Matt Ryan has seen a lot of Drew Brees in his seven seasons in the NFL.
The Falcons quarterback has reviewed film of his Saints counterpart, along with other top signal callers in the league, over the course of his career. He’s even stole some elements of the Saints offensive scheme. Ryan has also been a part of 12 head-to-head matchups with Brees in one of the NFL’s top rivalries.
Brees has held a significant advantage there. If Ryan is to one day take the torch from Brees as the top quarterback in the NFC South, it won’t come easy. Brees still holds a firm grasp on that title.
The Falcons (5-9) and Saints (6-8) meet Sunday with the division title and a playoff berth on the line – despite such ugly sub-.500 records. The Falcons need wins over the Saints and the Panthers in their final games to earn a postseason berth. A loss in either game means an unceremonious end to a disappointing season. Yet, hope still abounds.
The task of going to New Orleans to keep the season alive is tall. Brees has won 7 of 8 games with a 103.8 quarterback rating against the Falcons in the Super Dome.
During his Saints career, Brees is 13-4 against the Falcons. He has completed 441 of 657 passes (67.1 percent) for 5,246 yards with 34 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
During his career, Ryan is 4-8 against the Saints. He has completed 294 of 466 passes (63.1 percent) for 3,572 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has also ran for a score.
“Drew Brees has been a great player for a long time and certainly a guy everybody in the league turns on their tape to see the kind of production that he has been put forward and that offense has put forward since he’s been in New Orleans,” Ryan said Wednesday. “He is a great competitor. He is as good as anybody of making plays when they present themselves.”
Brees has thrown for 4,358 yards this season, his NFL-record ninth consecutive 4,000-yard season. Since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees leads the NFL with 43,091 yards and 314 touchdowns.
The Saints have lost four straight games at home, a fact that seemed impossible not long ago. They pushed their way past the Falcons for first place in the division with a victory at the Bears Monday night. Brees threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-15 victory. The Falcons are coming off Sunday’s 27-20 home loss to the Steelers.
“I think Matt is an exceptional player,” Brees said earlier this season. “I think he belongs in the elite category in this league. He’s been extremely consistent and has played at a very high level ever since he’s been there.”
Ryan does own the last victory in the matchup as the Falcons opened the season with a 37-34 win over the Saints at the Georgia Dome. It is their edge in the playoff hunt.
When it comes to passing the torch, it comes down to success in the playoffs. That’s what really matters. Brees holds that advantage too.
The Saints have won the division three times and were a wild card twice. They have a 6-4 postseason record that includes three wins in 2009 that culminated in a Super Bowl XLIV championship.
Under Ryan, the Falcons have won the division twice and were a wild card twice. However, they have a 1-4 postseason mark, including the loss in the 2012 NFC Championship game.
Sunday’s matchup is essentially a playoff game. The Falcons need a win or their season is down to one meaningless game. If Ryan is going to wrest that torch from Brees, this game would be a good place to start.
“We are at the point of the season where we know where we are at, we know what we have to do, and we have to prepare the best we can,” Ryan said. “Ultimately, we have to find a way to win Sunday.”
About the Author
