Saints vs. Falcons – NFL Week 4 Matchup (September 29, 2024)
The NFC South will be front and center this Sunday as the New Orleans Saints (2-1) visit the Atlanta Falcons (1-2) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both teams will be looking to recover from tough losses in Week 3 and gain some early momentum in the divisional race.
Current Odds:
- Spread: Falcons -1.5, Saints +1.5
- Moneyline: Falcons -125, Saints +130
- Over/Under: 42.5 points
Team Previews:
New Orleans Saints (2-1):
The Saints opened the season strong with two dominant wins, scoring a combined 91 points in their first two games. However, they struggled in Week 3, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 15-12, despite leading for much of the game. Derek Carr threw for just 142 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and the offense failed to maintain momentum. Nevertheless, New Orleans’ defense has been solid, allowing only 14.7 points per game, which should give them an edge in this matchup.
Atlanta Falcons (1-2):
The Falcons are coming off a disappointing 22-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Atlanta’s offense, led by Kirk Cousins, has shown flashes but struggled to score in the second half of games. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier have been underwhelming on the ground, and the team needs more consistency to bounce back. The Falcons are giving up 20.3 points per game while averaging just 16.3 points themselves.
Key Factors:
- Saints’ Defense vs. Falcons’ Offense: New Orleans’ defense has been strong this season, and if they can limit Atlanta’s inconsistent offensive attack, it could keep the game within reach.
- Falcons’ Third-Down Efficiency: Atlanta struggled on third down last week, converting just 2-of-9 against Kansas City. Improvement in this area will be crucial for the Falcons to stay competitive.
Betting Picks:
Against the Spread: The Falcons are slight favorites at -1.5. However, given the Saints’ strong start to the season and Atlanta’s offensive inconsistency, taking Saints +1.5 feels like the safer bet:
Our Pick: Saints +1.5
Over/Under: The total is set at 42.5 points. Both teams have struggled offensively in recent games, which suggests this could be a lower-scoring affair. Under 42.5 points is a reasonable play:
Our Pick: Under 42.5
Final Prediction:
-
- Saints 23, Falcons 20
Expect New Orleans to bounce back with a narrow win, covering the spread in the process while keeping the total under.
