I get a bit nervous when the rest of the world is thinking the same way. But much like the emotion following Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans will be the toughest atmosphere to play in Sunday. I am not totally sold on the Saints being back, but Sean Payton returning is a humungous emotional lift for this team.

Saints have an 11-3 SU advantage over the Falcons since 2006 when Sean Payton was hired as coach in New Orleans and the Saints are 10-2 against the Falcons with Payton and Brees together.

The Saints certainly aren't treating this like their other seven home games. They're pulling out all of the stops. Longtime public address announcer Jerry Romig will be honored before the game. Local hero Steve Gleason, who's courageously battling ALS, will be recognized as well. And Saints coach Sean Payton's official return to the sideline will add juice.

The presence of the archrival Falcons, who won the NFC South title and earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs last season, will amp the atmosphere even more. Even Drew Brees is talking as if this is no normal regular season game.

Atlanta won a lot of close games last year and could easily have had several more losses. They do not have such good fortune in this one.