NEW ORLEANS (9-3) at ATLANTA (7-5)
Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, NBC, NFL Network
OPENING LINE – Saints by 1
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Saints 7-5; Falcons 5-7
SERIES RECORD – Falcons lead 51-45
LAST MEETING – Falcons beat Saints 38-32, Jan. 1, 2017
LAST WEEK – Saints beat Panthers 31-21; Falcons lost to Vikings 14-9
AP PRO32 RANKING – Saints No. 6, Falcons No. 11
SAINTS OFFENSE – OVERALL (2), RUSH (3), PASS (3)
SAINTS DEFENSE – OVERALL (12), RUSH (17), PASS (11)
FALCONS OFFENSE – OVERALL (8), RUSH (11), PASS (11)
FALCONS DEFENSE – OVERALL (8), RUSH (18), PASS (6)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Saints have one-game lead over Carolina and two-game lead over Falcons in NFC South with four weeks remaining. NFC South NFL’s only division in which three teams have winning records. … RBs Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara have been dynamic backfield duo for Saints. Ingram has rushed for 922 yards and nine TDs, while also making 42 receptions for 255 yards. Kamara has run for 606 yards, averaging 7.0 yards per carry with seven TDs, to go along with 60 catches for 614 yards and four TDs. … Falcons have productive RB duo with Devonta Freeman (589 yards rushing, 20 catches, five TDs) and Tevin Coleman (561 yards rushing, 21 receptions, seven TDs). … New Orleans only team that ranks among top five in both rushing and passing. New England only other team that ranks in top 10 in both categories. … Atlanta CB Desmond Trufant will return to lineup after missing previous game with concussion. … Falcons G Andy Levitre (triceps) won’t play, ending streak of 140 consecutive starts since entering league in 2009. … Saints QB Drew Brees has completed NFL-best 71.5 percent for 3,298 yards and 17 TDs, with five INTs. … New Orleans WR Michael Thomas leads team with 75 catches for 875 yards and three TDs. … Feast or famine for Falcons WR Julio Jones past two weeks: 12 catches for 253 yards and two TDs in Nov. 25 victory over Tampa Bay; two catches for 24 yards in last Sunday’s 14-9 loss to Vikings. … Minnesota held Falcons without touchdown for first time in nearly two seasons, and snapped QB Matt Ryan’s streak of 30 consecutive games with at least one scoring pass. … Saints front four has batted down 16 passes at line of scrimmage, led by DE Cam Jordan with six. … Falcons rookie DE Takk McKinley has sack in three straight games and five on season.
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