Saints-Falcons Capsule

NEW ORLEANS (6-9) at ATLANTA (8-7)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE - Falcons by 3 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Saints 7-7-1, Falcons 6-9

SERIES RECORD - Falcons lead 49-44

LAST MEETING - Saints beat Falcons 32-21, Oct. 15, 2015

LAST WEEK - Saints beat Jaguars 38-27; Falcons beat Panthers 20-13

AP PRO32 RANKING - Saints No. 21, Falcons No. 14

SAINTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (2), RUSH (22), PASS (1)

SAINTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (31), RUSH (31), PASS (31)

FALCONS OFFENSE - OVERALL (9), RUSH (17), PASS (7)

FALCONS DEFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (16), PASS (15)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Saints gave Falcons first loss of season following 5-0 start. It started streak of seven losses in eight games, including six straight, for Atlanta. ... Falcons have won two straight to climb back over .500, ended Carolina's unbeaten season last week. ... Saints playing for sixth season series sweep of Falcons in 10 years. Falcons swept two games in 2014. ... Saints QB Drew Brees has more than 30 TD passes for eighth straight year. ... Brees passed for 412 yards, three TDs last week against Jaguars despite torn plantar fascia in right foot. It was his 13th career 400-yard game. ... Saints trying to avoid first 10-loss season since 2005. Sean Payton became coach in 2006. ... RB Tim Hightower's comeback story continued with 122 yards rushing, two TDs, last week. ... Falcons WR Julio Jones second player in NFL history with at least 125 catches and 1,700 yards receiving, joining Marvin Harrison (2002). ... Jones leads NFL with 127 receptions, 1,722 yards. ... Falcons rookie DE Vic Beasley Jr. had four tackles, his fourth sack and forced fumble against Carolina last week. ... QB Matt Ryan, Brees and Tom Brady only players with 4,000 yards passing each of last five years, including 2015. ... RB Devonta Freeman fifth in NFL with 1,540 total yards: 980 rushing, 560 receiving. ... Fantasy Tip: Ryan, coming off best game of season, could be in line for big showing against Saints' 31st-ranked pass defense. He completed 23 of 30 passes (season-high 76.7 percent) for 306 yards with season-best 119.6 passer rating in win over Carolina. Ryan threw for 448 yards in win over Saints at Georgia Dome in 2014.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL