TNF New Orleans @ Atlanta

66-63

I don't understand all the NO love.  In my opinion, this mainly has to do with people not believing in ATL...the perception is that they are not as good as their 10-1 record.  I'd be the first to admit, I don't believe they are as good as their record.  ATL has played a poor strength of schedule, yet have had quite a few close calls....to their credit they have managed to win.   On the flip side, NO has played 8 common opponents,not including each other, but haven't been able to sustain the same level of success as ATL.  However, NO doesn't receive the same criticism because they are not winning.  ATL gets bashed because they happen to be tied for the best record in the NFL with essentially the same schedule NO has played.  Due to this record, their EXPECTATIONS are much greater and people expect much more our of ATL. A 10-1 team shouldn't just get by and get they "W", they should dominate and win convincingly.  ATL may not be good enough to dominate and win convincingly, but bottom line is they win.

Some concerns:
NO has owned ATL in this match up.  Can ATL finally get over the hump?  Now is an opportune time if they do.  We know Matty Ice is money at home and this is a chance to avenge a loss and clinch the NFC South.  ATL and their fans should be highly motivated.

Injuries at CB to Robinson and Samuels.  Robinson has been upgraded and Samuels will be a game time decision.  NO also comes into this matchup banged up.

With all this said, I'm going to take a stab with ATL.

Atlanta -3.5

Good luck all

i find the falcons and saints both getting love in the forum... matty ice is indeed super in the georgia dome....but is 2-6 SU against the saints in his career. cal, i have a thread on this game and put some info into the post. i would appreciate you looking at it and commenting, since you and i are on opposite sides of this game.  good luck to you the rest of the week.. i bought the hook and have saints at +4...

GL Cal

You're making a lot of sense Cal.

with ya 

BOL bud

I'll take ATL D over NO D (pun intended)

every TIME!

Weatherspoon is back for this game so they Saints will not be able to run all over the Falcons again. The defense will also not miss a million tackles like last game.

BOL Cal bear

Big time!!

Good luck Bud

certainly agree with Calbear's view on ATL public perception. in addition, i find it pretty odd that the line hasn't move since it opened. 8/11 sites has it glued at 3 and half while other 3 site @ 3. so what does that say about the game? like it was mentioned, public doesn't believe ATL is a 10-1 team. more so, playing against a rival that has owned then for 6years. ATL actually is an underdog to the given spread of 3 and half; because of their struggle to close out tight margin games vs inferior teams. as for the saints, their lost to 49ers was not an embarrassment by far. if not for colin K. i don't think smith of 49ers could rally by double digits vs saint. i do expect saints to employ more early run option plays vs ATL tonight. as for the Falcons, improvement on redzone. the Falcons has so many weapons at their disposal and if their is a time for them to inch the cap between their rival its now with joe vitt coaching. 

The U/o is the highest of the season and has been much of saints games. for the saints tonight, pass protection gonna be a problem because of the absent of a particular off line Harris due to broken leg.they recently signed will robinson for the position. 

GL Cal...

....ur writeup convinces me......

Good luck CB!

GL BRUH

I beleve the biggest key to this game is ATL making adjustments and utilizing a 1-2 punch running game with the 'Quizz and Turner Burner. Quizz has actually been on for 61-56 snaps over Turner L2W. Tonite he could be a very versatile tool incl. catches out of the backfield.

Last game they played into Brees hands via a shootout and left Bree on the field far too often. If they employ their running game and esp. if they stop NO's more effectively this time which they will ( Ivory ran amok on them last match) they will shake that NO domination monkey off their back and  get the "W", the cover and a clinch w/ a TB loss this week.

Brees and Co. aren't here to play spoiler. LW's loss took a ton of wind out of their playoff potential sails esp. considering the physicality of the game and now you have a short week to travel cross-country.  The public is all over the dog here and I like ATL by 7.

Every Thursday nite game ( T-DAYS games exl.) has seen the under but ONE and the home team has also covered virtually every one. One game a year between these two gets real physical and it may be this one.

Enjoy the game ( one of our best TNF fer sure)

ATL 30-23 (28-21)

BOL calbear

On it.  BOL bud

GL CalBear 

ATL. Count that 

Duante Robinson is complete garbage in my opinion. I just felt like expressing that to everyone.