Saints vs. Falcons

Despite my boundless enthusiasm for the Saints I don't have the time to make a webcast this week ...

My read on the game is that we are lucky that the Falcons suck ... in fact they give up something like 30 points a game. Tonight they come onto the field eclipsed by news of their fallen star QB Michael Vick's sentence, and with their 3rd string QB. (Their QB Redman was selling insurance last year ... this will be his first actual start since 2002. My only real softspot for him is that we have the same birthday, 7-7, though his is in 1977!) They will be looking to have Norwood, RB, carry the load so I am glad that we have a great defensive line and are not looking too hard at stopping deep plays.

For the Saints, big plays will probably feature in this game though I doubt they will be intentional given the performance against the Bucs. Instead I expect that the Saints will play as cautiously as they need to, then the glaring holes in the Atlanta defense will give Brees the delicious option of going deep down field with a couple of surprises out of the WR's.

As for Reggie being out - better this year than next! I love Reggie and believe that he is superhuman - quite able to do things that a human being almost shouldn't be able to do ... still, he does not need the work load poured on him by Deuce's increasingly painful absence.

Fortunately one player does not a team make - Brady would not be half as dazzling without Moss AND Welker AND Stallworth. And that's only offense.

At this stage of our spluttering season the team might be able to capitalize on the changed dynamics - sometimes when your back is really against the wall you find out who you are. I have little doubt that there are players on our team who have been craving the chance to shine ... Moore, Johnson, Patten ... and that may be the best effect of a shift in personnel.

I am looking forward to seeing the RB's including Branch, Stecker and my favorite, Pierre Thomas.

As for the astrology of the game, again, one of those charts where I am calling it for the Saints because it's them. A late angle indicating victory to the favorite does appear ... the question is, will it be too late?

Astrologically it's a break-out game for Pierre Thomas - that may simply indicate that he is getting attention because Reggie isn't there. A quick look at their charts reveals that Colston might be particularly imaginative tonight - good or bad i can't say - that Devery Henderson will probably score and that Mike McKenzie and Billy Miller will make important contributions.

So good luck to the Saints ... see you next week.