Saints Bring NFL's Third-Ranked Passing Attack Into Monday Meeting With Falcons
The short version
- The 1-2 Saints host the Falcons at the Superdome on Monday night to close Week 4.
- New Orleans ranks third in passing offense at 281.3 yards per game; Atlanta's pass defense ranks 29th at 263 yards allowed.
- Chris Olave leads the NFL with 27 receptions for 375 yards.
- Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is out long term, and Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell is on injured reserve.
- Falcons linebackers Divine Deablo and Kendal Daniels were limited in practice this week.
New Orleans brings the league's No. 3 passing offense into Monday night's Week 4 finale against an Atlanta defense ranked 29th against the pass.
Week 4 of the NFL season ends Monday night when the New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome. The Saints fell to 1-2 with last week's home loss to the Raiders, though they have been in position to win all three of their games. Atlanta has been off since a lopsided road win over the Green Bay Packers last Thursday, and the meeting is New Orleans' first against an NFC South opponent.
The passing game is the biggest reason the Saints have hung around in every outing. New Orleans ranks third in the NFL at 281.3 passing yards per game, completing 68.9 percent of its throws with eight touchdowns, third most in the league, against three interceptions and 10 sacks allowed.
Second-year quarterback Tyler Shough has done much of his best work in second halves and shown poise in the biggest moments. The drawbacks have been two very slow starts and ball-security issues, with three interceptions and a couple of lost fumbles, problems worsened by shaky protection and the absence of a consistent running game.
Up front, left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. will miss a significant portion of the rest of the season with an ankle injury. Asim Richards replaced him and was solid against the Raiders before two late breakdowns that proved costly, and right tackle Taliese Fuaga has played below expectations. Guards David Edwards and Cesar Ruiz and center Erik McCoy have held up against down linemen but must improve at recognizing and picking up blitzes.
Chris Olave has been the centerpiece of the offense, leading the league with 27 receptions on 36 targets for 375 yards and 20 first downs. Devaughn Vele has 15 catches on 22 targets for 172 yards with several contested receptions, rookie fourth-round pick Bryce Lance has four catches for 50 yards, and Barion Brown and Kevin Austin Jr. handle four- and five-receiver sets until first-round pick Jordyn Tyson returns from injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Tight end Juwan Johnson has converted 15 of 19 targets for 173 yards and three touchdowns, Noah Fant has eight catches for 66 yards and three scores, and rookie Oscar Delp completes a three-tight-end package. Olave, Vele and Johnson have combined for 39 of the team's 48 receiving first downs and 78.5 percent of its receiving yardage. With Travis Etienne on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, Alvin Kamara, who has six catches for 12 yards, and Kendre Miller carry the running duties, and Kamara could test a banged-up second level of the Atlanta defense.
The Falcons' pass defense ranks 29th at 263 yards allowed per game, with opponents completing 57.7 percent of throws for six touchdowns against one interception, five sacks and 26 quarterback hits. A season-ending injury to Jalon Walker and a conduct suspension for James Pearce thinned the edge rush before the season began. Veteran signing Za'Darius Smith leads the team with 2.5 sacks among six pressures, Cameron Thomas has 1.5 sacks and a team-best seven quarterback hits, Samson Ebukam is likely questionable after a hamstring limited him all week, and Gervon Dexter is the only down lineman with a sack, while Brandon Dorlus has five quarterback hits and LaCale London has pressured passers.
Linebackers Divine Deablo (hamstring) and rookie Kendal Daniels (Achilles), both solid in coverage, were limited in practice this week, and Christian Harris or rookie Harold Perkins Jr. would step in if either cannot play. Cornerback A.J. Terrell is on injured reserve, leaving CJ Henderson, Mike Hughes and Billy Bowman as the top corners with rookie second-rounder Avieon Terrell in reserve, though safeties Xavier Watts and Jessie Bates III, two of the league's best, lead the team in tackles and Watts owns the only interception after five a year ago. If New Orleans can protect Shough from a quiet Atlanta rush, its passing game holds a significant edge against the Falcons' coverage.
