Players adapting to sudden changes on the pitch is one thing; the offense or defense goes into action after a turnover and plays on.

On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints (2-7) will see how well they adjust to the sudden change off the field when they face Atlanta (6-3) at noon in the Caesars Superdome.

Darren Rizzi was named interim coach Monday after head coach Dennis Allen was fired, marking only the second time in franchise history that a coach has been fired during the season.

But the Saints seemed to adjust well during the week; they will now see if the adrenaline, excitement and changes will result in a change on the field for a team that has lost seven games in a row.

Can New Orleans make the most of a tumultuous situation? The truth is that the Saints remain an injury-ravaged team. Receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, center Erik McCoy and cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and cornerback Marshon Lattimore — all starters in Game 1 — won’t play Sunday (first four due to injury, Lattimore traded). The “next man up” theory has been stretched beyond its limits this season. However, they play the NFC South leaders, a franchise for which there is no love lost, with the memory of gift-wrapping the Falcons a win in Atlanta earlier this season. The latter must be used for fuel and the Saints must get their home crowd on their side.

Alvin Kamara is 12 yards away from becoming the all-time leading rusher in Saints history, and while the Falcons were stingy with him, New Orleans absolutely needs to get the record for Kamara early for a few reasons. It will be great for the fans; it will be great for Kamara; and hopefully it will be an adrenaline rush for a team that needs all the upside it can muster. Atlanta is allowing 133 rushing yards per game, so expect Kamara to break that record. From there, the Saints can ride the moose.