Atlanta at New Orleans

This is a high NFL total, but we have a vastly improved Atlanta defense under first-year coach Dan Quinn. He was the defensive coordinator up in Seattle under Pete Carroll and has quickly turned the 5-0 Falcons around. After being a joke on defense the last two years ,Atlanta is #20 in yards allowed and #15 in points. The real story is the defensive line and the commitment to stopping the run, with the Falcons #1 allowing 78.4 yards rushing per game. They can get after the passer, as well, which will be a key to attacking the New Orleans up-tempo offense. Atlanta is 4-0 UNDER the total in division play and 6-2 UNDER on the road. Atlanta escaped with a 25-19 win over Washington last week when cornerback Robert Alford returned an interception for a touchdown in overtime, part of a 3-2 run UNDER. The Falcons are also 15-7-1 UNDER the total against a team with a losing home record, plus 47-19-3 UNDER after allowing fewer than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Saints QB Drew Brees hasn't been 100%, sitting out week three while dealing with a bruised rotator cuff. Last week he played but was picked off once, lost a pair of fumbles and was sacked five times. New Orleans is 4-0 UNDER the total at home against a team with a winning road record and when these NFC South rivals square off the UNDER is 4-1. Play this one to finish UNDER the total.