Marshon Lattimore and Deonte Harris were limited on the initial New Orleans Saints injury report, which estimated practice participation.
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The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons did not practice on Monday due to the short turnaround between their games on Sunday and the upcoming matchup on Thursday Night Football, but both teams released estimated injury reports. While these are just educated guesses from each team’s medical staff about who may have practiced, they’re full of good news for Saints fans. Here’s what we learned.
The Falcons are in better shape than they were three weeks ago, but after Sunday’s ugly loss to the Buccaneers, the momentum this team had built after winning two-straight games has all but disappeared.
The Falcons are in better shape than they were three weeks ago, but after Sunday’s ugly loss to the Buccaneers, the momentum this team had built after winning two-straight games has all but disappeared.
This Thursday, the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints come to Atlanta for a Thanksgiving night battle. The Saints have a 9-2 record and look like a legit Super Bowl contender this season.
The Falcons, on the other hand, are 3-8 and in sole possession of last place in the division. However, you can throw records out the window when these two rivals play, as evidenced by Atlanta’s Week 10 upset over New Orleans despite being a double-digit underdog.
New Orleans squeaked out a three-point win over the Panthers on Sunday, but the team hasn’t quite looked as dominant since losing to Atlanta.
While the playoffs are certainly off the table for this 2019 Falcons team, to complete a sweep over a hated division rival on Thanksgiving would give fans something to take pride in during an otherwise dreadful year.
Kickoff for Thursday’s game is at 8:20 p.m, ET on NBC.
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Here’s what each playoff hopeful needs to worry most about right now.
The playoffs are five weeks away, and it seems like just a matter of time before the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers meet in the Super Bowl. At least, they seem like logical favorites after Week 12.
But there’s good news: We get to see that Super Bowl scenario in Week 13. The 49ers head to Baltimore to deliver a matchup of the NFL’s best teams. The thing about the NFL and its playoff structure is that we’re likely to see teams get hot — and suddenly the 49ers and Ravens won’t be the best teams in the league by the time Super Bowl 54 actually rolls around.
But considering the state of playoff picture, it doesn’t hurt to celebrate this version of a Week 13 Super Bowl. Here’s a look at that upcoming game and the rest of the playoff picture after Week 12.
1. New England Patriots (10-1)
Who matters most: Julian Edelman.
Could you imagine this offense without Edelman? Tom Brady is having a rough year as it is. The Patriots survived in Week 13 against the Cowboys despite injuries to receiver Mohamed Sanu and Phillip Dorsett. But it’s hard to imagine the Patriots coping without Edelman, who has been the avocado in Brady’s ice cream. The Patriots don’t have contributors at tight end. They are struggling to get young receivers Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry on the same page as Brady. And running back Sony Michel, the bell cow and bulldozer last postseason, has been erratic.
So if Edelman went down, the Patriots offense, which has averaged just 16.7 points per game in the last three matches, would be lost,
2. Baltimore Ravens (8-2)
What matters most: Week 13.
I opened this story with an eye on the matchup between Lamar Jackson and the 49ers defense. And the truth is that Jackson matters most to this offense. He is unique, and the offense works around everything that makes him special. But that Week 13 matchup could be the most anticipated matchup of the 2019 regular season. The Ravens’ record is worse than the Patriots, but Baltimore whooped New England head-to-head. And maybe there’s a similar dispute in the AFC as to whether the Seahawks or 49ers are better (with Seattle winning their first head-to-head matchup).
Regardless, this game should be a delight, as we watch Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh try to deal with the Ravens’ whack-a-mole rushing offense.
3. Houston Texans (7-4)
What matters most: Deshaun Watson to Will Fuller.
Watson averages 62.5 more passing yards per game and 1.1 more passing touchdowns when Fuller plays, per NFL Research. That’s an absurd boost in production, and shows Fuller is well above his replacements. Obviously, the Watson-DeAndre Hopkins connection is hugely important. But Fuller’s health has been spotty. When he misses time, the Texans offense suffers.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)
What matters most: Getting Patrick Mahomes right against the Raiders.
If there’s any defense for Mahomes to posterize, it’s Oakland, which had the fifth-worst passing defense in the NFL entering Week 12. Maybe the Raiders’ pass-rush is developing nicely behind rookies Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrel. So long as Mahomes can get the ball out, he’ll dissect the secondary. Mahomes is putting together an impressive but not jaw-dropping season. It’s time for him to go back to blowing our minds every week.
5. Buffalo Bills (8-3)
Who matters most: John Brown.
Last season, the Bills defense carried their team to a handful of big wins. Yes, Josh Allen’s rushing efforts made a major difference, too. But none of it felt sustainable unless Buffalo improved on offense, which would mean a complete overhaul at receiver this offseason. That’s basically what the Bills did, though they didn’t seem to bring in any one player who could be the No. 1 option. Brown, Cole Beasley and Duke Williams looked like complementary parts.
