FLOWERY BRANCH -- After giving up 203 yards rushing to the Panthers, the Falcons dropped to 26th in the NFL (125.1 yards per game) in run defense.
The Falcons’ run defense will be on the hot seat against the Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The Saints’ rushing attack, which is led by running back Alvin Kamara (Norcross High/ Alabama and Tennessee), averaged 125 yards per game (ninth) in the league. Also, the Saints added Mark Ingram in a trade with Houston. He rushed six times for 52 yards against Tampa Bay.
Overall, the Saints rushed for 152 yards on 32 carries against the Bucs.
The Falcons can expect a steady diet of Kamara and Ingram heading into this matchup.
“It’s the National Football League,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “We got prideful guys. I mean, you got to give them credit. It won’t be the same. If it looks the same, you get the same result.”
It must be noted that Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold rushed for 66 yards on scrambles against the Falcons.
“You certainly you can tweak things,” Smith said. “Some of the things you want to, the way you want to play certain combinations maybe schematically, won’t change anything up. You can certainly change things up personnel. So, all options are on the table.”
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Falcons’ 2021 schedule features trip to London, January trip to Buffalo
Atlanta Falcons Schedule
Bye Week
Next Four Games
Falcons at Saints, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7
Falcons at Cowboys, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14
Patriots at Falcons, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18
Falcons at Jacksonville, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 28
