Week 13, 08, AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi
The Atlanta Falcons return home in the third week of the 2009 preseason to introduce its team to the hometown fans in the Georgia Dome on Saturday night when they host the San Diego Chargers.
Saturday's meeting will be the fifth between the two teams in the preseason. San Diego holds a 4-1 record against Atlanta during the exhibition season.
The two teams are similar in a lot of ways: two high-powered offenses with defenses that have something to prove.
For San Diego's defense, 2008 was a disappointment that included the loss of All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman. They look to bounce back to their 2007 form, a season that saw them rank among the league leaders in numerous defensive team stats.
For Atlanta, the defense has a new look: younger and faster. Ask any Falcons player and that's the first thing they'll say they noticed about the defensive squad. Head Coach Mike Smith hopes he can replace experience with enthusiasm and energy.
The health of the Falcons has improved in the third week, returning most of the players that missed time last week. They'll also introduce one player that many are anxious to see: second-round safety William Moore.
Moore has missed around three weeks following surgery on his knee.
“We are healthier than we were last week," Smith said Wednesday "We got William Moore back yesterday. He was able to come out and practice today so that’s a positive. We are going to continue to try and stay as healthy as we can. That is our number one goal, to be healthy as possible on our opener.”
Saturday's game will be nationally televised on CBS. It starts at 8 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.
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Any concerns over the lackluster preseason against mostly lackluster opposition when you're in such a tough division?
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