Things have been a little rockier than expected for the Atlanta Falcons this season, and despite some big performances, have struggled to stay consistent. This week they’ll face a familiar foe and NFC South rival, the New Orleans Saints, on Thursday Night Football at 8:25 p.m. ET on NFL Network and NBC (live stream).

Both NFC South teams are still in the hunt for the postseason, with the Saints earning a playoff spot if the season ended today. After their big win over the Panthers last week, New Orleans continues to steam roll competition on their way to a 9-3 season. The Falcons on the other hand sit in the No. 3 spot in the division, and are hoping the Panthers tack on a few more losses to propel Atlanta to the second spot.

This marks the first of two meetings these teams will have this season — and in the final four games of the year — coming face-to-face again on Christmas Eve. The rivalry between these two division foes goes back to the 1960s and has seen a resurgence over the past decade or so. This will be the 97th matchup in the rivalry (including the one postseason game in 1991) with the Falcons leading the overall series, 51-45.

Atlanta claimed the last win in the series, in Week 17 of last season, just before the Falcons went on their Super Bowl run. In that matchup, Matt Ryan threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns — although, the Saints defense has improved markedly in the year since.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

• Time: 8:25 p.m. ET
• Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
• TV: NFL Network and NBC
• Streaming: NBCSports.com | | FuboTV | Amazon Prime
• Odds: The Saints opened as 4-point favorites.

Saints vs. Falcons news:

• It’s hate week for the Saints and Falcons, in a rivalry that dates back to 1967.
• Good thing Matt Ryan is a veteran, because his quarterback coach is headed back to college ball at the end of the season.
• The Saints are hoping to avoid having to move around the players on the offensive line if at all possible — injuries might not let happen, though.

Hendrickson went down yesterday, but ended up returning to action. If the Saints have to play roulette on the offensive line again, Senio Kelemete would step in for him assuming Armstead is back at left tackle.

• Lack of possessions and a litany of penalties spelled trouble for the Falcons last week against the Vikings.

The timing of Thursday night’s pivotal divisional clash can be viewed in multiple ways. On a positive note, the Falcons get an opportunity to rebound quickly and maintain control of their own destiny in the NFC South. The negative side comes from the team’s current health status.

Saints vs. Falcons predictions:

New Orleans has tunnel-vision heading into the postseason, and should come up with a big over the Falcons. Especially if the Saints get Marshon Lattimore back in the secondary, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones could have a tough time scoring enough to keep the game competitive.

Of our eight experts, six think the Saints will win in their Week 14 picks. OddsShark’s computer disagreed, taking Atlanta.

Maybe the NFL should cancel Thursday Night Football