And yet Brown is eighth in receiving yards (856), 20th in receptions (58) and tied for 16th in receiving touchdowns (5) among all pass-catchers. His production is among the league’s finest, and it has made all the difference for the Bills.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
What matters most: Duck’s calls.
I can’t imagine a scenario where the Steelers are relevant in the playoffs. But I am very interested in the fact that Delvin “Duck” Hodges is a world champion duck caller. (It does not seem he has the potential to be a world champion signal-caller, however.)
Still in the hunt
Indianapolis Colts (6-5): The Colts badly need Jacoby Brissett to stay heathy. Turns out, Indy had two starting caliber QBs on their roster to start the year (Andrew Luck and Brissett). But they don’t have three. Don’t count out the Colts.
Tennessee Titans (6-5): I’m only half kidding when I say that Ryan Tannehill is playing like an MVP candidate.
Oakland Raiders (6-5): What matters most? Nothing. It should be all despair in Oakland. The Raiders lost a game to the stinking Jets. I had so much faith. Why did I have so much faith?
1. San Francisco 49ers (10-1)
What matters most: George Kittle’s insanity.
The guy played with a broken bone in his ankle. I’m not a doctor, but I hear you need your ankle for running, changing direction and general upright activities. Still, Kittle finished with team highs in receptions (6) and receiving yards (129) on Sunday. He also had a touchdown.
“It’s like a piece of tree bark came off,” Shanahan said of the injury Sunday, via the Sacramento Bee. “It was just a shaved part of the bone came off and when you do that, it’s still stable. You can’t break it worse and you’re able to go with it, but it’s extremely painful.”
It sort of felt like we’d go a long time before seeing another tight end as good as Rob Gronkowski. And yet Kittle is replicating Gronk’s well-rounded game. And apparently, Kittle is doing it with a broken bone.
2. New Orleans Saints (9-2)
What matters most: Marshon Lattimore’s health.
D.J. Moore managed six receptions, 126 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints on Sunday. That’s because New Orleans didn’t have Lattimore and resorted to using P.J. Williams on Moore. Williams excels in the slot, but when he’s forced to cover an outside receiver, Williams looks incompetent and the entire Saints defense suffers.
3. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
What matters most: Aaron Rodgers being Aaron Rodgers (consistently).
Rodgers was back to being an unflappable MVP candidate for roughly three weeks. But in his last three games, he’s been far less impressive, with 166 passing yards per game and two total passing touchdowns over that span.
Much has been made of the Patriots’ struggles on offense, with Brady and company limping through their tough stretch. Green Bay and Rodgers are doing the exact same thing in the other conference.
4. Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
What matters most: The Jerry Jones-Jason Garrett feud.
It seems Jerry Jones is intent upon playing with his food before he eats it. Jones is setting himself up to fire Jason Garrett. That’s clearly why Jones laid into Garrett after Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, which was largely a product of Garrett’s incompetence and poor decision-making.
Oh, but there’s more. In the windy and rainy matchup, the Patriots blocked a punt, and toyed with Dallas’ special teams units, which are among the worst in the NFL. Jones had a few thoughts on that.
“Special teams is totally a reflection of coaching,” Jones continued. “I don’t think there’s a game that a coaching staff has … that it couldn’t do better in. I just don’t like it that we’ve got so many as I’m standing here tonight.”
Garrett deserves to get fired. We know it. Jones knows it. Why wait? Well, apparently Jones wants to take a few weeks to point fingers.
5. Seattle Seahawks (9-2)
What matters most: Russell Wilson.
It’ll probably be Wilson every week. It’s preposterous that Wilson and the Seahawks are likely to enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed, but their Week 17 matchup against the 49ers will loom large. In the meantime, Wilson will likely continue his remarkable MVP season.
A few stats from his year: His interception percentage (.9) is the lowest in his carer. His touchdown percentage (6.8) is the second-highest in his career. His completion percentage (67.3) is his second-best. And his yards per attempt (8.3) is tied for the highest figure of his career. The 31-year-old is undoubtedly the bet quarterback in the NFL.
6. Minnesota Vikings (8-3)
What matters most: Primetime performances.
Kirk Cousins’ reputation precedes him. He’s not a winner, and he definitely can’t win when the nation is watching. And while I have been endlessly dubious of Cousins and the Vikings, they have a chance to shut me up with a Monday night matchup in Seattle (I, for one, do not think the Vikings will win.) If they come away with a victory against one of the best teams in one of the harshest environments during a primetime game, the Vikings will establish themselves as indisputable contenders.
