A look at how the Falcons’ passing attack matches up against the Saints’ pass defense:
Falcons’ starters
Quarterback Matt Ryan, tight end Tony Gonzalez, wide receiver Roddy White and Julio Jones.
Falcons’ key reserves
Wide receiver Harry Douglas, running backs Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling.
Saints’ starters
Left cornerback Jabari Greer, right cornerback Tracy Porter, strong safety Roman Harper, free safety Malcolm Jenkins.
Saints’ key reserves
Cornerback Patrick Robinson, cornerback Leigh Torrence and safety Jonathan Amaya.
Matchup to watch:
Harper and Gonzalez
This is an even matchup statistically.
The Falcons have averaged 228.1 yards passing, 17th in the NFL. The Saints have allowed 228.4 yards passing per game, which is 14th in the league.
Last season in the Falcons’ 27-24 victory in overtime, Gonzalez was a force. He caught eight passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. In the teams’ second game, the Saints held him in check and won 17-14. In that game, Gonzalez caught just two passes for 12 yards.
The Saints’ pass defense will focus on taking White out of the game. Last season, they held him to five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in the first game and three catches for 43 yards and one touchdown in the second game.
With the play of Jones, who has a string of three consecutive 100-yard games, the Saints must decide to either double the outside receivers and leave Gonzalez free in the middle of the field or leave either White or Jones in single coverage.
The Saints could be down two cornerbacks. Porter (chest/neck) and Robinson (stomach) missed practice time. Porter is probable, while Robinson is questionable. If they can’t play, Torrence, a former Falcon who played at Marist, likely would get more action.
The Saints’ safeties, Harper and Jenkins, are the top two tacklers on the team, with 63 and 59 tackles.
“I think one of the things when you watch them on film, they have something new week-to-week,” Ryan said. “They’ll have something different for you that you haven’t prepared for.”
The Falcons expect the Saints to do their usual share of blitzing.
“On the defensive side, there’s been one constant since [Saints defensive coordinator] Gregg Williams has been there and that is they’re going to pressure you,” Ryan said.
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