The New Orleans Saints (2-8) host the Atlanta Falcons (3-7) Sunday in Caesars Superdome. Here are four keys to the Saints getting a win in this battle of NFC South rivals. 

Shough, Part 3

Saints’ rookie Tyler Shough made his second NFL start two weeks ago and got a win against the Carolina Panthers. You have to like the Saints’ chances if he plays well again. Shough’s improvement from his first game against the Rams to the second one against Carolina was night and day. Will Shough continue to improve as he makes his first start in the Dome? Here’s a stat that should give you come optimism. Carolina quarterback Bryce Young torched the Falcons for 448 yards last week. So Shough has a good chance to put up some big numbers and really win the fan base over with a win against the Saints’ biggest rival.

Stopping Bijan

The formula for beating the Falcons is much like the one the Saints used to beat the Panthers. Stop the running game and make the quarterback have to beat you. Just like the Saints were able to hold Carolina’s Rico Dowdle to 53 yards on 18 carries, they’ll have to do the same slowing down Bijan Robinson. The Falcons’ leading rusher is averaging 78.3 yards per game, which ranks sixth in the league. He’s averaging five yards per carry. The Saints will need to limit Robinson to less than that to have any chance. The Falcons also have Tyler Allgeier, who averaged 7.5 yards per carry in the first game against the Saints last season.

Slowing down Captain Kirk

The Falcons have lost Michael Penix for the season after the second-year quarterback suffered a torn ACL last week. But the Saints, who have yet to face Penix, can’t just assume they will have a cakewalk facing a backup quarterback. Especially when that backup is Kirk Cousins. The veteran Cousins has been successful against the Saints, throwing 13 touchdowns vs. just four interceptions in his time with Atlanta, Minnesota and Washington. Cousins has a 104.3 quarterback rating against the Saints, so the defense needs to make things difficult for him. It may be hard though, because the Falcons are tied for third in the league in least sacks allowed.

Ride the momentum

I know what you’re probably thinking. How can a team that has won just two games have momentum? But the Saints may have an ounce of some as they head to the back end of a schedule that all of a sudden looks a lot friendlier. The Saints are coming off a much-needed bye and should be well rested. Their defense played well in the last game. The rookie quarterback showed some promise. And the fans should have some extra juice with their hated rival coming to town. And the Falcons, losers of five straight, look like they may have let go of the rope. Saints better seize the opportunity.Â