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For the first time, New Orleans will have the chance to spend Thanksgiving with the Saints at the Superdome.
New Orleans will play its second match of Thanksgiving day and its first at home, thanks to a decisive match against its toughest rival.
Just do yourself a favor and do not eat so much turkey as to fall into food coma, because Thursday's match should be fun between two powerful fouls.
The stars align
(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
The stars align
As always seems to be the case, this game will feature some of the NFL's leading offensive game makers.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is preparing for a monster season, and he has had considerable help from some of the NFL's top young leaders. Between them, running back Alvin Kamara and receiver Michael Thomas have already totaled more than 2,300 yards per game and 23 touchdowns.
The relationship between Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and receiver Julio Jones is as strong as ever. Ryan leads the NFL in passing per game (330.8) and Jones in terms of receiving yards per game (115.8, which is the best average per game of his brilliant career).
Jones enters Thursday's game after recording five consecutive 100-yard games. After being out of the end zone for the first seven games, he has touched a touchdown in each of his last three games.
Turkey Day in New Orleans
(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Turkey Day in New Orleans
This will be the first time the Saints have organized a Thanksgiving match in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. In fact, this will mark the second time in the history of the Saints that they played during the holidays.
New Orleans was the only other Thanksgiving appearance in 2010, when they traveled to Dallas and defeated the Cowboys 30-27 to advance to 8-3 this season. In that game, the Saints dug a 20-3 lead, allowing the Cowboys to score 27-23 with just under six minutes to play.
But Drew Brees had the answer ready that day, amassing the Saints to 89 yards in five innings and hitting Lance Moore for a 12-yard touchdown at 1:55 to go.
The Saints are one of four teams to break the Thanksgiving record, joined by the Texans (1-0), Panthers (1-0) and Ravens (2-0). New Orleans are 6-6 in Thursday games, including only three at home.
Meeting n ° 100
(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Meeting n ° 100
This will be the 100th meeting between the Saints and Falcons (counting the playoffs). Atlanta leads the 52-47 series of all time.
Starting Tuesday (November 20th), the Saints were favored to win by 13 points. If it holds up, it will be the biggest broadcast in the history of the series, according to the Pro Football Reference database.
The Falcons were the 12-point favorites in a November 1980 game and they covered in a 31-13 win. New Orleans was one of the 12-point favorites when it hosted the Falcons in its 2009 Super Bowl season, but did not cover in a 35-27 win.
The last time they played
(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
The last time they played
Week 3, 2018: Saints 43, Falcons 37 (OT)
Drew Brees' dives over the top of the offensive line in overtime allowed both teams to play at the start of the season. The final score was indicative of the quality of the two-quarter performance.
Brees completed 39 of his 49 pass attempts for 396 yards and three touchdowns and added a pair of touchdowns. Matt Ryan was just as good for Atlanta, scoring 375 yards and five touchdowns in the air.
The combination of Alvin Kamara (31 touchdowns and 190 yards) and Michael Thomas (10 catches, 129 yards) was fatal in this game, and they had to be: the Saints scored touchdowns during each of their last four significant wins and came up with a crucial fourth-quarter defensive stop to win.
To note
(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
To note
"It's kind of stinky that I will not participate in the Thanksgiving dinner, but do you know anyway that we're not more excited about leftovers?" – Saints defensive end Cam Jordan (94).
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