Saints' Legend Grows With Surprising Spread Vs. Atlanta

NFL News - October 27th, 2009 - Written by John

At 4-2, the Atlanta Falcons have certainly not warranted the stigma of being double-digit underdogs in any game.

But the 10-point spread given by BetUS Sportsbook has a lot more to do with the team they are playing than it does their own merits.

The New Orleans Saints are on pace to shatter the NFL record for points in a season and nobody has been able to keep the pace this year. That point was proven no better than last week when the Miami Dolphins went ahead of the Saints, 24-3, in the first half, only to collapse in a 48-36 loss at home. It was the fourth time the Saints have scored at least 40 points this season, and the sixth time in six games they won by at least 10 points. As indicated, they will give 10 points to Atlanta this weekend when the NFC South rivals meet on Monday Night Football. Early lines set a -110 payout both ways and the over/under is 54.

New Orleans is one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in the league and the only team that hasn't really been threatened. The closest any team has come to overturning the Saints came in Week Four when the offense was held out of the end zone and Drew Brees threw for his second-lowest total yardage in more than two years. It was the defense, instead that stepped up, scoring two defensive touchdowns to win the game.

That defense has been among the best in the league and have accumulated the most points of any unit in ESPN's Fantasy Football. Darren Sharper has been the key, and leads all players with six interceptions and three touchdowns. He is on pace for eight TDs overall and 831 return yards, which would be more than half of his career yardage. Overall, the Saints aren't putting up silly stats on defense, but it hasn't really mattered. When you average almost 40 points a game, errors can be made.

Drew Brees is the 3rd-rated passer in the league and has 14 touchdowns. Twelve different players have at least one touchdown and four of them have at least three. The offense has even recently gotten more dynamic with Reggie Bush looking healthy and agile as ever.

Marques Colston leads the team with 30 catches for 466 yards and five touchdowns.

But New Orleans have yet to face a division opponent and will face their toughest one in this game. Matt Ryan has excelled in his second year, and has turned Roddy White into a superstar. The Falcons are 4-2 with lone losses at New England and at Dallas, and White has led the team in receiving yards each of the last three games. The Falcons already have a division win, beating the Panthers in Week Two and, as a result, have a slight lead over the Saints in the division.

Atlanta, however, is vulnerable against the pass, ranking 22nd in the league. The Falcons have only beaten the spread twice in their last nine games against the NFC South.

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