The Atlanta Falcons ' pass rush struggles continued in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Saints at Caesars Superdome. Perhaps most disappointing for Atlanta, the performance came one week after its most productive performance this season: a three-sack, seven-hit afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys.

It should be no surprise the Atlanta Falcons won’t achieve perfection in their NFC South schedule. Sunday’s 20-17 loss at the New Orleans Saints provided reminders that the Falcons are far from a perfect team.

The Saints rack up 23 points per game, comparable to the 24 the Falcons allow. New Orleans averages just 19.9 fewer yards per game (331.4) than Atlanta gives up per outing (351.3). This season the Saints have turned the ball over 11 times, one more than the Falcons' takeaways (10).

Interim Saints coach Darren Rizzi oversees an NFL staff for the first time this week when New Orleans hosts the Atlanta Falcons.

That was the case for an Atlanta Falcons offense that didn’t change much up but was plagued by miscues, a defense that prioritized stopping the run and largely succeeded while giving up explosive plays,

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo held his hands to his helmet after, on his attempt for a tying field goal, the football banged off the right upright with 6 1/2 minutes remaining against an opponent that hadn't won a game since September.