It’s hate week in Atlanta as the Saints come to town Sunday for the start of divisional play. The Falcons organization has many new faces, and they all know how much this rivalry means to these two groups.
Raheem Morris is familiar, even if it’s his first time as a full-time head coach in a Falcons-Saints game. Morris spent 2015-2020 in Atlanta in some capacity, so he means it when he says, “It’s been special for a long time.”
Raheem Morris on the meaning of the #Falcons-Saints rivalry to those in both teams' buildings: “It is always a tough battle with those guys… It's a lot of people that got a lot of built-up, anxious, love-to-play, hate you mentality.”
“It's been special for a long time.” pic.twitter.com/ZrcjoEkPZy
— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) September 25, 2024
Kirk Cousins has played in serious rivalry games before. The NFC North and NFC East are home to the longest-standing, most hate-filled rivalries in the NFL, so the Falcons quarterback knows what type of game he’ll be walking into on Sunday.
"We take that challenge seriously," Kirk Cousins said that while he is new to this Falcons-Saints rivalry he is fully aware of how deep this thing runs in Atlanta and New Orleans.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) September 25, 2024
Jessie Bates III has played in it before, picking off Derek Carr for a touchdown in his first game with the Falcons against the Saints at Mercedes Benz Stadium. There’s a pulse in the city, and the Falcons are looking for their first win at home this season.
Jessie Bates III on rivalry week: "Just the excitement around the city, you talk to fans and they call them the 'Aints, and it's just funny to see. It's something we gotta embrace in this locker room. To get our first win at home against the Saints, no better way to do it." pic.twitter.com/Wj4pCPp6HQ
— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) September 25, 2024
Falcons fans will be on pins and needles all week as they anticipate the Saints coming to town. They were left with a terrible taste in their mouths to end last season, leaving New Orleans with their tails tucked.
The Saints put the final nail in Arthur Smith’s coffin, beating the Falcons 48-17, including a disrespectful touchdown to end the game. Jameis Winston was in victory formation inside of Atlanta’s 5-yard line and called a play to get Jamaal Williams his first touchdown of the season.
Not only was it wildly unprofessional, but it was also dangerous. Falcons players assumed it was going to be a quarterback kneel to end the game, so they weren’t firing off the ball as they normally would. Thankfully, no injuries occurred, but it only adds more fuel to the fire this year.
Saints fans loved it; Falcons fans hated it. The players certainly remember it. It should be a fun one on Sunday in Atlanta.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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