The New Orleans Saints Travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons on Monday Night Football

The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons rivalry goes back farther than the division they currently play in.  Both franchises were founded the same year and both spent numerous decades suffering losing records and games played for pride.

Names like Manning and Bartowski are strewn throughout the rivarly, with the teams last meeting of the year rarely played with more than pride at stake.  The proximity of the two teams has only added fuel to the fire, making it easy for opposing fans to support their team on the road.

This year, the stakes are considerably higher.  The Falcons have posted winning seasons three years in a row, something they had never done before, and the Saints are coming off of a Super Bowl Victory and hungry for more.

Both teams come into the game thick in the playoff mix.  The Falcons lead the NFC South and are two games up over the Saints, but the Saints are in good position to clinch a Wild Card berth and still make the playoffs.

The first meeting between the two teams this year ended with a late Falcons field goal to seal the victory in overtime, after Saints kicker Garett Hartely missed a 29 yard chance to give the Falcons the ball.  Saints fans have not handled the loss well, and are looking for redemption tonight in the Georgia Dome.

The Falcons however are not an easy team to beat.  Starting quarterback Matt Ryan is 19 - 1 in the dome in his career as a starter, and the team doesn't beat itself with mistakes.  Both teams have improved significantly since the first meeting, and the game would be hard fought without the additional postseason scenarios.