Opponent Series History Week 8: ATL vs NO

by tlozwarlock on Oct 31, 2009 8:15 AM EDT in Editorial Comment 25 comments

Atlanta_falcons_v_new_orleans_saints_5wqmah3kci4l_medium

Matt Ryan prances into the Superdome's endzone via www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

We've got a long, long history with those black and gold clad gumbo guzzlers. It started in November of '67 with a close loss. That history includes one playoff game (which we lost...) and seventy-nine regular season meetings. That makes our MNF showdown in the land of the Mardi Gras our eightieth meeting with the ragin' cajuns. The history is storied, and offers lots and lots of data. Just don't expect to gleam much from them, outside of the fact that we're ten games up on them. That lead is likely to be whittled down a bit when all is said and done this season, so enjoy it for now.

As a side note, I've noticed something. The two games I missed doing the opponent history on (NE, DAL) are losses. Now I'm getting superstitious. Don't think I'll miss any more games...

The Facts:

Current Series Record against Dem Dastardly 'Aints: 45 - 34 (79 total), 0 - 1 Playoffs
Score-to-Score Totals: Atlanta owns the points scored category by twenty-two touchdowns and two safeties (157 points). New Orleans has a score total of 1585; Atlanta bests that with 1742.
Old enemies We first played the Saints in our second year as a team, 1967. We've seen them seventy-eight times since in the regular season. These teams know each other well. Still, somehow I don't hate them. I blame the other Dave (of CSC) for being too cool to hate.
Stompin' em, repeatedly: The Falcons hold an impressive lead in the "streak of wins" category with ten straight wins between 1995 and 1999. The closest New Orleans gets to that is a streak they started in December of 1986 that ran for six games (ending in 89). FYI, the Falcons also had the Saints' number between the years of '69 and '73, winning nine straight times.
Sharin' the Shutouts: Atlanta and New Orleans both have two shutouts each.
Running Away with It: 35 of these games (44%) have ended with a winning score margin of 10 or more
Running WAY Away with It: The Falcons have the highest score differential with 55 points. The magical day was the 16th of September, 1973. The Falcons ended the game with 62 points to the Saints' measly 7.
Like Fish in a Barrel: The Falcons have scored thirty or more points twenty-two times. The Saints have scored 30 or more just over half of that with 12 games.
Just Kick It: 22 of these contests were decided by a field goal or less. Hmm...

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As Quick Draw McGraw would say...

…now HOLD ON THAR A MINUTE!

The Falcons beat the Saints in the 1991 playoffs 27-20.

-Mr. Know-it-all

by johnnybacardi on Oct 31, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

…and funny thing is, I can’t make myself hate the Saints either, even though they’re supposed to be our “rivals”, and even though I’ve had almost 40 years to cultivate the hate, so to speak. Guess it’s because ATL has won more than they’ve lost in the series, and maybe because, let’s face it, both teams have had some extended mediocre spells in the past and they never got obnoxious or arrogant like the 49ers or Redskins, to name a couple.

The only time I can recall really disliking the Saints was that awful Monday night game, the first post-Katrina contest in the Superdome, where ABC had me feeling like a bad person for rooting for the Birds against, apparently, the entire USA as well as the city of New Orleans…

by johnnybacardi on Oct 31, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember that game.

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, that was most definitely it.

by Zippo729 on Oct 31, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously I'm a Saints Fan

but I have to agree. I was actually wishing the game would have been closer. It was almost as if the Falcons were commanded to lose by some Higher Power. I think that game did an awful lot of healing for a lot of the citizens of New Orleans and the Atlanta Falcons just pulled the short straw of fate.

I still look back on that game with deep appreciation.

Fat, dumb, and happy. Hell, two out of three ain't bad!

by Just 'Nother Day on Nov 1, 2009 6:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Baba Looey concurs

“El Kabong” correctly remembers that was Glanville’s only postseason win as Falcons HC. If only history could repeat itself, perhaps in the fashion of our 62-7 win led by QB Dick Shiner (was it Tulane Stadium back then?)…

I don’t hate the Saints either, though all this ‘unbeaten’ garbage is kind of unbecoming. If both our franchises have a few more good years, that will surely change, at least for some.

by tom slick on Oct 31, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta agree...

Despite being “rivals” and all that jazz, I can’t hate the Saints either. In fact I’ll root for the Saints if they’re playing anyone but the Falcons. Both teams were bottom-dwellers for so, so long that I think of the Saints more like our brothers than rivals.

But on Monday I want to laugh while Drew Brees weeps inconsolably.

by Mad Molecule on Oct 31, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and the term 'sibling rivalry' was born.

by Zippo729 on Oct 31, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now, ya' see . . . . .

You had me going there, Mad Molecule, right up until that there last part.

Fat, dumb, and happy. Hell, two out of three ain't bad!

by Just 'Nother Day on Nov 1, 2009 6:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No expectations for tomorrow night's game...

The most I’m hoping for is a tough game that sees both teams play at a highly competitive level. If I get that, I’ll be happy even if the Falcons end up going down. Of course, I’d love it if Atlanta just shocked the hell out of N.O…

by Mountvillainy on Oct 31, 2009 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Durrr, Monday night's game

by Mountvillainy on Oct 31, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Saints fans really think we're going to get blown out

I don’t see it. While I predict the Falcons will lose, we’re going to show them that we’re not the dubby team they were able to crush a few years back….which they should already know after last season.

by Dave the Falconer on Oct 31, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My friend in Miami said the Saints looked beatable

last week while the Fins were getting pressure on Brees. Once the Saints adjusted and gave him time to throw, he killed. If we’re going to beat the Saints, an effective pass rush is imperative IMO.

by tom slick on Oct 31, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Saints team is vulnerable, as always.

