Players adapting to sudden change on the field is one thing; offense or defense hops into action after a turnover and they play on.
Sunday, the New Orleans Saints (2-7) will see how well they adapt to sudden change off the field when they face Atlanta (6-3) at noon in the Caesars Superdome.
Darren Rizzi was named interim head coach Monday after head coach Dennis Allen was relieved of his duties, only the second time in franchise history that a coach was dismissed during the season.
But the Saints appeared to adjust well during the week; they now will see if the adrenaline, enthusiasm and changes will result in a change on the field for a team that has lost seven straight games.
1. LEMONADE
Can New Orleans make the best of a tumultuous situation? The fact is, the Saints remain an injury-ravaged team. Receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, center Erik McCoy and cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and cornerback Marshon Lattimore – all Game 1 starters – won't play Sunday (the first four due to injury, Lattimore was traded). The "next man up" theory has been stretched beyond its bounds this season. However, they're playing the NFC South Division leaders, a franchise for whom there is no love lost, with the memory of having gift-wrapped the Falcons a victory in Atlanta earlier this season. The latter must be used for fuel, and the Saints have to get the home crowd on their side.
2. MAKE AK'S DAY
Alvin Kamara is 12 yards short of becoming the all-time leading rusher in Saints history and while the Falcons historically have been stingy with him, New Orleans absolutely needs to get Kamara the record early for a couple of reasons. It'll be great for the fans; it'll be great for Kamara; and, hopefully, it'll be an adrenaline boost for a team that needs all the advantages it can muster. Atlanta allows 133 rushing yards per game, so the expectation is that Kamara should break the record. From there, the Saints possibly can ride the momentum.
3. UNLOCK PASSING GAME
What isn't working in Kamara's favor is the fact that the Saints are depleted at receiver. Without Olave and Shaheed – and add rookie Bub Means to the mix; he's on injured reserve – where will the passing game production come from? Atlanta will need a reason to not stack the box against the run. Tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau should factor in, as well as Kamara, who is averaging five catches per game. Saints quarterback Derek Carr and the offensive line will have this working in their favor: Atlanta has a league-low nine sacks. If Carr has time, hopefully a receiving corps with which he has few game reps can rise to the occasion.
4. CORNERED
Speaking of depletion, the Saints' secondary will line up with Alontae Taylor and Shemar Jean-Charles starting at cornerback, with Ugo Amadi in the slot (Kool-Aid McKinstry sits with a hamstring injury). They, and safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Jordan Howden, will be tested to the extreme by Atlanta; quarterback Kirk Cousins is on a heater (1,464 passing yards,13 touchdowns and three interceptions in the last five games, leading the Falcons to a 4-1 record in the five games since they played New Orleans in Atlanta) and former Tulane standout Darnell Moody (team-leading 588 receiving yards, with five touchdown catches) leads a productive, talented group of targets. The Saints haven't been affecting opposing quarterbacks enough with the pass rush (five sacks in the last four games), and that area is essential to help the secondary.
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