Brees has an NFL record going with 51 straight games with a touchdown pass. Last week he threw two touchdown passes against the Eagles in the Saints' 28-13 win. It was their third win in their last four games after starting the season 0-4. Since joining the Saints, Brees is 10-2 against the Falcons, so he usually dominates them, but the Falcons have the upper-hand this time with their perfect 8-0 record. Brees usually comes up strong when playing in big situations though.
The Falcons are coming off a 19-13 win over the struggling Dallas Cowboys. It was another less than impressive win for the Falcons, which has been a problem for them all year. It's also a reason why they have so many critics. They are only the 15th team since 1978 to start a season 8-0, but they have struggled and looked sloppy accomplishing that feat. Most every team they have faced has a losing record and with that, critics wonder how long they would last in the playoffs playing good teams.
The Falcons have three things they need to do better this week. First, the offensive line needs to protect Matt Ryan again. After struggling with it earlier this year in a game against the Carolina Panthers, the line had been doing really well, until last week when repeatedly the defense was hurrying Ryan up or stuffing running back Michael Turner immediately after he got the ball.
Second, they struggled in the red zone last week. They would move the ball effectively, Ryan passed for 342 yards and Turner ran for over a 100 yards, but in the red zone the offense would die. Kicker Matt Bryant also missed two field goals, after missing only one in the first seven games. The Falcons need to score touchdowns in the red zone. If they have to turn to Bryant, he needs to make his kicks, because the Falcons will need all the points they can get facing Brees and the offensively high-powered Saints.
Third, the Falcons need to try and stop that Saints' offense. Starting linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will once again miss the game this week, so other linebackers will need to step up. Also, the Falcons need Asante Samuel, Thomas DeCoud and the other safeties and corner backs to try and intercept Brees, if possible, to help slow them down.
If the Falcons can do these three things, they can beat Brees and the Saints. It will surely be a tough test with a lot of scoring tomorrow. Brees is good, but the Falcons have what it takes to be better, and they will be tomorrow keeping their record perfect and moving to 9-0.
Matt Ryan, under pressure here by the Cowboys' Jay Ratliff, needs his offensive line to protect him better this week so he can lead the undefeated Falcons to another win.
Photo Courtesy of ca.news.yahoo.com
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