The Atlanta Falcons head to New Orleans to take on the Saints as underdogs. ESPN's panel of writers is split on the outcome.

The connection between Atlanta and New Orleans runs deep in pro sports. The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints are NFC South rivals, and while the Hawks and Pelicans don't technically share a rivalry in the NBA, some of that same energy carries over when the two cities meet on the court.

Week 12 Atlanta Falcons(3-7) at New Orleans Saints(2-8) The New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons here in Week 12. The Falcons are sitting in third place in t

Caesars Superdome is the location where the New Orleans Saints (2-8) will attempt to beat the Atlanta Falcons (3-7) on Sunday. Atlanta opens this game as 1.5-point underdogs. The over-under is set at 39.5.

You get the idea: In a 24-10 loss to Atlanta, which dropped the Saints to 2-9 and prevented their first two-game winning streak this season, describing why was simple because applicable cliches were appropriate. New Orleans committed such self-injury that the Falcons (4-7) only needed to accept the benevolence and not reciprocate.

Atlanta Hawks (9-7, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (2-14, 15th in the Western Conference)

Atl_Mooney 49 pass from Cousins (B.Robinson run), 11:04. Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 00:53. Key Play: Cousins 32 pass to B.Robinson. Atlanta 24, New Orleans 10. A_70,005.

The tensions between Derik Queen and the Hawks have spilled over to the NFL.

The Atlanta Hawks (9-6) are traveling to Smoothie King Center on Saturday where they will attempt to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans (2-13).