New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons Preview: NFC South Must-Win Game

Why the Atlanta Falcons must win this week against NFC South division rival, the New Orleans Saints.

The Atlanta Falcons are back in action this Sunday against the New Orleans Saints in what looks like a must-win game.

Atlanta is coming out of its bye week and a three-game losing streak, which drastically lowered its chances of making the playoffs.

Some Falcons fans have speculated that head coach Arthur Smith’s job depends on the team making the playoffs, or else he could be fired.

The Atlanta Falcons need a win against the New Orleans Saints this weekend to quiet the speculation that head coach Arthur Smith's job is in jeopardy / ClutchPoints

Making it to the playoffs won’t be easy for Atlanta. Playing in the NFC South, which is considered the weakest division in all of the NFL, the Falcons’ 4-6 record ties it with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the second-best record behind New Orleans at 5-5.

Winning the division is considered the easiest way for an NFC South team to make the playoffs. The Saints have won two out of the team’s past three games but is coming off a 27-19 loss against the Minnesota Vikings in its last game.

Playing at home in Atlanta, the Falcons must extend New Orleans’ losing streak to two games, or else it could push itself outside of playoff contention,

In order to walk away with a win, Atlanta needs to put the ball to rookie running back Bijan Robinson’s skilled hands and avoid committing costly turnovers.

This season has been an up-and-down roller coaster for the Falcons, whose quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke I have turned the ball over nearly as much as they’ve scored with it.

If Atlanta can play clean football, the team will have a chance at upsetting the Saints. In addition to limiting turnovers on offense, the defense likely needs to frustrate New Orleans’ offense, which is headlined by former Pro Bowlers Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara.

Anything could happen this weekend when the Falcons face the Saints at home in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but with a murky future ahead, Smith must pull off a win to remind the front office and fans alike of the potential both he and his young team still possess.

Saints QB Derek Carr 'Likely' to Play vs. Falcons

WHAT: New Orleans Saints (5-3, 3-3 Road) at Atlanta Falcons (4-6, 3-2 Home)

WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA (75,000)

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, 1 p.m. ET

TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)

RADIO: WZGC-FM 92.9 The Game

Get your tickets at SI Tickets

Betting via SI SportsBook

SPREAD: Falcons +1.5

TOTAL: 41.5

MONEYLINE: Saints -125, Falcons +100