We’ve already talked about how important Taysom Hill is to the New Orleans Saints’ offense – but his history against this week’s opponent cannot be understated. You’d be hard-pressed to find a player who has played better than Hill recently if the Atlanta Falcons face him. Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Hill is expected to play Sunday against the Falcons after missing last week’s game with a pectoral injury.

When Hill was available, the Saints were 10-4 in games against Atlanta, and he was a key factor in their success. Hill recorded 62 carries against the Falcons at 7.1 yards per attempt, totaling 438 yards on the ground. That’s more than anyone has hit against Atlanta since 2018 except Hill’s Saints teammate Alvin Kamara (768). He is tied with Ezekiel Elliiott and D’Onta Foreman for the most touchdown runs scored (4).

He also played aerial games. In games with the Falcons, Hill caught all ten targets thrown his way, gaining exactly 100 yards and scoring a touchdown. And when called upon to throw, he went 57 of 75 for 702 yards and 4 touchdowns without a single interception. Add it all up and Hill touched the ball 147 times in 14 games, totaling 1,240 all-purpose yards, while scoring 9 touchdowns. He only turned the ball over three times, all fumbles.

So he returns to his team at the right time. The Saints are dealing with a lot of adversity after being hit hard by injuries in their Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Getting Hill back into the lineup could be just the opportunity they need to overcome these challenges. While it’s a team sport, having an impactful player like Hill back out there should be reassuring for the rest of the offense.