The Atlanta Falcons are headed to New Orleans for a Week 15 matchup with the Saints, and while most eyes will be on the Falcons rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder in his first start, where focus should actually be is the backfields for both teams. That will decide the game.
With Ridder seeing his first actual action there is an added importance in the Falcons running game success, and all focus will be on the Saints backfield as well as they enter without Mark Ingram, but expect to feature Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill.
Former Saints RB and Saints Analyst Deuce McAllister joined John and Hugh to break down the run games and how it could be the deciding factor in the game.
"What they've tried to do the last couple of weeks, they haven't been very successful at running the football. To be successful offensively they have to be able to run the football," declares McAllister. "If they don't run the football than their chances of winning aren't very good, that's just how they're built offensively. They have to be able to consistently run the football to have success."
The New Orleans defense hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown since Week 9, which is the same week (not the same game) that saw Cordarrelle Patterson have his last rushing touchdown.
Not to be outdone, Kamara has a TD drought for the Saints even longer than Patterson's, being unable to find the end zone even a single time since Week 8. But without Ingram, Kamara is expected to receive more touches and be used in more ways.
To hear the entire interview with Deuce McAllister, click here.