Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints Prediction, Pick, Odds: Will the Falcons Will Miss Matt Ryan?
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints Prediction, Pick, Odds: Will the Falcons Miss Matt Ryan?
The Atlanta Falcons will welcome the New Orleans Saints to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to kick off the regular season. Both sidelines have had many moving pieces dating back to last year. The Falcons will be relying heavily on Marcus Mariota at quarterback. He might have a quick leash, knowing backup and rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder played well in the preseason this year. On the other hand, the Saints hired Dennis Allen to become the head coach of their football team. He replaced Sean Payton, who is regarded as one of the best head coaches in NFL history. Payton is now retired. Which team will adapt quicker in 2022? Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Sunday's game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.
Falcons vs. Saints Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: September 11, 2022
- Game Time: 1:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: FOX
Falcons vs. Saints Injury Report
Saints
Questionable: TE Taysom Hill (Ribs), RB Alvin Kamara (Possible Suspension), WR Michael Thomas (Ankle), QB Jameis Winston (Knee)
Falcons
Out: LB Deion Jones (Shoulder)
Falcons vs. Saints Line Movement
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints Prediction
The Atlanta Falcons are a huge mystery offensively. They'll no longer have Matt Ryan, who is with Indianapolis, and they also won't have Calvin Ridley, who has been suspended for a year due to sports betting. But it feels like the offense has potential. Marcus Mariota will finally get his chance to lead a team again. He's able to use his feet to extend plays and has a bunch of exciting targets to throw to, even without Ridley around. Cordarrelle Patterson was a workhorse for Atlanta last season and figures to be that guy again this year. Patterson rushed 153 times in 16 games and added 618 yards. He also brought in 52 catches for 548 yards, easily surpassing 1,000 yards on the season. The Falcons are also extremely excited about Kyle Pitts at tight end. Drake London should have a major role in this offense. He's a rookie out of USC who should make a real impact quickly. If when Patterson needs a break, the Falcons have Damien Williams and rookie Tyler Allgeier, who is a rookie from BYU.
I don't know what to expect from Mariota or the offensive line. But a good quarterback would have success with these playmakers. Meanwhile, the Saints should ultimately have a solid defense this season. The coverage was terrific last season, and the rushing defense got plenty of stops. On the flip side, the Saints will welcome back Jameis Winston at quarterback. He was injured for most of last season but had solid moments before being injured. Winston should have Alvin Kamara to start the season. A suspension is looking, but many have reported that they don't expect Kamara to be suspended this year. Winston has an interesting cast of receivers between Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Jarvis Landry. Taysom Hill, I'm sure, will also play a part in this offense. New Orleans could be a really deep offense when it comes down to it. Last season, the Falcons were terrible defensively. They couldn't stop the run. They missed a bunch of tackles. The pass rush lacked, and the coverage was terrible. The Saints should be able to get whatever they want offensively, and the defense is much better than Atlanta. I'll grab the Saints at -5.5.Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints Pick
- Saints -5.5 (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)
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Article Author
Jason grew up an avid sports fan. His passion for sports writing grew in high school and he developed a blog that was strictly for New York Sports. From his work, you will quickly realize that he loves looking at games from an analytical and numbers perspective and hopes to provide you with that same perspective in his articles.