By John Moore - Inspin.com

Vikings right tackle Phil Loadholt will be facing defensive end and old team mate Ray Edwards on Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Loadholt has practice experience against Edwards, who signed a five-year, $30 million contract with Atlanta this offseason after five years as Minnesota's left end.

"We had some good battles," Loadholt said. "I think it's an advantage seeing him day in and day out my first two years in the league."

All pressure is on Edwards right now as he is hoping to prove he's worth the new contract after failing to have a good start with just two sacks through 10 games. Edwards' replacement in Minnesota, Brian Robison, has 5-1/2 sacks and a forced fumble.

Loadholt is preparing for the same Edwards he remembers, a 6-foot-5, 268-pound end who uses strength to create separation. "I don't expect him to change or anything," Loadholt said. "I think it's going to be a good battle."

However the Falcons will want to keep pace with the Saints in the NFC South, this means they can't lose to the Vikings.

Neither of these teams have been particularly good this season. Oddsmakers have installed the Falcons as a 9.5-point favorite against the Vikings, while the over/under total for this game is currently sitting at 44. Minnesota enters this contest 2-8 and is 1-4 on the road while Atlanta is 6-4 overall and 3-2 at home.

TRENDS: The favorite is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings between these two teams while the Vikings are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against the Falcons. Minnesota is also 1-5 ATS in its last six games in November and 5-12 ATS in its last 17 road games. Atlanta is 8-1 ATS versus a team with a losing record and 18-8 ATS in their last 26 games following an ATS loss.

It 's hard to see how the Vikings can be competitive in this game, having Christian Ponder at quarterback and Adrian Peterson out. Even though the Falcons are not real contenders for the title this season in this particular game they are for sure the best option.

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