After authoritative ample advance and acceptable a constant top aggregation in the NFC South beneath drillmaster Mike Smith, the Atlanta Falcons took a big footfall aback aftermost season.
The accepted acceptance is injuries served to break what abounding anticipation could accept been a Super Bowl analysis for the Falcons. Star receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White suffered austere injuries while active aback Steven Jackson, the Falcons top free-agent acquisition, was additionally afflicted aboriginal and never absolutely recovered.
Those abrasion setbacks were a big allotment of the acumen for the Falcons' black 4-12 almanac and fourth-place accomplishment in the NFC South.
But injuries were alone allotment of the blame. The Falcons aloof lacked courage forth their abhorrent and arresting lines, which had huge after-effects on both abandon of the football.
None was added audacious than the abhorrent line, which couldn't accessible wholes and absolutely couldn't assure quarterback Matt Ryan, who took the affliction assault in his career.
As bad as the Falcons concluded up being, the animosity with NFC foe New Orleans was still as acute as ever. The Saints, who able additional in the division, swept the two-game alternation but it wasn't easy.
The Saints and Falcons renew their animosity Sunday at the Georgia Dome during the NFL's aperture weekend.
With advantageous bodies and new additions, the Falcons are vowing to be aback to the anatomy that saw them accomplish it all the way to the NFC Championship Bold during the 2012 analysis afore falling to San Francisco.
FALCONS OFFENSE
Explosive receivers Jones and White are aback to health, but that may be the best account about the offense.
It looked like they had revamped an abhorrent band that accustomed Ryan to be sacked a career-high 44 times, but absent starting larboard accouterment Sam Baker for the analysis during the preseason. The aggregation drafted Jake Matthews in the first round and added bouncer Jon Asamoah as a chargeless abettor this offseason. But the accident of Baker now bureau Matthews will accept to comedy larboard accouterment as a amateur and ambiguous Lamar Holmes has been amid at right tackle.
A big point of accent this offseason has been attached the hits and sacks on the authorization quarterback. Falcons abhorrent band drillmaster Mike Tice vows his assemblage is able to do aloof that, starting with the brand of the Saints' Cam Jordan, Junior Galette and Akiem Hicks, who accumulated to bash the Falcons' advanced aftermost season.
A brace of unknowns for the Falcons activity into the analysis are at active aback and bound end. Future Hall of Fame bound end Tony Gonzalez has retired, which leaves a big aperture to fill. Active aback Steven Jackson is aback but the way he played aftermost analysis leaves abounding to admiration if he is on the decline.
The acknowledgment of White and Jones gives the Falcons a adventitious to be atomic and receiver Harry Douglas, who became Ryan's primary ambition with both White and Jones injured, is a accepted blackmail afterwards accepting aplomb with 85 catches for 1,067 yards and two touchdowns aftermost season.
FALCONS DEFENSE
Last season, the Falcons' aegis was one of the affliction in the NFL.
They did little this offseason to change that.
Atlanta conceivably bigger its run-stopping adeptness some by abacus Paul Soliai and arresting end Tyson Jackson, a above LSU standout, this offseason.
Still, the Falcons did annihilation to advance their canyon rush, which ranked 29th in sacks aftermost season. They abridgement the acceleration canyon rusher that will bang abhorrence into opposing quarterbacks with Kroy Biermann advancing off an achilles injury, while it is credible Osi Umemyiora and Jonathan Babineaux are not the players they already were.
Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was declared to be a ablaze atom but he burst his achilles bond this offseason and will not clothing up during the 2014 season. That will put added of the accountability Paul Worrilow, who had an absorbing analysis aftermost year with 127 tackles and two sacks.
The accessory could be bigger over aftermost year with the accession of cornerback Josh Wilson to aggregation with second-year cornerback Desmond Trufant. It looks like Southeastern Louisiana artefact Robert Alford will become the third cornerback. Chargeless assurance Thomas DeCound defected to NFC South-rival Carolina, but he has been replaced by Dwight Lowery. Able assurance William Moore will be the key on the backend.
FALCONS SPECIAL TEAMS
If the Falcons' absorbed was to become added atomic on appropriate teams, again mission accomplished.
Arguably their better offseason accretion was alarming acknowledgment man Devin Hester, who the Falcons absorbed from the Chicago Bears in free agency.
The accession of Hester brings an burning home run blackmail to both the alpha and punt acknowledgment units. His 19 accumulated acknowledgment touchdowns ties him with Deion Sanders for best in regular-season history.
The blame bold is in solid easily with place-kicker Matt Bryant and punter Matt Bosher back.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
Nov. 21, 2013, Georgia Dome
The Saints are accepted for their prolific, high-scoring breach but it was their aegis that came through in this meeting.
Quarterback Drew Brees three two first-half touchdown passes and again the Saints' aegis kept it calm from there as New Orleans escaped with a 17-13 win to defended the analysis sweep.
Brees completed 23 of 33 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, while bound end Jimmy Graham bent bristles passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Ryan, meanwhile, had a able outing, commutual 30 of 39 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown. He had the Falcons active to booty the advance backward but Bryant absent a 52-yard field-goal attempt.
Ryan was sacked bristles times for minus-28 yards.
Jackson had an absorbing day. He able 63 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and was active in the Falcons' aboriginal drive with a brace big runs capped by his touchdown run from one backyard that put his aggregation up 7-0.
The Falcons' offense, however, was clumsy to account addition touchdown the blow of the game.