Essential Ingredients of Victory: Saints vs. Falcons

It’s one thing for players to adapt to sudden change on the field; They take action after an offensive or defensive turnover and continue playing.

On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints (2-7) will see how well they have adapted to sudden changes off the field when they face Atlanta (6-3) at noon at Caesars Superdome.

Darren Rizzi was named interim head coach following the firing of head coach Dennis Allen on Monday; This was the second time a coach was dismissed during the season in franchise history.

But the Saints seemed to adjust well throughout the week; Now they will see if the adrenaline, enthusiasm and changes will lead to a change on the field for a team that has lost seven games in a row.

Can New Orleans make the best of a tumultuous situation? The reality is that the Saints continue to be an injury-plagued team. Receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, center Erik McCoy and cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (all Game 1 starters) will not play Sunday (four starters due to injury, Lattimore traded). The “next man up” theory has been pushed beyond its limits this season. However, they are playing the NFC South Division leaders, a franchise for whom no love is lost, with the memory of having gift-wrapped the Falcons a victory in Atlanta earlier this season. The latter must be used as fuel and the Saints must sway the home crowd to their side.

Alvin Kamara is 12 yards away from becoming the all-time leading rusher in Saints history, and while the Falcons have historically been stingy on him, New Orleans definitely needs to get Kamara the all-time rusher early for a few reasons. It will be great for the fans; It will be great for the cabin; and hopefully that will be an adrenaline boost for a team that needs all the leverage it can muster. Atlanta allows 133 yards per game, so Kamara is expected to break the record. From there the Saints can probably keep the momentum going.