NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- They still cheer him when Morten Andersen walks on to the Superdome field. No one has more respect for or bittersweet memories of the Atlanta Falcons kicker than New Orleans Saints fans.

"He should still be on this team," said longtime Saints fan Paul Washington, 63, of Metairie. "It just kills me to see him in an Atlanta uniform."

When Andersen takes the field with the Falcons (0-4) against the Saints (1-2) on Sunday, he'll be hoping to help Atlanta break out of its dismal start while deepening the depression his defection five years ago sparked.

For 13 years Andersen provided the brightest spot Saints fans had, sometimes the only bright spot. When he left, after a falling out over his contract with then-coach Jim Mora, Andersen was New Orleans' leader in career points with 1,318.

This week he was still inspiring nostalgic conversations as fans anticipated his return for Sunday's game. Like Andersen, they are thinking of the kicks made, including NFL records for 50-yard kicks (35) and game winners (25), not his 2-for-6 mark this season.

"I don't look at it as a slump," Andersen said of this season's slide. "I know a lot of media like to use that word. I keep remembering that I have 403 field goals over 18 years. Missing four kicks to me is not a slump."

If Andersen -- who counts on positive thinking, visualization, and ability to focus almost as much his strong left leg to help him make kicks -- wants to eliminate negative thoughts, no place is better than the Superdome.

It was there he first earned the nickname "Mr. Automatic," making 302 field goals and scoring in 174 straight games.

Andersen's most memorable moment came 8{ months ago in the NFC championship game, when his 38-yarder in overtime sent the Falcons to their first Super Bowl.

Even if Andersen refuses to call it a slump, Falcons coach Dan Reeves believes that's exactly what it is, comparing it to a hitter in baseball.

"I think that when you miss some, all of a sudden he missed the first three, and two of those were in the opening game, in a crucial game," Reeves said, "And that just gets you worried a bit, and that's where it started, it was from the first game."

Reeves maintains that his confidence in Andersen has not wavered, despite his refusal to let Andersen attempt a 53-yard field goal that would have won the Ravens game. Instead, the Falcons punted and lost 19-13 in overtime.

"Calling a timeout, then deciding to punt the football, to me that was the biggest mistake I made," Reeves said. "Not going for it had nothing to do with Morten. I have the best kicker of all time."

If there's ever been a time or place for Andersen to regain his form, it's Sunday in the Superdome.

The Falcons are only one loss from equaling the worst start by a Super Bowl team, but the 1987 New York Giants lost the final three of their first five games using replacement players.

Desperation also lurks around the Saints, where the offense ranks 27th and both losses have come in the closing minutes.

"I don't believe Morten's lost anything," Saints tackle William Roaf said. "We just have to make sure it doesn't get to the point he can win it for them. If that happens we're in big trouble."

ATLANTA Season schedule and results

NEW ORLEANS Season schedule and results

September 12 Minnesota L 14-17 September 20 @Dallas L 7-24 September 26 @St. Louis L 7-35 October 3 Baltimore L 13-19 October 10 @New Orleans 1:00pm ET October 17 St. Louis 1:00pm ET October 25 @Pittsburgh 9:00pm ET October 31 Carolina 1:00pm ET November 7 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET November 21 @Tampa Bay 1:00pm ET November 28 @Carolina 8:20pm ET December 5 New Orleans 1:00pm ET December 12 @San Francisco 4:15pm ET December 19 @Tennessee 1:00pm ET December 26 Arizona 1:00pm ET January 3 San Francisco 9:00pm ET

September 12 Carolina W 19-10 September 19 @San Francisco L 21-28 October 3 @Chicago L 10-14 October 10 Atlanta 1:00pm ET October 17 Tennessee 1:00pm ET October 24 @NY Giants 1:00pm ET October 31 Cleveland 1:00pm ET November 7 Tampa Bay 4:05pm ET November 14 San Francisco 1:00pm ET November 21 @Jacksonville 8:20pm ET November 28 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET December 5 @Atlanta 1:00pm ET December 12 St. Louis 1:00pm ET December 19 @Baltimore 1:00pm ET December 24 Dallas 3:05pm ET January 2 @Carolina 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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