The Saints revival this season has been powered by running backs Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara, who played at Norcross High before going to Alabama and Tennessee.
He was The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 2012 high school player of the year.
Both were named to the Pro Bowl and became the first backs from the same team to make it since Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott for Tampa Bay in 2000. The Saints became the first to send two running backs – Alstott was a fullback – since Jim Otis and Terry Metcalf for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975.
Ingram has rushed for 1,045 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Kamara has added 652 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
Both have been major factors in the passing attack as well.
Ingram has 51 catches for 375 yards, while Kamara has 68 catches for 684 yards and five touchdowns.
Combined, they have a whopping 2,756 total yards from scrimmage and 23 touchdowns.
“For years, I’ve felt they’re at their best, much like us, when the run game is going,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said.
In the previous meeting on Dec. 7, Kamara suffered a concussion and left the game early. With Kamara out, the Falcons held the Saints to a season-low 50 yards rushing.
“There are just some games where it sometimes just gets out of whack and you don’t know why,” Quinn said. “You don’t have enough possessions. You don’t have enough time. We’ve had some games like that as well where we love to get our run game going and get all the touches we can, but they’re very equipped in the run game.”
The Saints average 10 screen passes a game and both backs are heavily involved in that part of the attack.
While Ingram and Kamara have better stats than Falcons running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, Quinn likes his backs (1,856 yards, 14 touchdowns).
“Both teams, the running backs are featured in a really significant way, so if you like good running backs this is definitely a game to have tuned-in because these four guys, they can play,” Quinn said.
