The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints have always had a heated rivalry as the two teams constantly battle for the top spot in the NFC South. There has always been a little extra fire in the players the two times the teams play one another each season. This year is certainly no different as the matchup as big playoff implications. As the Falcons, Saints and Carolina Panthers all remain active for the NFC South crown, the Sunday game could decide the division outcome.
The Saints are now in clear control of the top spot in the NFC South after defeating the Chicago Bears on Monday night while the Falcons lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers over the weekend. However, the Falcons own the tie breaker against New Orleans, defeating them the first week of the season. If they can win on Sunday, they take back over the NFC South and the Saints are likely out of the running. According to cornerback Keenan Lewis, the Saints are going to "give them their funeral", something Roddy White and Steven Jackson we not thrilled to hear.
White told the media the trash talking did not bother him saying, "May we rest in peace until Sunday." Jackson had a similar point of view.
"I would never allow trash talk to bother me," Jackson said, via ESPN.com. "That's just my upbringing. It was something I didn't participate in and something I definitely don't particularly pay attention to. If you're able to talk trash and back it up, kudos to you. But everyone can't do that. Ultimately, it's a team sport. He can have a dominating game, but it still doesn't mean anything. It's about what he and his teammates do collectively."
The Falcons won the first meeting against the Saints thanks to an overtime victory. Julio Jones played a big role in that game, putting up 116 yards on seven catches. He will be a big factor in the game this Sunday if healthy. Jones has not been at practice since suffering the hip injury against the Packers as everyone is hopeful he is able to play at New Orleans. While head coach Mike Smith is confident Jones is good to go, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has a plan B if he is not healthy.
"It's hard when you don't know for sure if a guy is going to play no matter if it's Julio or not Julio," Koetter said, via the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "We kind of have to have a contingency both ways. We have some 'what if Julio plays' and some 'what if Julio does not play.' We have both. That's one of the hardest things about not knowing if one of your best guys is going to go."
If Jones is not healthy, players like Harry Douglas, Devin Hester and Eric Weems will be expected to step up in his place.