Thursday Night Football: Atlanta Falcons v. New Orleans Saints

Tonight is an NFC South battle that features the Falcons against the Saints. Watch the game and join the conversation right here on Battle Red Blog.

By Capt Ron Oct 15, 2015, 7:15pm CDT

The undefeated Atlanta Falcons crank up the action in the "Big Easy" tonight against their NFC South rival New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees and company are are still trying to save their 2015 season after starting 1-4.

Atlanta Falcons (4-0)

They remain perfect on the season with an overtime victory against Washington. Julio Jones is expected to play with a lingering hamstring injury, but could he be on a "pitch-count" tonight?

NFL.com reports:

A day after NFL Media's Tiffany Blackmon reported that Jones would play through his hamstring injury, coach Dan Quinn told CBS's Tracy Wolfson that the receiver will not be on a pitch count.

The reality of Jones' situation is that, like in Week 5, once the game starts, all snap management -- good or bad -- goes out the window and is reliant on game flow and potential reinjury. The Falconsreportedly wanted to monitor his snaps last week, but the game remained in doubt. The same goes for this week. If the Falcons jump out big, Jones can get some rest late, if it's close, he'll stay in the game.

New Orleans Saints (1-4)

Are the Saints and Sean Peyton looking to part ways after this season? There is certainly thunder developing on that subject with each passing week that the team continues to struggle.

NFL.com reports:

Payton addressed an ESPN report Monday that the Miami Dolphins would be among the teams interested in him, saying that these reports come out every year and that he loves New Orleans. (As everyone should.) Rapoport noted that Payton did not take the opportunity to say he had no interest in other jobs. He didn't say there's no possibility he's leaving. Essentially, it was a non-denial denial.

If the Saints don't turn this season around, Payton will have to continue to address the topic. Barring a run to playoff contention, expect some ornery news conference answers to go along with increasing chatter that this could be Payton's final year in New Orleans.

Here is the match-up comparison from NFL.com: