The Falcons haven't feared a truly elite division rival quarterback since Tom Brady joined the Bucs for a three-season run, which ended in 2022. Before that, Drew Brees dominated the division for years and led the Saints to numerous NFC South titles.
Now, the division is without an elite quarterback, but things are starting to change. Ahead of the Falcons' Week 18 matchup against the Saints, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich praised Saints' rookie quarterback Tyler Shough for his emergence these last few weeks.
Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on Saints quarterback Tyler Shough: "He looks like an absolute legitimate NFL quarterback right now.