Arthur Smith Details Atlanta Falcons' 'Bitter' Rivalry With Week 12 Foe New Orleans Saints
There are rivalry games, and then there are rivalry games with legitimate playoff implications. When the Atlanta Falcons (4-6) host the New Orleans Saints (5-5) on Sunday, fans will have the breath-holding privilege of enjoying the latter.
Week 12’s action would allow Atlanta to take a pivotal step toward the playoffs. Winning the NFC South is its quickest way into the dance, and beating New Orleans is the most important step in doing so. A win on Sunday would bring the Falcons’ playoff odds to about 50 percent, rather than 20 percent with a loss.
Tensions are high, but the stakes are higher. Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith elaborated on the biggest rivalry the NFC South offers.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara meets quarterback Taysom Hill at the mesh point against the Falcons.
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s kind of ironic what the situation is … It’s a huge game,” Smith said. “It lines up: we’ve got them at home, we’ve got a lot going on … You want to be a part of big games that matter, and right now, because it’s our next game, it is that.”
A win could grant the Falcons temporary access to first place, though eyes will surely be on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ contest with the Indianapolis Colts. At 4-6 and a win over Atlanta, winning on Sunday could put the Buccaneers in position to dent the Falcons’ playoff hopes in Week 14.
Simply put, Atlanta needs to end its three-game losing streak. Having lost four of their last five, a well-timed bye week has granted the team time to figure some things out, especially on offense, where quarterback competitions and resource management have come under fire.
Smith wasn’t shying away from the stakes.
“It’s the biggest game of our season so far, and it happens to be the Saints, which is awesome,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of history here. People call it a bitter rivalry. It’ll be what you want to see. We’ll find out Sunday. We’re excited to play them, and I’m sure they’re saying the same thing.”
The Falcons are 1.5-point underdogs in the hours before kickoff, but that won’t stop them from looking forward to potential bragging rights. The all-time series between the two teams is tied at 54-54, although New Orleans has won three straight and nine of the last 11 matchups.
Righting the ship in front of the home fans is of utmost importance for Atlanta. It may be important to Smith’s job security, too. How long will the Falcons play the role of little brother?
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. (ET) on FOX.
