points to a team it knows really well at home. It’s a shame to see Brees exit his prime with a defense this bad backing him up.
The Saints are in a salary cap nightmare with so much dead money tied up in players no longer on the roster. It makes it difficult for head coach Sean Payton to have anything close to a respectable defense to complement Brees in his final years with the Saints.
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New Orleans is delaying an inevitable rebuilding process. The offense is still interesting, but it needs to revamp one of the worst defenses in football. Though the Saints only gave up 16 points on the road in Week 2 to the New York Giants, 45 points is still closer to what their weekly average might look like than something in the teens.