The Saints went back to work today as they prepare for Sunday’s game in Atlanta. Hot topics today at camp were of keeping the undefeated streak going, of securing a first round by, and of a possible tough game against the Dirty Birds.

Atlanta is coming off a 34-7 loss to the Eagles, only their second loss at home in two seasons, and that’s something this being focused on by the Saints. “They play very very well at home. They’re 12-2 in the last two years at home and never lost back to back games at home. They only lost one game last year and one game this year and it was just this past week against Philly,” says Saints quarterback Drew Brees. “I know how ready they’re going to be for this game, and just the fact that it is still a divisional opponent on the road regardless of record or anything else. This is still a very good football team.”A year ago, Atlanta beat New Orleans 34-20 “Our focus really is square on Atlanta. We had trouble playing there last year,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said. In Week 8, the Saints edged the Falcons 35-27 in a tough physical game in which  Atlanta jumped out to an early lead, and saw running back Michael Turner rush for 151 yards. “They’re a team that’s lost two games since Mike’s been there at home period. They play very well there. It’s a tough place to play in we’re going to have to play better than we did the last time we played Atlanta at home here on Monday night to have a chance to win this game. We didn’t win the turnover ratio. We gave up big rushing plays. We gave up a handful of opportunities and to give credit to Atlanta they were able to take advantage of a number of those things. ”

A win Sunday would secure the Saints of a first round bye in the playoffs. the bye gives the team a week of rest and makes it to where you only need to win two games instead of three to reach the Super Bowl.

“In ’06 we had that bye and so I think that is important. We talked last week there are these small steps along the way and the only step that we can take this week is this game against Atlanta,” Payton says, “and that step would secure a bye in that first round and I think that’s significant when it comes to guys that are injured and getting guys healthy and back for the playoff game. So that is an important step.”

“Each week now holds another prize at the end of it. You win this week, you secure a first round bye. Maybe the next week or the week after you secure potentially the one seed and then potentially the week after that you have an opportunity to make history and you’re in the playoffs” says Brees. ”So it gets more and more exciting each and every week, just like last we win, we’re division champs, no matter what else happens. We win we’re division champs. Every week it gets more exciting.”

And of course that history Brees refers to is accomplishing an undefeated regular season. As a team, the Saints have said that going undefeated would be a nice accomplishment, but not a focus. The fact that they are just four wins away however has players perhaps tasting history.

“All I’ll say is this. You have an opportunity to make history,” states Brees. “the more that you win and stay undefeated, the more distractions that come with that, the more people are calling you, the more media people want to talk to you, the more people want to talk about an undefeated season. No, this team can handle it. I think we’ve handled it well. Really six weeks ago is really when the rumblings started that they could do it and now all of a sudden we’re 12-0. Let’s finish this thing the way that we started.”

BUMPS AND BRUISES

Four players did not practice on Wednesday. LB Scott Fujita, CB Tracy Porter, LB Marvin Mitchell, and CB Jabari Greer.

While Greer practiced on a limited basis most of the last two weeks, General Manager Mickey Loomis told Sirius Satellite Radio that Greer will miss a couple more weeks. And Coach Sean Payton admitted Wednesday that Greer is dealing with both groin and abdomen injuries.

“Here’s the thing, there’s two aspects to the groin,” said Payton Wednesday. “There’s the groin and the abdomen area. And so one aspect he’s getting better, and the other we’re still working on with the rehab.”

14 players practiced on a limited basis. WR Lance Moore (ankle and hamstring), CB Randall Gay (hamstring), RB Reggie Bush (knee), RB Pierre Thomas (quad), RB Mike Bell (knee), RB Lynell Hamilton (shoulder), LT Jermon Bushrod (thumb), G Jahri Evans (toe), C Jonathan Goodwin (ankle), TE Darnell Dinkins (foot), DT Sedrick Ellis (knee), DE Bobby McCray (knee), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee) and S Usama Young (hip/calf).

You can always get more from Gus at GKattSports.com

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