Maybe it’s the holidays, but Monday’s Falcons-Saints feels relatively underhyped by ESPN. Which is funny, because this is the game I’ve looked forward to on their schedule most all year.
These two teams play classics even when they aren’t both good. And they are very good this year with a combined record of 22-6.
It’s a bigger game for the Saints because they clinch a playoff spot, potentially rest next week, and remind everyone they are still Super Bowl contenders. (And they are.) If New Orleans is going to win, they’ll have to do it without power running back Chris Ivory.
The team needs something out of Reggie Bush. More importantly, they need Pierre Thomas to be the engine to the team’s offense like he was last year.
There were no surprise inactives for the Falcons. Roddy White will start at wide receiver as expected.