Scouting Report: Falcons at Saints

• Published: Dec 3, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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WHEN: Noon Sunday.

WHERE: Superdome.

TV: FOX

RADIO: WJBO-AM, 1150.

RECORDS: Falcons: 8-4; Saints: 6-6.

LAST WEEK

Falcons: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 22-16

Saints: Lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20

COACHES

Falcons: Mike Smith, 1st season (8-4)

Saints: Sean Payton, 3rd season (24-22)

NFL RANKINGS

Offense (league rank in parentheses)

Points: Falcons, 24.8 (9); Saints, 28.1 (4)

Total yards: Falcons, 362.8 (6); Saints, 405.2 (1). Rushing: Falcons, 150.7 (2); Saints, 88.3 (28). Passing: Falcons, 212.1 (14); Saints, 316.9 (1)

Defense (league rank in parentheses)

Points: Falcons, 20.2 (8); Saints, 25.1 (23)

Total yards: Falcons, 339.1 (22); Saints, 338.2 (20). Rushing: Falcons, 116.7 (21); Saints, 114.0 (19). Passing: Falcons, 222.4 (23); Saints, 224.2 (24)

KEY PLAYERS

Falcons: RB Michael Turner, QB Matt Ryan, WR Roddy White, DE John Abraham, LB Michael Boley, S Lawyer Milloy.

Saints: QB Drew Brees, WR Marques Colston, RB Reggie Bush, MLB Jonathan Vilma, OLB Scott Fujita.

FALCONS

SCOUTING REPORT

Offense: Turner is coming off his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season, gaining 120 on 31 carries against his former team, the Chargers, last week. The Falcons lost three fumbles last week, which led to all of San Diego’s points. White is in the midst of his second consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season (1,085 yards on 68 catches). Ryan continues to exel as a rookie (13 touchdown passes, six interceptions, 61 percent completions) and he has been sacked just once in the last four games. Rookie LT Sam Baker could return after missing six games with a lower back problem.

Defense: The Falcons, who were coming off their first shutout in six years when they played the Saints last month, are coming off a game in which they held the Chargers to a season-low in yards (201). LaDainian Tomlinson was held to a season-low 24 yards (on 14 rushes), and Philip Rivers failed to throw a touchdown pass in a home game for the first time this season. The Falcons have gotten three sacks in each of the last two games. In the first game against the Saints, they allowed 521 yards but just 20 points, seven of which came on a desperation pass that turned into a touchdown on the game’s final play.

Special teams: Harry Douglas muffed a punt last week, setting up a San Diego touchdown. Jamaal Anderson blocked a 43-yard field-goal attempt by Nate Kaeding as the Chargers were trying to make a fourth-quarter comeback. Jason Elam has made 24-of-26 field goals, tying the Falcons for fifth in the league in field goals made and ranking them fourth in field goal percentage.

FALCONS FACTS

The Falcons have won six of their last eight games to give them twice as many victories as they had all of last season. … Former LSU CB Chevis Jackson sealed the victory in the first meeting with the Saints last month when he returned a Drew Brees interception 95 yards for a touchdown and a 34-13 lead with less than two minutes to play. … The Falcons have two other former Tigers — starting center Todd McClure and third-string C Ben Wilkerson. … Former LSU RB Terry Robiskie is the wide receivers coach. … Former Saints assistant Paul Boudreau coaches the offensive line. … Former Tulane head coach Chris Scelfo coaches the tight ends.