Event of the Day: New Orleans Saints versus Atlanta Falcons

Our event of the day is the NFL fixture between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The last match of the Thanksgiving football schedule pits a red-hot Saints against a Falcons team that have struggled to find their form this season. Drew Brees leads the league’s highest scoring offense and the Saints look like a serious playoff contender. This will be the second time these division rivals play this season, after a close overtime victory for the Saints in week 3. So grab some turkey this Thanksgiving and be sure you don’t miss what is set to be an exciting clash between these NFC South rivals. The Saints are the dark horse of this NFL season. Despite a 9-1 record and a 9-game win streak, they have been overlooked in the NFC in favour of the Los Angeles Rams and their undeniably amazing season.

However, if anyone is going to challenge the Rams to the NFC title, and a place in the Super Bowl, it will be New Orleans. Drew Brees, who became the NFL’s all-time passing yards leader in week 5, has led a potent offense that averages 37.8 points per game and has exceeded 40 points in six of their first 10 games. He has achieved this through the plethora of talent at his disposal. Alvin Kamara, a 2nd year running back out of Tennessee, has put up 1127 total yards through the first 10 games and excels at shedding tackles and slipping past defenders. If running the ball isn’t an option, Brees can always target wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas has caught 90.1% of pass attempts to him, which he has turned into 1042 yards and 8 touchdowns. On the defence, 1st round draft pick Marcus Davenport has shown his worth, with 4 sacks and 11 tackles through the first 10 games of the season. All of this combined makes the Saints a team that championship-hunting teams should fear. Meanwhile, Atlanta are a far cry from the team that reached the Super Bowl two seasons ago. They sit at 4-6 and this is in large part due to the defence. The Matt Ryan led offense is fairly productive, including a five-touchdown performance by Ryan in the week 3 overtime loss to New Orleans. However, the defence is the 4th worst in the league in terms of points allowed. Teams can happily drive down the field with little resistance from the Falcons. With 6 games to go in the season, things look bleak for Atlanta. This match has a team looking to win playing a team looking to survive and because of this, expect good, hard-fought football and the perfect way to conclude Thanksgiving.
 
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20. The West Indies, the tournament hosts, face Australia in the first semi-final. The game is a rematch of the final of the 2016 tournament, which the West Indies won by 8 wickets. England and India face off in the second semi-final, with England hoping to win their first World Twenty20 since the inaugural competition in 2009. It looks set to be a memorable day of women’s cricket. Elsewhere, in NCAA Basketball, the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament continues at the Imperial Arena in Nassau. In golf, the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf begins at the Metropolitan Golf Club in South Oakleigh. In NCAA Football, the annual Egg Bowl rivalry takes places as Ole Miss host 18th ranked Mississippi State at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
 
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

Fixture
 
Photos by NFL

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