NFL Week 1: 5 must-watch games

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Nov 21, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass under pressure in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome. The Saints won 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports /

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons

When: Sunday, Sept. 7
Time: 1:00 pm
TV Broadcast: FOX

Moving to the Sunday schedule of games, none could be as nasty or have as much impact in a division as the Falcons and Saints from the Georgia Dome. The Falcons are fresh off their appearance on HBO’s Hard Knocks, and have a wider viewing audience than ever.

If you’ve never had a taste of this southern rivalry, you should tune into this game. These two teams — and maybe even to a bigger extent, these two fan bases — don’t like each other. No, check that. They despise each other.

Look for a physical, grudge-match type game, with possible division implications on the line. In the first game of the season you say? Yes, because right now, the Saints and Falcons are probably the two teams in the best position to win the NFC South, and a head-to-head victory and division win could be huge when the final standings are determined.

New Orleans has won six of the last eight meetings with the Falcons, and has pretty much owned their Atlanta rivals during the Drew Brees-Sean Payton era – with five of those six wins being by six points or less.

It’s going to be noisy and ugly in the Georgia Dome all afternoon.

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