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Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Previewing the aggressive New Orleans pass defense against the dynamic Atlanta passing game in their crucial Week 13 rematch.

Bob Rose | SI

The 9-2 New Orleans Saints have vaulted to the top of the NFL's defensive rankings and enter this Sunday's game at the Atlanta Falcons in search of their 10th straight victory. They rank first in total defense, giving up 285 yards per contest.

They are fifth-best in points allowed, surrendering 20.5 points per game. New Orleans has been among the league's top rush defenses for the past four years and rank second in that capacity this season. What has transformed this defense from good to elite in the last five games is their improvement against the pass. ...

The Saints have the league's 5th ranked pass defense, allowing 208 yards per game and 62% completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks. Over the last four games, New Orleans has allowed 156 net yards passing per contest, intercepting 9 passes and recording 14 sacks. They've contained two of the NFL's most respected quarterbacks and dangerous receiving units over that span, including this Atlanta unit in a 24-9 victory two weeks ago. ...

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By John Sigler | Saintswire

Free safety Marcus Williams has caught heat from New Orleans Saints fans for his missed tackles over the years, but Pro Football Focus is encouraged by his 2020 performance. As first pointed out by Andrew Bell over at Canal Street Chronicles, PFF has negged Williams with just two misses this season — on 45 attempts, a rate of one miss per every 22.5 tries.

It’s good enough for fourth-best in the league among 66 qualifying safeties (those who have played 50% or more of the position’s snaps leader, Tre Boston, at 757 snaps played; for context, Williams has played 643 snaps, or 84.9%). That group includes his teammate Malcolm Jenkins, who has averaged a missed tackle every 11.0 attempts, and former Saints starters Kenny Vaccaro (5.8) and Vonn Bell (22.8).

And it’s a marked improvement over his past results. In 2019, Williams averaged a whiff every 6.2 attempts, worse than his 2018 rate (7.9) and a far cry from his 2017 rookie performance (15.6). That’s because he has put in the work; Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football spoke with his position coaches and personal trainers to get into the lengths Williams went to improve that aspect of his game. ...

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By John Sigler | Saintswire


An impressive string of performances from Cameron Jordan put the league on notice, and the New Orleans Saints defensive end has been named November’s NFC Defensive Player of the Month. Jordan bagged 5 sacks and 12 tackles (9 solo, 6 tackles for loss of yards) over the last month, totaling 235 snaps played in 5 games. Pro Football Focus credits him with 20 quarterback pressures created in that span, third-most in the conference (NFC South rivals Brian Burns and Shaquill Barrett are tied for the lead with 25).

Not bad for a 31-year old in the 10th year of his NFL career. To take things into greater perspective, Jordan has 6.5 sacks on the year so far, and 93.5 in his career. If he can find a way to double that season total over these last five games, he’ll become just the second player in Saints history to record 100 sacks — trailing only Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and “Dome Patrol” legend Rickey Jackson, who left the black and gold with 115 sacks to his name. ...

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By John Sigler | Saintswire

Can the New Orleans Saints sweep the Atlanta Falcons with a Week 13 win? Sure, they can. But it might not be the likeliest outcome. The Saints have only swept Atlanta once in the last four seasons, winning both matchups in 2018. There’s good reasons for this rivalry being the NFL’s best: unlike, say, Packers-Bears, it’s actually competitive.

And per NFL Pickwatch, the experts are taking notice. While the Saints manhandled the Falcons in their Week 11 meeting, Atlanta’s surprising blowout win against the Las Vegas Raiders has the experts conflicted. While 75% of picks are coming in for the Saints to pull off the sweep, a solid 25% minority are taking the Falcons. ...

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