Falcons safety Dwight Lowery will play a major role in defending Saints tight end Jimmy Graham and will be on the hot seat in the Superdome on Sunday.
Graham is having another fine season. He has 73 catches for 782 yards and nine touchdowns.
In the season opener the Falcons limited Graham’s damage by sometimes bracketing him with two players. He caught 8 of 10 passes when he was targeted, for 82 yards. Lowery, with safety William Moore not likely to play, will be one of the key defenders.
While Graham was slowed in the Falcons’ 37-34 overtime win in the opener, wide receiver Marques Colston and Brandin Cooks broke loose for long-gainers of 57 yards and 32 yards. Colston nearly wrecked the Falcons with 5 catches for 110 yards, but he had a key fumble in overtime.
“Well, most good players are mismatches for some people, and it’s obviously because of their physical skill,” Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. “Jimmy is very big and has very good speed. He has good hands.”
The Falcons have also noted that the Saints believe that Graham’s blocking is no longer a liability.
“They are running more at him as well as away from him,” Nolan said. “There was a time where they ran more away from him, but currently they are running both to and away from him. So they are trusting in his blocking a little bit more.
Graham has battled a shoulder injury this season and is on pace to have the fewest receiving yards since his rookie season. He was previously selected to Pro Bowls in 2011 and 2013.
“But obviously, his biggest strength is in the passing game,” Nolan said. “He’s a real big target for the quarterback.”
Graham was behind only New England tight end Rob Gronkowski among tight ends in the fan portion of the Pro Bowl.
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