Still in the hunt
Los Angeles Rams (6-4): Can Sean McVay and Jared Goff get back to dissecting defenses as a two-man team?
Carolina Panthers (5-6): A valiant effort against the Saints wasn’t enough and the Panthers just don’t appear to have the consistency needed to stay in this chase.
The NFL opened up fan voting for the Pro Bowl, and New Orleans Saints players like Michael Thomas rank in the top five at their positions.
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The NFL has opened up voting for this year’s Pro Bowl, and multiple New Orleans Saints players rank inside the top five at their positions. The Saints announced Monday that Michael Thomas has surpassed Dallas Cowboys star Amari Cooper to lead all wide receivers in votes earned, and that he ranks eighth in the entire NFL for fan voting.
Additionally, left tackle Terron Armstead, punt returner Deonte Harris, and punter Thomas Morstead each rank second-best at their position groups. Defensive end Cameron Jordan and kicker Wil Lutz are sitting in third for theirs, while Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams place fourth among strong and free safeties, respectively. Fullback Zach Line and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk have earned the fifth-most votes for their positions. Not a bad showing at all.
Fans can click this link to vote for their favorite Saints players on the 2020 Pro Bowl ballot. Obviously these Saints players would prefer to be practicing for Super Bowl LIV rather than participating in the Pro Bowl, but getting named to that exclusive list is great recognition. Be sure to help them out and cast your ballot.
The NFL won’t flex its Week 14 game between the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers despite implications for the NFC playoff picture.
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The NFL will not flex Week 14’s game between the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers despite the matchup’s big playoff implications, the Saints announced Monday. Right now, the 49ers are the projected top seed in the NFC playoff picture, while the Saints trail them by a game. A head-to-head win would give the Saints a tiebreaker should both teams finish the season with the same record, guaranteeing the road to Super Bowl LIV runs through New Orleans.
It’s a shame that the NFL is keeping the game in its early afternoon time slot, which means a noon kickoff in the central time zone. The game won’t reach as many viewers as it would in more prominent time slots. CBS is likely to feature the Kansas City Chiefs’ visit with the New England Patriots in the late afternoon slot, while Sunday Night Football is scheduled to show the Seattle Seahawks’ road game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Keeping the Rams in prime-time is a puzzling decision to say the least. They’re a distant third-place in their own division at 6-4, and could very well see their season end against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. In three night games this season, Rams quarterback Jared Goff has completed a combined 61% of his throws while scoring three touchdown passes against four interceptions. If he continues to play poorly, L.A. is at real risk of missing the playoffs after losing last year’s Super Bowl.
All of that said, it benefits the Saints to host the 49ers earlier in the day. West Coast teams have to adjust to an abbreviated schedule on game days when moving out east, forcing them to wake up earlier or risk having fewer hours with which to prepare. Considering how dominantly San Francisco is playing right now, Saints fans should hope for any advantage they can get.
The Falcons have just three days off before their Week 13 matchup with the Saints on Thanksgiving. That gives the team very little time to digest Sunday’s ugly loss to the Bucs, but that’s probably a good thing.
The Falcons have just three days off before their Week 13 matchup with the Saints on Thanksgiving. That gives the team very little time to digest Sunday’s ugly loss to the Bucs, but that’s probably a good thing.
Head coach Dan Quinn talked to reporters on Monday, giving updates on Devonta Freeman’s injury status and some thoughts on Atlanta’s upcoming Thursday night game.
Watch Quinn’s full press conference below, as tweeted out by the Falcons twitter account:
Michael Thomas is off to an amazing start in his NFL career. How does the Saints’ WR match up to this point with Jerry Rice?
Jerry Rice is the G.O.A.T. It is improbable — impossible? — any receiver will approach the stats the Hall of Famer produced in his NFL career. That said, Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints is off to an incredible start after being selected as the 47th pick out of Ohio State in the 2016 NFL Draft. How does Keyshawn Johnson’s nephew compare to the incomparable Rice at this point of their careers?
Rookie season
Mike Powell /Allsport
Jerry Rice was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers out of Misssissippi Valley State as the 16th player taken in the 1985 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he started 4 of 16 games and caught 49 passes for 927 yards and a trio of TDs. The Saints grabbed Michael Thomas out of Columbus in the second round of the 2016 draft. Thomas started 12 of 15 games, had 92 receptions for 1,137 yards and 9 TDs.
The New Orleans Saints defense logged 76 snaps against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12, tying for their second-most of the 2019 season.
The New Orleans Saints were lucky to escape their Week 12 game against the Carolina Panthers with a win, thanks to some awful kicking by Carolina and a number of sloppy Saints penalties. There are some questions that need answering when reviewing the week’s snap counts, so let’s get to it.
