The Atlanta Falcons host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday to kick off the common season, with the matchup marking the 107th assembly between the rivals.

Nevertheless, the latest version incorporates a twist: a pair of quarterbacks making their first begin in opposition to the opposite for his or her new workforce.

For the Falcons, veteran Marcus Mariota is poised to make his debut in Atlanta and return to the beginning function for the primary time since Week 6 of 2019.

On New Orleans’ aspect, Jameis Winston will start his second season because the beginning sign caller, coming off a torn ACL in Week 8 final 12 months that ended his marketing campaign earlier than dealing with the Falcons.

Nonetheless, Winston is a well-known opponent for the Falcons, as he is made 9 profession begins in opposition to the workforce as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The previous No. 1 total draft decide – taken one slot above Mariota – has a profession document of 4-5 in opposition to Atlanta.

Whereas Winston isn’t any stranger to the Falcons group, there’s a component of unknown coming into the matchup because of the variety of modifications which have taken place since 2019, the final time he performed in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Aside from Atlanta being totally different below heart, Sunday’s sport can be Winston’s first in opposition to Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and his second versus defensive coordinator Dean Pees. Additional, defensive deal with Grady Jarrett is Atlanta’s solely energetic defensive participant nonetheless within the image from the 2019 contest.

Regardless of the shortage of historical past between Pees and Winston, Atlanta’s 73-year-old defensive coordinator holds a excessive stage of respect for the expertise and improvement the previous Florida State star has proven, and understands the problem that lays forward within the season opener

“The factor about (Winston) is that he is acquired a really robust arm,” Pees proclaimed. “He is correct, at instances – he can have his moments, however he is acquired a robust, robust arm. I feel he is actually improved in studying coverages over time. Additionally, the system, I feel, in New Orleans is useful to him to what it has been elsewhere. The opposite factor is that he has damage individuals along with his toes; he is been cell.”

Winston had 32 scrambles for 166 yards in his seven begins final 12 months, usually beating groups out of construction quite than getting designed runs. Now 28, the 6-4, 231-pound Winston continues to be lower than a 12 months faraway from his ACL harm and suffered a foot harm in coaching camp that hindered his preseason. Briefly, Winston’s legs probably will not be a featured a part of the Saints’ sport plan.

Regardless, Winston’s by no means been the normal twin menace quarterback and is not one of many first names that involves thoughts when fascinated about the league’s prime rushers from the place. Nonetheless, his operating fashion shares resemblance to a different big-bodied gunslinger, in keeping with Pees.

“He is not solely cell, (however) he is additionally a giant dude,” stated Pees. “It isn’t like (former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben) Roethlisberger; he wasn’t cell, he was nifty, as a result of he might make you miss however he was exhausting to convey down even while you hit him. Jameis is a bit bit the identical approach; he is a giant man. I’ve seen him scramble and damage individuals, and I’ve gone in opposition to him over time. He can put the ball in there. He is definitely a giant menace.”

Pees would be the main coach assigned to stopping Winston on Sunday, however he is removed from the one particular person in Atlanta’s constructing who’s taken discover of Winston’s high-end arm expertise. Regardless of by no means having to sport plan in opposition to the previous Heisman Trophy winner, Smith has seen Winston play twice; as soon as because the Tennessee Titans’ assistant tight finish’s coach and one other because the workforce’s offensive coordinator.

Now tasked with operating the whole operation, Smith has spent the final week scheming up methods to restrict Winston by way of the air. Rating atop the record of the way to do precisely that’s producing strain early and sometimes.

“Jameis, (I’ve) gone in opposition to him when he was with Tampa,” Smith stated. “He is acquired a stay arm and I’ve acquired numerous respect for him. He will preserve swinging (regardless of) the way it goes. They have good expertise round him. He is acquired a heck of an arm; he is acquired good expertise on this league. If we will not have an effect on him early, he could make it hell for us.”

One of many gamers Atlanta can be reliant on to make Winston uncomfortable within the pocket is the aforementioned Jarrett. In seven matchups in opposition to Winston, Jarrett has loved nice success, totaling six tackles for loss and three.5 sacks.

With the 2 primed so as to add one other sport to the full on Sunday, Jarrett heaped reward on Winston whereas echoing his head coach’s feedback.

“Out of all of the quarterbacks that I’ve performed in my profession, whether or not it is school or execs, he is one of many prime so far as competes,” Jarrett revealed. “He is only a tremendous competitor. He will go exhausting to the tip and simply straight willpower. He could make all of the throws, however we have got to positively attempt to put strain on him and preserve him uneasy within the pocket.”

The Falcons and Saints cut up the season sequence a 12 months in the past, with New Orleans rolling out Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill at quarterback after Winston went down. Now keen to construct on final 12 months’s 7-10 document, Atlanta’s embracing the challenges that Winston presents.

“It is positively going to be a troublesome matchup,” Jarrett started, “(however) we wish to compete in opposition to the very best they’ve to supply.”

You’ll be able to comply with Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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