Brees will shred brutal Falcons pass defense, Saints to stay perfect

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
Football : United States : NFL
Monday, November 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET

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The Atlanta Falcons (4-2) visit the New Orleans Saints (6-0) in a crucial NFC South matchup for Monday Night Football. A Saints victory gives New Orleans a comfortable lead; a Falcons win means Atlanta will trail the division leader by just one game.

The Saints can draw many positives from last week's win over the Dolphins — including 36 second-half points in a rousing comeback — but there's great cause for concern, too.

New Orleans was pummeled on the ground, particularly in the first half, as the Dolphins racked up 137 yards and four scores. It helped the Dolphins build a 24-3 lead and prove that, despite all the discussion of New Orleans' revamped defense, this team isn't perfect (though its record says otherwise).

Offensively, New Orleans shook off a sluggish start to get the job done. Drew Brees tossed three interceptions but he was instrumental in the comeback, throwing for 298 yards and accounting for three touchdowns (two on the ground).

The ground game chipped in with 138 yards, led by Mike Bell's 80. The Saints have proven throughout the season they can hurt you in a variety of ways—this is no longer a one-dimensional attack headed by Brees.

Atlanta suffered a letdown too, but it wasn't able to stage a comeback. The Falcons turned the ball over three times and allowed four sacks—twice as many sacks as they'd surrendered all season.

The Dirty Birds had their ground game rolling to the tune of 124 yards and 4.8 yards per pop but, until Matt Ryan brings his A-Game on a weekly basis, the running game can win sports picks by itself.

The biggest culprit in the loss was the defense. Tony Romo scorched Atlanta for 311 yards and three scores while Miles Austin—the NFL's emerging star at wide receiver—ran freely through the secondary and racked up 171 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.

Atlanta's pass "D" is ripe for the picking, and Brees is bound to take advantage, meaning another points explosion from New Orleans.

THe Betting Verdict

The Saints can be battered on the ground and Atlanta has the personnel to do it, but there's no way this Falcons offense — which hasn't scored more than 21 points in its past two games — can keep up with New Orleans.

Take Brees and the Saints on your NFL picks.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

New Orleans 38-24 Atlanta

HANDICAP BETTING :

The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS should win and Cover the -11 point start