The Atlanta Falcons are headed into their biggest game so far this season tonight with a matchup against their most hated rival New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

It's the second straight primetime game for Atlanta and the second of an unusual three straight standalone games in this early portion of the season, and though it feels now like a lifetime ago, the Falcons are coming off their first victory. Absolutely suffocating the Green Bay Packers behind an incredible defensive performance and an offense that found its footing behind big nights from Bijan Robinson and Drake London, Atlanta will be looking for more of the same tonight.

The Saints present a very different test, and the rivalry game comes with its own set of challenges.With that being said, this is an opportunity for the Falcons to establish themselves as the team to beat in the NFC South.

In Friday's Roundtable, I predicted Falcons 24, Saints 19, and over the weekend, I have not changed my feeling on that. This is a game that Atlanta can and should win, and while New Orleans is a strong team with a talented young quarterback, the Falcons have a better roster top to bottom and are capable of giving Tyler Shough a whole lot of problems.

The way Atlanta has been playing defensively as of late, it's hard to see anyone lighting this unit on fire, and a Saints unit who has gotten off to some slow starts through the first few weeks could fall victim to the same against the Falcons.

If Michael Penix can avoid the disaster that was his first couple of drives against Green Bay, this absolutely can be a game that Atlanta not only wins, but makes a major statement in the process that they are the best team in this division.

This will be a huge challenge against a crowd that will be on absolute fire, but that does not make this an impossible task by any means. A victory would complete the statement that the first two games of the season for the Falcons were indeed a fluke and this team is a contender.

A loss would be equally as devastating, but it feels like Atlanta has a great chance to go into the building of their biggest rival and send the away fans home upset.

Time will tell if they can do just that.