Monday night must not see the Atlanta Falcons suffer another slow start. That is the clear message from running back Bijan Robinson after the team finally secured a win. The team needs to get moving from the very first drive or they will lose this divisional rivalry game. Robinson knows the stakes are high with three teams tied at 1-2 in the NFC South. Winning this hate-filled showdown gives Atlanta a major leg up in the race for the division title, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Saints Are Bleeding Talent
New Orleans is in trouble before the ball even snaps. The Saints have ruled out three key defensive contributors for Monday night, leaving their front seven thin. Kaden Elliss, Anfernee Jennings, and Carl Granderson are all out. Without Elliss, the Saints must rely on Danny Stutsman to step up in a pivotal opportunity. This injury crisis hits right when the Falcons offense is looking for rhythm.
Justin Reid and Cameron Jordan also had terrible games last week against the Raiders. Reid earned a 28.2 overall grade from PFF, marking the lowest score among Saints players with at least 20 snaps. Jordan finished with a 45.6 grade and only generated one pressure on 21 rush attempts. These numbers show a defense that is struggling to stop the run or get after the quarterback. The Falcons should exploit these holes with ease.
Penix and Robinson Ready to Strike
Michael Penix Jr. returns to the field with a clear advantage. Last week versus the Green Bay Packers, he placed in the top 4 among quarterbacks for EPA per dropback. While the start was messy, Penix and the offense eventually found their stride. Bijan Robinson was the spark that jumpstarted that side of the ball with a huge run. He finished with over 200 total yards and two touchdowns, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. That kind of production is exactly what the Saints defense cannot handle.
Drake London also looks dangerous with Penix under center. In six of the seven games they have played together, the wide receiver exceeded 100 receiving yards. With the Saints missing so much depth at linebacker, the Falcons should control the ball and lean on their better defense. Atlanta ranks third in defensive success rate while New Orleans sits 31st. The math is simple. The Falcons have the talent to win this game if they start fast.
It remains to be seen if this leads to one of the best wins for Atlanta in the last several years. The Saints are 20 years removed from a 23-3 beatdown at the Superdome.
