There is little love lost between the division rivals. Monday night’s Atlanta Falcons/New Orleans Saints game is no different.
When the two teams go head-to-head on Oct. 5, it looks like the participating team’s signal callers will feel the same way. One of them — Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. — had some nitpicky words to say about the upcoming opponent.
“It’s a beautiful dome. That’s probably the only good thing I can say about them,” ESPN’s Marc Raimondi quoted Penix as saying Thursday.
Trash talking is natural before a game, especially a conference game. The Falcons came back with a bang in their first win of the season over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, throwing for 256 yards, one touchdown, and an interception completion rate of 72 percent, and it’s fair to say the Falcons probably felt a little busier than usual.
Historically, Penix has never beaten New Orleans, losing his first and only game against New Orleans in November 2024, 17-20. He hopes to change that on Monday night.
The Saints are definitely not going to roll over and, led by second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, they have become one of the most exciting must-watch teams in the league. Shaugh was inconsistent at times but was dynamic in the passing game. The 27-year-old leads the league with 132 pass attempts through three games in the Saints’ pass-positive offense.
Meanwhile, the Falcons will continue their dominance on the field with a 242-yard, three-TD rushing game against Green Bay, with Bejan Robinson (and Brian Robinson at times) looking unstoppable.