Here are three key matchups for when the Saints (1-1) face the Falcons (1-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium:
Saints LDE Cam Jordan vs. Falcons RT Ryan Schraeder Matthews: In the last meeting, a Saints 23-13 victory on Dec. 24, Jordan moved around the line and had two sacks, two tackles for losses and four quarterback hits. He has two sacks on the season after posting a career-high 13 sacks in 2017. Schraeder has started the season strong. "I've liked (Jordan) because he's not just really a big guy," Falcons coach coach Dan Quinn said. "He's got speed. ... Usually you don't see those kind of big guys play outside with that much quickness."
Saints TE Benjamin Watson vs. Falcons LB DeVondre Campbell: It's not good when the head coach calls out the entire tight end position group. Payton voiced his displeasure with the play of Watson and Josh Hill. They need to improve their blocking in the run game. With Keanu Neal out, Campbell is the Falcons' best candidate to handle Watson. Backup strong safety Jordan Richards is more of a box safety to support the run. In nine games against the Falcons, Watson has 29 catches for 321 yards and four touchdowns. In 2015, he tied a career-high with 10 catches against the Falcons.
Saints WR Ted Ginn vs. Falcons CB Desmond Trufant: It was the speedster Ginn, who broke open the game in the last meeting with a 54-yard touchdown catch. He got away from Trufant on the Saints' trademark slant-and-go route up the seam. The score put the Saints up 13-0, and the Falcons were fighting up hill the rest of the way.
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