Offensive backfield
QB Drew Brees, 65 (98%)
RB Alvin Kamara, 44 (67%)
RB Latavius Murray, 26 (39%)
QB Taysom Hill, 7 (11%)
On the surface, Murray’s snap count is unremarkable. He’s averaged 28.5 snaps per game this year, but the Saints didn’t give him enough touches compared to his time on the field. He received just seven carries but averaged more than nine yards per attempt on them, even scoring the game’s opening touchdown run. For whatever reason, Saints coach Sean Payton was determined to remain pass-heavy down the stretch and put Kamara in some tough spots in short-yardage situations. Hill’s seven snaps on offense were his fewest total since Week 4’s game with the Dallas Cowboys, when he came in on just six plays. It’s possible that the absence of fullback Zach Line (knee injury) and the exit of left tackle Terron Armstead (high-ankle sprain) forced Payton’s hand into a pass-heavy game script.
Skills positions
WR Michael Thomas, 58 (88%)
WR Tre’Quan Smith, 47 (71%)
WR Ted Ginn Jr., 39 (59%)
TE Jared Cook, 38 (58%)
TE Josh Hill, 31 (47%)
TE Jason Vander Laan, 16 (24%)
WR Krishawn Hogan, 15 (23%)
Vander Laan was called up from the practice squad and featured on the opening drive as an in-line blocker at tight end, throwing the key block that freed up Murray’s long touchdown run. But the Saints sidelined him as the game wore on and their offense evolved into a pass-first approach, which was puzzling. It’s even more troubling considering Smith and Ginn were targeted eight times but turned in just three targets for 51 yards, with each player dropping passes that should have been big gains. The Saints need better personnel at wide receiver, but they may be too deep in the season to find it now.
Offensive line
C Erik McCoy, 66 (100%)
G Larry Warford, 66 (100%)
G Nick Easton, 66 (100%)
T Ryan Ramczyk, 66 (100%)
G/T Patrick Omameh, 56 (85%)
G/C Will Clapp, 10 (15%)
T Terron Armstead, 10 (15%)
Credit to Omameh for stepping in early and holding his own at an unfamiliar position; he’s started full seasons during his six-year NFL career, but rarely played left tackle — his previous stops came at left and right guard. Whether the Saints will trust him to hold it down full-time until Armstead can return from his ankle injury remains to be seen. Clapp filled in for Andrus Peat at left guard in a pinch but the Saints went with Easton as his full-time replacement, and it’s worked out so far. McCoy had some rookie mistakes (failing to snap the ball on time at one point, drawing a delay of game penalty) but on the whole he’s made a big, positive impact.
The Falcons have been without starting running back Devonta Freeman for the past two weeks as he recovers from a foot injury. Head coach Dan Quinn gave an update this morning, saying he anticipates Freeman will return to practice this week:
The Falcons have been without starting running back Devonta Freeman for the past two weeks as he recovers from a foot injury. Head coach Dan Quinn gave an update this morning, saying he anticipates Freeman will return to practice this week:
Dan Quinn says he anticipates Devonta Freeman to start participating in practice this week pic.twitter.com/emnHpl52Ut
Freeman is having one of his worst years while Atlanta’s offensive line has been injured and ineffective at times this season. In the nine games he’s played in, he’s averaged just 3.5 yards per carry, with zero rushing touchdowns.
Backup Ito Smith is out for the season, while Brian Hill has been just as ineffective as Freeman. The Falcons’ rushing attack is ranked 31st in the league in yards per game.
Coming off Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers, Atlanta has to quickly regroup and prepare for its Thanksgiving matchup with the Saints.
The Carolina Panthers released DB Rashaan Gaulden, their third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, after his role in a New Orleans Saints loss
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The Carolina Panthers released defensive back Rashaan Gaulden, their third-round pick in the 2018 draft. The Panthers announced his release on Monday; it followed a rough day against the New Orleans Saints in which Gaulden ran into teammate D.J. Moore on a punt return, disrupting the catch and giving the ball back to New Orleans. He later started a brief fight after a kickoff return by shoving Saints safety Justin Hardee to the ground after the whistle.
These mistakes were the latest in a series of problems Gaulden has had this year, per a report from The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue. Gaulden at one point walked out of practice and did not travel with the team to a road game against the Arizona Cardinals. At the end of the day, his growing list of unforced errors and lacking discipline became too much for Panthers coach Ron Rivera to put up with.
It’s not the first time a bad outing against the Saints made an opposing team show a defensive back the door. The Houston Texans released cornerback Aaron Colvin after Saints quarterback Drew Brees victimized him in an end-of-game sequence to set up a last-second Wil Lutz field goal (sound familiar?). It’s just further proof that opponents need to be on top of their game when facing New Orleans, because the Saints won’t hesitate to take advantage of players who can’t keep a cool head.
