By Associated Press / Washington post

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Teams split season series last year with each team winning on road. Each game decided by three points, including Atlanta's 27-24 win in OT. ... Saints 8-2 against Falcons with Sean Payton as coach. ... Saints QB Drew Brees first player in NFL history with more than 3,000 yards passing (3,004) in first nine games of a season. ... Brees has completed 20 or more passes an NFL-record 29 consecutive games.

... Jimmy Graham leads NFL tight ends with 55 catches for 791 yards. ... RB Darren Sproles second in NFL with 56 catches. Graham third. ... Falcons QB Matt Ryan 8-1 in home division games with 10 TDs and three interceptions. ... Atlanta's Julio Jones had three catches for 131 yards against Colts last week and become league's first rookie since 1970 with TD catches of at least 50 and 80 yards in same game. They were first two TD catches of Jones' career. ... Falcons 22-5 at Georgia Dome since 2008, their first season with coach Mike Smith.

OPENING LINE — Falcons by 1

RECORD VS. SPREAD — New Orleans 5-4; Atlanta 4-4

SERIES RECORD — Falcons lead 46-38

LAST MEETING — Saints beat Falcons, 17-14, Dec. 27, 2010

LAST WEEK — Saints beat Buccaneers 27-16; Falcons beat Colts 31-7

SAINTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (1), RUSH (9), PASS (2)

SAINTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (15), RUSH (17), PASS (14)

FALCONS OFFENSE — OVERALL (14), RUSH (13), PASS (17)

FALCONS DEFENSE — OVERALL (14), RUSH (17), PASS (19)

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