Getty Marcus Mariota's first outing as Matt Ryan's replacement will be a tough one.
Marcus Mariota’s first chance to improve the fortunes of the Atlanta Falcons comes against a tough New Orleans Saints defense on Sunday. Mariota is the new QB1 after the Falcons traded Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts back in March.
The switch at football’s most important position was the signature move among widespread changes to the roster. There’s new personnel at wide receiver and across a defense that ranked 29th in points last season.
Changes have been more subtle but no less significant for the Saints. Specifically, Sean Payton is no longer head coach, and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was elevated to the position.
Allen does still have Pete Carmichael Jr. to call a loaded offense that will continue to rely on the multi-faceted talents of running back Alvin Kamara.
The game (1 p.m. ET) will be televised on Fox in select markets. If the game is in your market, you can watch a live stream on FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both include Fox in the most markets and come with a free trial.
Those are the two best options if the game is in your market, but there are some other alternatives, including some for out-of-market viewers, so here’s a full guide on the different ways to watch the Saints vs Falcons streaming live online today:
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FuboTV
Note: This is an option if the game is in your market
You can watch a live stream of Fox and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the Saints vs Falcons live on the FuboTV app or FuboTV website.
Compatible devices for the FuboTV app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch the game live on the Fox Spots app or FoxSports.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your FuboTV credentials to do that.
DirecTV Stream
Note: This is an option if the game is in your market
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” Fox is included in every one, and you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the Saints vs Falcons live on the DirecTV Stream app or DirecTV Stream website.
Compatible devices for the DirecTV Stream app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch the game live on the Fox Sports app or FoxSports.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials to do that.
Hulu With Live TV
Note: This is an option if the game is in your market
You can watch a live stream of Fox and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes access to both ESPN+ and Disney+ at no added cost:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the Saints vs Falcons live on the Hulu app or Hulu website.
Compatible devices for the Hulu app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch the game live on the Fox Sports app or FoxSports.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Hulu credentials to log in and watch.
SundayTicket.TV
Note: This is an option if the game is out of your market
You can watch a live stream of every out-of-market, non-nationally televised NFL game via SundayTicket.TV. Unfortunately, the service is only available for people who live in residences where DirecTV Satellite isn’t available (apartments, condos, etc.), residents of a few select metropolitan cities or college students. You can check your eligibility and sign up here:
Once signed up, out-of-market fans can watch the Saints vs Falcons live on the NFL Sunday Ticket app or NFL Sunday Ticket website.
Compatible devices for the NFL Sunday Ticket app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Samsung Smart TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
DirecTV Satellite
Note: This is an option if the game is out of your market
This is different from “DirecTV Stream,” which is a live-streaming service that comes with no contract and doesn’t offer Sunday Ticket in any of its packages.
DirecTV Satellite is a cable option, which comes with a contract, but it’s worth mentioning here because for many people, it’s the only way to get Sunday Ticket and watch live out-of-market games in the United States. Sunday Ticket is currently included at no extra cost with the “Choice” ($69.99 per month) and above TV bundles:
Once signed up for DirecTV, out-of-market viewers can watch the Saints vs Falcons live on the DirecTV app or DirecTV website.
NFL+
You can watch in-market games live and out-of-market games as replays after their conclusion on NFL+, which comes with a free seven-day trial and then costs $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year after that:
Once you’re signed up for NFL+, you can watch the Saints vs Falcons live on the NFL app or NFL website.
Compatible devices for the NFL app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
If You Live in Canada: DAZN
Viewers in Canada can watch a live stream of every NFL game (preseason, regular season, postseason), NFL Network and NFL RedZone via DAZN, which comes with a free trial:
Once signed up, viewers in Canada can watch the Saints vs Falcons live on the DAZN app or DAZN website.
Compatible devices for the DAZN app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Samsung Smart TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
Saints vs Falcons Preview
The Saints are brimming with talent on both sides of the ball, particularly defensively. Cameron Jordan continues to lead a marauding defensive line also featuring Marcus Davenport and David Onyemata, while Demario Davis remains a force at linebacker.
Things look even better in a secondary where former Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Tyrann Mathieu joins cornerback Marshon Lattimore and safety Marcus Maye. It’s difficult to believe Mariota will find much joy against this unit when he’s throwing to a group of wide receivers with plenty to prove.
Calvin Ridley’s indefinite suspension for betting violations forced the Falcons into a full-scale reboot at the position. Drake London was drafted in the first round, but the eighth-overall pick has been dealing with a knee problem, although Josh Kendall of The Athletic thinks the signs point toward London playing in the season opener:
Falcons rookie WR Drake London (knee) moving around like a guy who will be playing Sunday against the Saints. Atlanta still officially on the fence about his availability.
If he can’t play, the Falcons and Mariota will be forced to rely on former Las Vegas Raiders draft flop Bryan Edwards and journeyman Damiere Byrd.
London isn’t the only prominent wide receiver who is a doubt for this game. The same is true of Michael Thomas, who is listed as “questionable” with a hamstring problem on the Saints’ injury report.
Thomas has missed his share of time, including nine games in 2020 and all of last season with ankle and hamstring injuries, but he sounds confident about returning to form this year. The player who caught 149 passes in 2019 also thinks he can be a factor in Week 1:
Michael Thomas can’t wait.
Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees will be confident about handling the Saints’ wideouts, even if Thomas plays. Pees has a stellar cornerback rotation headlined by starters A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward, but the play-caller should be more concerned about his reshuffled front seven.
Edge-rusher Lorenzo Carter arrived from the New York Giants in free agency, along with former Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Rashaan Evans. They will be key figures in beefing up a defense that logged a league-low 18 sacks in 2021.
Getting to Saints QB Jameis Winston won’t be Pees’ priority as much as keeping Kamara under wraps. Not many teams are able to a running back arguably more effective as a receiver than he is on the ground.
If Kamara gets on track early, the Saints will win this one with room to spare.