The New Orleans Saints will open their 2014 regular season schedule this Sunday, when they travel to Atlanta, Georgia to take on the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC South showdown.

Kickoff at the Georgia Dome is scheduled for noon, and you can hear all the play-byplay action on EPSN 1420, as well as 97.3 The Dawg.

The rivalry between New Orleans and Atlanta has been one of the best in the NFL since the Saints joined the league back in 1967, with the Falcons being born just two years prior.

The two franchises have been division rivals, as part of either the NFC West or the NFC South, since 1970.

The Saints began in the Capitol Division in 1967, before playing one year in the Century Division in 1968, back to the Capitol Division in 1969, and then the NFC West in 1970, while the Falcons were members of the Coastal Division prior to joing the NFC West in 1970.

The Falcons lead the all-time series, 47-43, but the Saints won both meetings last season, and have also won six of the last seven match-ups, as well as nine of the last 11.

New Orleans went 11-5 last season, and advanced to the NFC Division Playoffs, where they fell to the Seattle Seahawks, 23-15, while Atlanta had a disappointing season last year, finishing 4-12, and tied with Tampa Bay for last place in the NFC South.

Offensively, the Saints averaged 25.9 points-per-game last season, along with 339.4 total yards a contest, including 92.1 rushing yards and 307.4 passing yards, while the Falcons averaged 22.1 points a match-up, along with 343.1 total yards per outing, including 77.9 rushing yards and 265.2 passing yards.

Defensively, New Orleans ranked fourth in the NFL in 2013, allowing only 305.7 yards-per-game, while Atlanta ranked 27th, giving up an average of 379.4 yards a contest.

The Saints are on the road again next week, as they head to Cleveland to take on the Browns, before hosting the Minnesota Vikings in their home opener on Sunday, September 21.

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