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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ ATLANTA FALCONS -10
New Orleans (3-9, 2-4 away) at Atlanta (7-5, 3-3 home)
When the Atlanta Falcons welcome the New Orleans Saints to the Georgia Dome on Monday night, Michael Vick and company will be hoping that bad things don't really happen in threes.
The Falcons have lost the last two times they have taken the field in Atlanta, dropping consecutive decisions to the Packers (33-25) and Buccaneers (30-27) on Nov. 13th and 20th. Those defeats dealt a blow to the Falcons' chances in both the NFC South and Wild Card races, prospects that took another hit with last Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Panthers. At 7-5, Jim Mora's team remains in the thick of the Wild Card race, but is currently behind the eight-ball in that quest due to a mediocre 4-4 conference record.
New Orleans, which will wrap up last place in the NFC South with a loss on Monday, would likely swap appendages for the type of adversity Atlanta is currently experiencing. The Saints, who were forced from their home in New Orleans this season due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, slipped to 3-9 with last Sunday's 10-3 "home" loss in Baton Rouge. Jim Haslett's squad has dropped seven of its last eight games.
SERIES HISTORY
Atlanta leads the all-time regular season series with New Orleans, 42-30, and was a 34-31 winner when the teams last met, in San Antonio on Week 6. The teams split a home-and-home last season, with the visiting team losing both contests. The Saints last won in Atlanta in 2003, a 45-17 triumph at the Georgia Dome.
In addition to the regular season series, the teams have faced off once in the postseason, with Atlanta winning a 27-20 road affair in a 1991 NFC First-Round Playoff.
Haslett is 6-5 against the Falcons since taking the helm in 2000. Atlanta's Mora is 2-1 against both Haslett and the Saints as a head coach.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Atlanta will come into this game knowing full well that a loss will mean lights out for the team's playoff hopes. Luckily, the Falcons match up well with the fading Saints. Dunn and Duckett should find plenty of running room against the weak New Orleans run-stopping unit, and a strong Atlanta pass rush should be able to force Brooks into some of his customary mistakes. Look for the Falcons to go up early and keep the Saints at arm's length thereafter.
• Atlanta are 3-13 ATS on Monday Night Football
• The Saints have covered the last three meetings and four of the last five.
• That included a 34-31 loss to the Falcons on Oct. 16 in San Antonio as 6-point underdogs.
Atl 31
Nor 17
New Orleans (3-9, 2-4 away) at Atlanta (7-5, 3-3 home)
When the Atlanta Falcons welcome the New Orleans Saints to the Georgia Dome on Monday night, Michael Vick and company will be hoping that bad things don't really happen in threes.
The Falcons have lost the last two times they have taken the field in Atlanta, dropping consecutive decisions to the Packers (33-25) and Buccaneers (30-27) on Nov. 13th and 20th. Those defeats dealt a blow to the Falcons' chances in both the NFC South and Wild Card races, prospects that took another hit with last Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Panthers. At 7-5, Jim Mora's team remains in the thick of the Wild Card race, but is currently behind the eight-ball in that quest due to a mediocre 4-4 conference record.
New Orleans, which will wrap up last place in the NFC South with a loss on Monday, would likely swap appendages for the type of adversity Atlanta is currently experiencing. The Saints, who were forced from their home in New Orleans this season due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, slipped to 3-9 with last Sunday's 10-3 "home" loss in Baton Rouge. Jim Haslett's squad has dropped seven of its last eight games.
SERIES HISTORY
Atlanta leads the all-time regular season series with New Orleans, 42-30, and was a 34-31 winner when the teams last met, in San Antonio on Week 6. The teams split a home-and-home last season, with the visiting team losing both contests. The Saints last won in Atlanta in 2003, a 45-17 triumph at the Georgia Dome.
In addition to the regular season series, the teams have faced off once in the postseason, with Atlanta winning a 27-20 road affair in a 1991 NFC First-Round Playoff.
Haslett is 6-5 against the Falcons since taking the helm in 2000. Atlanta's Mora is 2-1 against both Haslett and the Saints as a head coach.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Atlanta will come into this game knowing full well that a loss will mean lights out for the team's playoff hopes. Luckily, the Falcons match up well with the fading Saints. Dunn and Duckett should find plenty of running room against the weak New Orleans run-stopping unit, and a strong Atlanta pass rush should be able to force Brooks into some of his customary mistakes. Look for the Falcons to go up early and keep the Saints at arm's length thereafter.
• Atlanta are 3-13 ATS on Monday Night Football
• The Saints have covered the last three meetings and four of the last five.
• That included a 34-31 loss to the Falcons on Oct. 16 in San Antonio as 6-point underdogs.
Atl 31
Nor 17
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