Falcons-Saints Week 17 Contest Has Highest Total of the Season
The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons are two teams known for putting a ridiculous amount of points on the board while playing downright embarrassing defense. Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that the total for the NFC South rivals’ Week 17 clash, which was sitting at 56.5 at the time of writing, is the highest of the 2016 NFL season.
New Orleans leads the NFL in total yards per game (422.9) and passing yards (315.5), while ranking second in points per game (29.1). On the other side of the coin, they’re allowing opponents to average 369.4 total yards per game (25th), 270.5 passing yards (30th) and 27.7 points (30th).
Atlanta, meanwhile, is averaging 412.5 yards (second), 293.5 yards through the air (third) and 33.5 points (first). The Falcons defensive unit is coughing up 364.4 total yards (23rd) and 261.7 passing yards (26th) and letting opposing teams score 24.9 points per game (25th).
In the infamous words of our boy Glenny Balls from Barstool Sports: welcome to OVER city.
Before this week, the Falcons-Saints Week 3 contest was previously the highest total of the season at 54.5. The teams combined for a staggering 77 points to sail way above the number.
Here’s a look at the top five highest totals from the 2016 campaign as well as from the last five years:
| Date | Away | Home | Closing Total | Final Score | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 26 | Falcons | Saints | 54.5 | 77 | O |
| Oct. 2 | Saints | Chargers | 54 | 69 | O |
| Nov. 20 | Titans | Colts | 54 | 41 | U |
| Dec. 4 | Lions | Saints | 53.5 | 41 | U |
| Sept. 18 | Saints | Giants | 53.5 | 29 | U |
| Date | Away | Home | Closing Total | Final Score | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 27, 2013 | Redskins | Broncos | 58.5 | 66 | O |
| Nov. 16, 2014 | Patriots | Colts | 58.5 | 62 | O |
| Sept. 29, 2013 | Eagles | Broncos | 57.5 | 72 | O |
| Nov. 30, 2014 | Patriots | Packers | 57.5 | 47 | U |
| Jan. 19, 2014 | Patriots | Broncos | 56.5 | 44 | U |
| Jan. 19, 2014 | Patriots | Broncos | 56.5 | 44 | U |
| Dec. 21, 2014 | Falcons | Saints | 56.5 | 44 | U |
| Nov. 27, 2014 | Eagles | Cowboys | 56.5 | 43 | U |
| Nov. 10, 2013 | Broncos | Chargers | 56.5 | 48 | U |
| Nov. 10, 2013 | Chargers | Broncos | 56.5 | 47 | U |
