Starting safety Darren Sharper has been outstanding this season for the Saints.  He has played in all six games for them this season and he has 22 tackles, 8 passes defensed, 1/2 a sack and 6 interceptions.  The amazing thing about his interceptions is that he has a stunning 317 yards (52.8 avg) in return yardage and he has scored 3 TDs.  Sharper is the best playmaker on the defense and he will be heading directly to the Pro Bowl when this season is over as long as he can stay healthy.

This game will likely be much closer than the “experts” think.  The Falcons will likely try to get Michael Turner started in this game as he is having an off year.  The Saints are allowing 92.3 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry so Turner could have some success if the Falcons stick to the running game to try to control the clock.  More than likely though this game will turn into a shootout and the Falcons have the weapons to trade punches with the Saints.  Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White and Michael Jenkins have the speed to stretch the field and Matt Ryan has only been sacked six times this season so he will likely have time to throw the ball downfield.  Ryan must account for wherever Darren Sharper of the Saints is because he has six interceptions this season (3 pick sixes).

The Saints will likely run the ball quite a bit in this game with Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush against a Falcons’ D that is allowing 117.7 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  The Saints will also be throwing the ball down the field to Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Devery Henderson.  Drew Brees will also be targeting TE Jeremy Shockey on shorter passes over the middle giving him some working room.  The Falcons allow 250.7 yards passing per game so Drew Brees should have a good game.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 33, FALCONS 30

The Saints have signed 27-year old fullback Kyle Eckel.  Eckel played in 5 games last season for the Eagles in which he carried the ball 24 times for 79 yards (3.3 ypc).  In two years in the NFL, Eckel has played in 17 games in which he has carried the ball 57 times for 169 yards (3.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He has also caught 1 pass for 6 yards in his career.  Eckel is not as good as Heath Evans but he should be able to help out the Saints on offense.

The Saints have lost starting fullback Heath Evans for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL in his right knee.  The 30-year old Evans played in 6 games for the Saints this season and he carried the ball 5 times for 16 yards (3.2 ypc) with a TD.  He also caught 10 passes for 70 yards (7.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  This will hurt the Saints’ offense as Evans was a good blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield.

The New Orleans Saints (6-0) looked like they were going to get their first loss of the season against the Miami Dolphins (2-4), but Drew Brees led the Saints to an exciting comeback.  The Saints were down 34-24 heading into the fourth quarter, after the Dolphins and their great running game controlled the game.  The Dolphins had built a 24-3 lead in the second quarter but the Saints were able to cut the lead down to 24-10, after a gutsy call for Drew Brees to QB sneak from the one-yard line payed off with 2 seconds left in the half.  Darren Sharper started the half off great for the Saints, picking off Chad Henne and returning it 42 yards for a touchdown.

The game turned into a shootout late in the 3rd quarter.  The Saints offense was able to continue that play into the 4th quarter, and the Dolphins were not.  They were too much for the Dolphins to handle, as they had three touchdowns and a field goal in the 4th quarter, while the Dolphins were held scoreless in the final quarter and the Saints held on for the win.  Drew Brees had uncharacteristic three interception game, but he never lost his confidence and led them to the win.  They got a lot of production out of the running game with Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas combining for 110 yards on 20 carries (5.5 avg), as well as Reggie Bush adding 10 yards and a touchdown on three carries.  The Saints finally looked human in this game, but they showed their resiliency and proved they can come from behind to win.  They are at home against the Atlanta Falcons next game.