Allen's season-ending torn Achilles tendon as "another devastating blow" to the Atlanta Falcons' defense.Unfortunately for the Falcons (1-2) Cheap Vonn Bell Jersey , Manuel has made similar comments too often in the first month of the season. Every week, it seems, the Atlanta defense has to adjust to another jarring injury .After already placing four players on injured reserve, including three top starters on defense, the Falcons will attempt to regroup when they face quarterback Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.Allen was hurt early in overtime of last week's 43-37 loss to New Orleans . The Falcons gave up 32 first downs and 534 yards as Saints quarterback Drew Brees took advantage of a depleted defense that already has lost safety Keanu Neal for the season and linebacker Deion Jones for at least eight weeks.Defensive ends Takkarist McKinley and Derrick Shelby also were held out against New Orleans with groin injuries. McKinley is expected to play this week.Players and coaches often recite "next man up" statements of hope, but that jargon carries little weight when that next man doesn't play like the starter he replaced."This time the next man has got to be ready to tackle," Manuel said. "We all saw that. It was nowhere near our standard a week ago."The defensive woes have overshadowed Atlanta's offensive revival. The Falcons lost last week despite Matt Ryan's first career game with five touchdown passes, including three to rookie Calvin Ridley .Atlanta also has lost left guard Andy Levitre for the season with torn triceps.The Bengals (2-1) have ample weapons to take advantage of replacement starters, even with running back Joe Mixon missing his second straight game following knee surgery.Giovani Bernard is expected to start against an Atlanta defense unable to cover running backs out of the backfield for two straight weeks. Alvin Kamara (15 for 124 yards) and Carolina's Christian McCaffrey (14 for 102 yards) each had big receiving days against the Falcons.The Falcons rank 27th overall on defense. The Bengals, only one spot better at 26th, have their own defensive concerns, especially on third down . Cincinnati has allowed opponents to convert 52 percent of third downs, worst in the NFL.New Bengals defensive coordinator Teryl Austin saw indications of improvement against Carolina, when Cincinnati allowed only 2 of 7 conversions on third down in the second half."Believe it or not Cheap Austin Carr Jersey , I thought we were really close to fixing it this week," Austin said. "I think we'll have an opportunity to fix that. I think we'll be better next week."Here are some things to look for in only the 14th meeting between the Bengals and Falcons:GIO'S MOMENTThe Bengals will rely heavily on Bernard for a second straight game. Bernard had 12 carries for 61 yards in the loss to Carolina, and caught five passes for 25 yards. One of Bernard's best games came in 2014 against the Falcons, when he had 169 scrimmage yards — 90 rushing, 79 receiving — during the Bengals' 24-10 win.RYAN'S OPTIONSWith the Saints devoting extra defensive attention to Julio Jones last week, Ridley ripped man coverages to set a franchise rookie record for touchdown catches in a game. Now the passing game looks more balanced with Jones, Ridley, Mohamed Sanu and tight end Austin Hooper among Ryan's options."It feels good to see all of us involved and we're moving the ball like we want to move it," Ridley said.HELP COMINGThe Bengals get back linebacker Vontaze Burfict after the Atlanta game. He was suspended for the first four because he violated the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.NEW STARTERSDamontae Kazee and Jordan Richards will be Atlanta's starters at the safety spots. Wes Schweitzer took over for Levitre last week. Rookie linebacker Foye Oluokun moves into the lineup in Atlanta's base defense, though nickel back Brian Poole started last week.'BAMA BRAGGINGThree former Alabama players will be lined up in the passing game with a little nostalgia and pride on the line . Atlanta receiver Julio Jones was the sixth overall pick in 2011 out of Alabama, where cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick guarded him in practice. Kirkpatrick went to Cincinnati with the 17th overall pick a year later. Ridley also is from Alabama.Kirkpatrick said "Bragging rights and everything" will be on the line.AP Sports Writer Joe Kay contributed to this report2018 New Orleans Saints Training Camp Preview: Defensive End New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton outlined his team's desire to add an impact player in his defensive front seven shortly after the 2018 offseason began. Mission Accomplished: the Saints pulled off a trade with the Green Bay Packers to move up to the 14th pick of the 1st round of the draft to select edge rusher Marcus Davenport from the University of Texas San Antonio. Davenport, the near consensus second best edge rusher in the draft, joins a Saints defensive end corps that was responsible for 26 of the team's 42 sacks. New Orleans finally did get some consistently effective play from the edge opposite of