The Atlanta Falcons are about to play one of the biggest games in their franchise history on Dec. 27. Monday Night Football against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints with the NFC South title and homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs on the line. Too. Much. Excitement. If the Falcons are going to beat the Saints, Roddy White will need to be his smiling, touchdown-catching self.
Since White joined the Atlanta Falcons as the 27th overall pick in 2005 NFL Draft out of UAB, he's proven he can play this game we call football. Evidence? I'm glad you asked. His 13 catches against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 this season set a career-high and was the third-most in Falcons history. His 210-yard performance last season against the San Francisco 49ers was a personal-best though he challenged his own record with a 201-yard receiving day against the Cincinnati Bengals this season. Let's not forget he's had five games with at least two touchdown catches since 2008. That's tied for fourth-best in the NFL.
How about the Saints? White has more yards (724) and touchdowns (6) against the Saints - and third-most receptions (41) - then he has against any other team. He has three 100-yard games against the Fleur-de-lis but has done better IN New Orleans than he has at the Georgia Dome. In six road games, White has averaged 4.7 receptions for 76.8 yards and scored three touchdowns. At home, he's averaged only 2.6 catches and 52.6 yards but has scored three touchdowns in five games. Overall, his numbers are not wholly impressive (3.7 rec., 65.8 yards per game) against the Saints but he'll have an opportunity to fix that and according to his Twitter feed, he's fired up to do just that.