But it’s mainly vulnerable to itself. Last week we simply didn’t play for a long time. Remember the past couple of seasons when we were a .500 team that could never hold on to a game? Okay, maybe you guys are blocking out those years because they are the Vick-losing years, mostly. My point in bringing them up is to say that as a Saints fan, I’m always scared that some of those players who lost games for us are still on the team. Heck, we can’t let them go! (See: Reggie Bush.) Some have gotten better (Henderson) and some are injured (Fujita) and some are just as bad as they always were (Shanle.) And some of the new guys who are turning things around (Porter and Ellis) are injured.

This rivalry is insane! Insane. I said it twice because it’s so insane. You just never know how the teams will play. Objectively, you guys have a really good weapon in TG and I’m not sure we can cover him. I’m not sure how the injuries will affect the game? Sometimes our backups look better than the starters, and sometimes they look like backups. But I do think that the Saints offense is capable and should steam roll the Falcon defense. So it will come down to the usual with them: execution (read: no turnovers and no dropped passes.) I’m a little worried about the rush from JA on the end but I think Brees will probably escape with 1 or no sacks in this game. IDK, my take really doesn’t say anything, is vaguely positive for the Saints, and LET’S GET TO TOMORROW NIGHT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD I CANNOT STAND TO WAIT ANY LONGER!!!!

by xen-cuts on Nov 1, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and I don't think the Saints will get any sacks on Matty Ice.

Our pass rush is garbage.

by xen-cuts on Nov 1, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I bet this is the best combined record the 2 teams have had for any meeting – 10 and 2

Since this warranted Monday Night hype, I hope it is a great game and brings pestige to the NFC South

Great to see both teams doing well

My prediction is Falcons 38 Saints 34

Glanville and Elvis may show up for this game

by WarWolf on Nov 1, 2009 12:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The NFC South needs some prestige!

Seriously. Tampa looks to be completely mis-run and people are already spreading wishful rumors that the team is for sale….so much that the Glazer’s assured fans that no, the team is not for sale, via the Bucs website! That’s some crazy for you. And I really don’t understand what the Panthers are doing? I root for Jake D but he is not playing well. And outside of Steve Smith what is the deal with the other receivers? It seems like they tried to downgrade that group in the off season.

by xen-cuts on Nov 1, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

MNF games = teh suck.

At least when I’m cheering for MY team, the Saints. I don’t know how you guys feel about it, but I think the MNF games mess with the consistency of the schedule and really wear teams down. It’s only a day difference, but I think it makes a big difference.

Plus I’m bored watching all these other games today. I’m so bored that I’m looking for peeps to chat with in the enemy camp. But hey, we’ve all been through enough of this rivalry to have some respect for the bs our teams have gone through over the years.

Oh and then there’s the time problem. MNF in the Eastern Time Zone is so difficult! I’m in CST and I’m not happy about staying up through the end. I should just take Tuesday off so I can enjoy the game, lol. Gotta have your priorities!

by xen-cuts on Nov 1, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

As a Falcon fan, those late-night starts really really suck

I didn’t get home from the Falcons/Bears game until 2am.

You have opinions. We all do. Some of yours may have to do with the Falcons. Sign up today and share them.

by tlozwarlock on Nov 1, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

I have to work until 10:30 monday night so I’ve got the dvr set. I’ll be awake until 2 in the morning or so. Luckily I have Tuesday off. Wish you a good game but I wish my Falcons a great game.

If I had a nickel for everytime someone told me I should shutup, I'd probably have 5 or 6 bucks.

by pchaucer on Nov 1, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Try "tuning" in from Japan Standard Time

When a game starts at noon in New Orleans, it’s 2:00AM in Japan. Game’ over at 5:30AM. Gotta’ go to work at 6:30AM.

Don’t get much done but at least I’ve had my football fix!

Fat, dumb, and happy. Hell, two out of three ain't bad!

by Just 'Nother Day on Nov 1, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We must get Turnovers to beat NO...

If we win the TO battle we can beat them. I’m hoping they turn it over 4 or 5 times with us scoring 24 points off their TO’s, so we win the game 34-31!!! It might be an ugly, undeserving win but it still counts!!

LETS GO FALCONS!!!
L-DAWG

by ATLsince1972 on Nov 1, 2009 5:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes

Ugly, undeserving wins are the best kind. I happen to disagree with you. If they turn it over 4 or 5 times, I consider that deserving.

If I had a nickel for everytime someone told me I should shutup, I'd probably have 5 or 6 bucks.

by pchaucer on Nov 1, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

of a loss.

I should say.

If I had a nickel for everytime someone told me I should shutup, I'd probably have 5 or 6 bucks.

by pchaucer on Nov 1, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think...

Tloz is 100% correct on his keys to victory.

The Saints have shown that they’re essentially better in every facet of the game than we are right now.

In order for us to win, we’re going to have to play a game that I honestly can say we haven’t played in the Smith/Ryan era, and that is a perfect game. Well, except maybe the SF game, that was pretty ridiculous.

I also can credit SF for being a decent team at worst, they gave the Colts a run for their money @ Indy today. Props to them.

Anyway, as I was saying, I think Tloz hit the nail on the head. We will have to play a perfect game (including at least one special teams TD) and the Saints will have to play a pedestrian game at best.

It’s entirely possible. The Birds are capable of great things, but the maturity level, if you will, isn’t quite there yet. I almost feel like we’re a baby bird trying to find it’s way out of the egg. We’re searching for that weak spot in the egg and sometimes we find it and other times we grow too tired and can’t break out.

Here’s to the game of the season for us. (Something the Dawgs did NOT deliver on, as usual with the Achilles Gators, but that’s for another long, long rant.)

by Zippo729 on Nov 1, 2009 9:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs