Saints-Falcons Predictions | Week 18
NEW ORLEANS - They will need some help along the way, but the New Orleans Saints have complete control over what is in front of them in their game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Saints must win this matchup, and either watch the Carolina Panthers topple the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or hope for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals to come up with upset victories.
If everything goes right one way or another, New Orleans will be in the postseason for the first time since the 2020 season. If not, their playoff drought extends to three years. Hope is high at Saints News Network that New Orleans will control what they can and play their role with a win against the NFC South rival Falcons.
Dec 31, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) calls a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Bob Rose
The Falcons are not a good football team. Yet they manhandled the Saints offensively, forced two critical New Orleans turnovers and held them out of the end zone defensively during a late-November win.
The Saints must be able to stifle Atlanta's ground game. It's something they have struggled to do most of the year, but did it well in two of the last three games. New Orleans had nearly 450 yards of offense against Atlanta in November, but turned the ball over twice deep in Falcons territory and could only muster five field goals.
It took 34 games, but it finally looked like the Saints turned the corner under head coach Dennis Allen in last week's win at Tampa. It may be a case of too little, too late to get into the playoffs, but call me a reluctant believer that the Saints finish the year strong against their bitter rival.
Prediction: Saints 30, Falcons 17
John Hendrix
The Saints have been in this spot before. They have produced a convincing win only to go flat in the next game. This matchup against the Falcons comes down to whether or not New Orleans can stop the run. I would say I feel like the Saints show up on Sunday and do their part, but it is honestly a toss up, and I expect it to be close.
Prediction: Saints 24, Falcons 21
Kyle T. Mosley
Last week, the New Orleans Saints proved me wrong. I'm not making the same mistake this week. The team is too focused on closing out the regular season on a high note, even with or without ailing superstar running back Alvin Kamara. Give us a lot of Taysom Hill, Jamaal Williams, Juwan Johnson, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and top it of with a Jimmy Graham Touchdown! That'll be a great way to end the 2023-24 season.
Will the Panthers cooperate and upset the Buccaneers? Who knows for sure? But anytime you can destroy the Dirty Birds at home, I'm riding with the Saints in this probable season finale.
Prediction: Saints 27, Falcons 20
Ross Jackson
The best way New Orleans can get a leg up against the Falcons will be do to something they have only done once so far this season: score a touchdown on the opening drive. The Saints must find a way to mitigate the run game of the Falcons and one of the best ways to do so would be to put point on the board early and force Falcons passer Taylor Heinicke (who is questionable for Sunday's game) to take to the air. That would allow the Saints' defense to do what they do best: best aggressive in their pass rush and opportunistic on the backend.
I think the Saints will play their part in keeping their playoff door open, but am not as confident in the other teams they will need to help them along the way. Also, offensive weapon Taysom Hill is the guy the Saints should call upon early and often in this game. No matter the game situation.
Prediction: Saints 24, Falcons 17
