Following a 27-6 win vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 6, the New Orleans Saints will go on the road for the only time in the next four weeks when they face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon at the Georgia Dome with a 12:00 p.m. (CT) kickoff.
New Orleans will seek to keep the momentum they displayed against the Buccaneers, where they ran up 453 net yards, exhibiting a solid balance between the pass (258 net yards) and the run (195 net yards) At 6-3, the Saints enter Sunday's game coming off the win against Tampa Bay, keeping them in first place in the division, as they lead the 5-3 Falcons by half a game.
New Orleans will be trying to enter their week 11 bye by extending their lead in the division. The Saints jumped out to a 14-0 lead against Tampa Bay, with QB Drew Brees throwing touchdowns to WR Lance Moore and RB Darren Sproles. Tampa Bay scored a field goal in the second quarter, but some sharp clock management by Brees at the end of the half, produced a John Kasay field goal and 17-3 halftime lead.
Brees went 27 for 36 for 258 yards with two TD tosses, one interception and a 101.4 passer rating. Rookie TE Jimmy Graham continued his sophomore surge, by leading the Saints in receiving with six catches for 78 yards. The three-headed running back trio of Sproles, Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas accounted for 175 of the Saints' 195 yards on the ground.
The Falcons won their third straight contest Sunday after when they defeated Indianapolis by a 31-7 mark. QB Matt Ryan led the way, tossing three scores and finished 14 of 24 for 275 yards with one interception, while RB Michael Turner added 71 yards rushing.
DATE: Sunday, Nov. 13
TIME: Noon (CT)
SITE: The Georgia Dome
WORTH NOTING:
*The Falcons lead the all-time series 45-38...At 6-3, the Saints are currently half a game ahead of 5-3 Atlanta in the NFC South.
*Since becoming head coach of the Saints in 2006, Sean Payton has an 8-2 record against Atlanta.
*New Orleans is ranked first in the NFL in offense (ninth rushing and second passing) and 15th in defense (17th rushing and 14th passing).
*Atlanta is ranked 14th on offense (tied for 13th rushing and ranked 17th passing) and 14th on defense (seventh rushing and 19th passing)...
Team/Radio
Sunday's contest will be regionally televised on FOX (WVUE-8 in the New Orleans area) with Kenny Albert handling play-by-play, Daryl Johnston serving as color analyst and Tony Siragusa as sideline reporter.
*The game can be heard throughout the Gulf Coast on the Saints Radio Network (870 AM or 105.3 FM serve as the flagship stations locally in the New Orleans area) with Jim Henderson handling play-by-play duties, Hokie Gajan serving as color analyst and Kristian Garic reporting from the Saints sideline.
*A Spanish language broadcast is available on WFNO 830 AM with Victor Quinonez handling play-by-play duties and Marco Garcia serving as the color analyst.