All-Pro end Cameron Jordan, but injuries took their toll at the position down the stretch of last season. DEFENSIVE END Key Losses: noneKey Additions: Marcus Davenport (draft Cheap Sheldon Rankins Jersey , 1st round)Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty ImagesCam Jordan had the finest season of his almost criminally underrated seven year career. Jordan had career highs in sacks (13), passes deflected (an incredible 11), and solo tackles (48). He also forced two fumbles and scored the game-clinching touchdown on an interception in a week six victory over Detroit. Jordan earned his first All-Pro honors, and was in the running for the league's defensive player of the year. He is the unquestioned leader of a young and improving defense, and is one of the better all-around defenders in the National Football League. He mixes a devastating combination of speed and power to dominate opposing blockers, and has the athleticism to even drop into coverage. Jordan is in the prime of his career, and is one of the league's better defensive edge players. Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesWhile Cam has shown the ability to take over a game, the Saints finally got him some help on the other side of the line in 2017. Alex Okafor was signed as a free agent away from Arizona, and was having his best professional season before an Achilles injury ended his year in week eleven. He still finished tied for second on the team with 4.5 sacks, provided consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks each week, and is one of the team's better run defenders. The 27-yr old Okafor was re-signed to a two year contract extension this offseason , and should be fully recovered by the start of the season. His return to form is important for a New Orleans defense that struggled at times during his absence. The Saints used one of their three 3rd round draft choices in 2017 to nab versatile defensive end Trey Hendrickson from Florida Atlantic. Hendrickson is a tenacious defender, who got off to a slow rookie start due to injury. He contributed 2 sacks, while proving to be a solid run defender and valuable part of the line rotation. Hau'oli Kikaha has never been able to capitalize on his tremendous potential since being selected in the second round of the 2015 draft Cheap Alvin Kamara Jersey , mainly due to various injuries. He did sack opposing quarterbacks 4 times in 2017, still showing good speed around the edge, and Kikaha also plays the run well. Coaches intend on giving Kikaha more snaps at linebacker this preseason. The move is presumably intended to allow him to make plays in space, but will likely only be for specialized packages, because he does struggle in pass coverage. When injuries struck Okafor, Hendrickson, and Kikaha late last season, veteran free agent George Johnson stepped in and made some key plays down the stretch of the year. A bit of a journeyman with five different stops in a five year career, the 30-yr old Johnson logged some valuable snaps for a Saints defense thinned out by injury. Alex Jenkins will have another opportunity to grab a roster spot in his second year with the team. Part of the NFL's International Program, if Jenkins does not make the roster, he will be granted as an exemption as an extra member of the practice squad. Second year end Al-Quadin Muhammad led the Saints in sacks last preseason to earn him a spot on the roster, but saw little action during the regular season. A raw project with tremendous power and an explosive burst, Muhammad must be more disciplined against the run and hopefully add some additional pass rush to his repertoire. The 2017 6th round pick from Miami (Fla.) could definitely be a factor for significant snaps in 2018.Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty ImagesAll eyes will be on the rookie Davenport, as he looks to justify the 2019 first round draft pick the Saints traded to move and get him. Davenport had onlookers amazed by his blend of athletic ability and strength during the team's minicamp and OTA workouts Terron Armstead Jersey , but it remains to be seen how that potential will translate to game competition right away. The biggest criticism of Davenport was the fact that he didn't face top caliber competition in college with the Roadrunners, playing in Conference USA, but he did stand out during the collegiate postseason competitions. Davenport has potentially elite athleticism and power that could make him a "special" player, according to many scouts. He was slowed by a thumb injury sustained in offseason workouts, but will be fully recovered by the start of camp practices. With the expected recovery of Okafor, along with depth provided by Hendrickson, Kikaha, Johnson, and perhaps Muhammad, Davenport may not be expected to be a full-time starter immediately. He will certainly be used in passing situations right away, as he hopefully rounds into an every down player. If Davenport can quickly become the pass rushing force that his potential suggests, then a talented and improved New Orleans defense could very well become one of the NFL's elite in 2018.