Two bitter rivals square off when the Atlanta Falcons host the New Orleans Saints in the regular season finale for both teams. The 8-8 Saints need a win, plus some help, to slide into the playoffs. The 7-9 Falcons look for just their fourth sweep of the season series between the teams in last 20 Clayton Kershaw Jersey years.Atlanta took the first game between the two this year, a 27-25 win in New Orleans on Nov.7. Down 24-6 with le s than eight minutes remaining, the Saints mounted a furious comeback behind backup QB Trevor Siemian to take a 25-24 lead with a minute to go. The Falcons countered with a last-second field goal for the win.Siemian was playing because of a season-ending knee injury to QB Jameis Winston the previous week. Winston's injury was one of a mountain of injuries to the New Orleans offense this year.Key absences, plus ineffective play on the field, has caused the Saints to plummet to 29th in total offense this season. They've averaged a meager 300.5 yards per outing and have struggled to move the ball all year.New Orleans has fared slightly better in the running game, ranking 17th. However, their pa sing production is, by far, the lowest in the 16-year tenure of head coach Sean Payton.The Falcons come into the week with the league's 24th ranked defense. They've allowed an average of 26.8 points and 364 yards/game and are ranked at the bottom of the NFL in third down percentage and red-zone efficiency.Atlanta has surrendered at least 25 points and over 350 yards in ten games. Defensive inadequacies have caused them to finish with a losing record for a fourth consecutive season. However, the Falcons can knock their most heated rival from the postseason race. New Orleans Pa sing GameThe Saints average a paltry 188 yards/game through the air, ranking 31st in the league. Only the Chicago Bears average fewer pa sing yards. New Orleans is the only NFL team without a 300-yard pa sing performance this season.Taysom Hill makes his ninth career start at quarterback this Sunday, fifth of the year. He's completed 56.8% of his throws this season for 871 yards and 3 touchdowns with 5 interceptions.Hill isn't the most polished or accurate pa ser, but has completed key throws in recent weeks to keep drives alive. He also brings terrific athleticism to the position and can escape the rush to make plays with his legs.The team's receivers, a major weakne s most Kenley Jansen Jersey of the year, has made more plays in recent weeks. It's still a thin position, especially with wideouts Tre'Quan Smith (chest) and Ty Montgomery (back) limited in practice this week.Second-year WR Marquez Callaway has finally emerged as a consistent producer after a promising training camp.. Callaway leads the team with 46 receptions for 696 yards and six touchdowns. He has 16 catches and 255 yards in the last three games, including the team's only 100-yard outing from a wideout this season. Explosive WR Deonte Harty had been the Saints most dependable wideout. Despite mi sing one game with injury and Los Angeles Dodgers Jersey three more because of suspension, he has 33 receptions for 546 yards.Callaway and Harty are no Michael Thomas, who hasn't played a down this season. They have developed into a more reliable tandem of targets than they were early in the year. Undrafted third-year wideout Lil'Jordan Humphrey has also become a bigger part of the offense in recent weeks.Humphrey has 12 catches for 223 yards this season. Ten receptions and 192 yards have come in the last five games. Tre'Quan Smith, a former third-round choice, has more natural ability than Humphrey, but has never been a consistent weapon.Tight end is another spot that hasn't been reliable for the Saints this season. Second-year players Adam Trautman, Juwan Johnson, and veteran Nick Vannett have combined for just 46 receptions and 522 yards.Dynamic RB Alvin Kamara remains the team's best offensive threat and focal point for defenses. Kamara has 45 catches for 424 yards and five scores. It's well below his usual receiving production because of quarterback inconsistencies and four games mi sed with a knee injury.In spite of career low receiving numbers, Kamara is a gamebreaking threat capable of carrying the offense. Veteran RB Mark Ingram is also a solid receiver out of the backfield. However, Ingram is dealing with a knee injury that could sideline him for a second straight outing.Saints quarterbacks have been sacked 36 times this season and have often been under heavy dure s despite the third fewest pa sing attempts in the league. Erratic performances from their interior blockers and the absence of elite tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk have short-circuited the entire offense.Armstead has mi sed six of the last eight games and has yet to practice this week because of a knee injury. Ramczyk returned to practice on limited duty this week, but has mi sed the last seven contests with his own knee injury.Atlanta Pa s DefenseThe Falcons rank 19th against the pa s, surrendering an average of 236 yards/game. Opposing quarterbacks have just three 300-yard outings against Falcons coverage, but have Max Muncy Jersey completed 68% of their throws.Atlanta has sacked opposing pa sers just 17 times, fewest in the NFL. Veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler was brought in last offseason to upgrade the pa s rush. Fowler leads the team in sacks, but has just 4.5 takedowns and 16 pre sures.Scroll to ContinueSteven Means complements Fowler on the outside in the Falcons base front. Means is a big-bodied defender who plays well in the trenches, but has no sacks and just 8 pre sures. Atlanta's defensive has provided little disruption either inside or outside.Veteran DT/DE Grady Jarrett is the teams best down lineman. Jarrett is capable of blowing up opposing pa s blocking and leads the team with 12 QB hits, but has just one sack. Marlon Davidson, a second-round draft choice in 2020, has flashed promise but has been in and out of the lineup with injuries.Atlanta has a pair of athletic inside linebackers who are among the most underrated in the league. Foyesade Oluokun and Deion Jones lead the team in tackles, but each are equally effective in coverage and as blitzers. The two have combined for 4 sacks and 11 QB hits while blanketing opposing backs and tight ends in coverage.Oluokun has been Atlanta's shining star on defense. He's broken up six pa ses, is tied for the team- Chris Taylor Jersey high with 3 interceptions, and has two sacks and 9 pre sures to go with his NFL-best 179 tackles.The Falcons secondary has allowed six outings of at least 90 yards this season. Second-year CB A.J. Terrell, a first-round pick in 2020, has emerged as the team's top defensive back. A physical defender, Terrell has 3 interceptions, 15 pa ses broken up, and has allowed 51% completion percentage when targeted. Terrell is the only Atlanta corner to have an interception this season. Fabian Moreau, Kendall Sheffield, and Avery Williams have terrific speed but have repeatedly been beaten for big plays this year.The Falcons have a trio of safeties who have accounted for