Falcons can't close the upset deal against Saints

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NEW ORLEANS -- The Falcons were teetering on the edge of being another Saints blowout victim.

They survived a flurry, regrouped and then battled back to stand toe-to-toe with their NFC South rivals before coming up short.

The Saints were not in the clear until running back Pierre Thomas did a somersault into the endzone with 3:03 left in the game.

The Saints held on to prevail 35-27 over the Falcons before 70,088 fans on Monday night at the Superdome.

The Saints remain the only undefeated team in the NFC and go to 7-0. The Falcons dropped to 4-3 and fall three games behind the Saints with nine games to play.

The Falcons found their rushing attack as Michael Turner churned more than 150 yards and wide receiver Roddy White turned in a big game, with more than 100 yards receiving.

But in the end, the Falcons defense could not get the Saints and their dynamic quarterback Drew Brees off the field.

The Falcons' defense stiffened in the third quarter. They held the Saints to 64 yards, their lowest output in the third quarter this season.

That allowed the offense a few opportunities to dig out from a 14-point hole, but a challenged call on an apparent touchdown, a late interception and a defensive holding call on Mike Peterson hurt their upset bid.

The Falcons appeared to have the game tied up, 28-28, when Roddy White appeared to have caught a touchdown pass in the back of the endzone. The Saints challenged the catch and won.

The Falcons had to settle for a field goal.

The offense got another chance, this time to take the lead after the defense caused a fumble that was recovered by safety Erik Coleman.

The Falcons were driving in for the go-ahead score, when Matt Ryan was intercepted by Saints defensive back Tracy Porter with 8:30 to play.

The defense needed another stop, but couldn't get it done. The Falcons appeared to have the Saints stopped, when a third down pass intended for Reggie Bush was incomplete. But Peterson was called for defensive holding and that gave the Saints a first down and they went on to seal the victory with a touchdown drive.

The nationally televised game lived up to its hype early.

The two teams traded touchdowns on their opening drives.

The Falcons won the coin and elected to receive. Behind some power running from Turner and a season-high 27-yard catch from tight end Tony Gonzalez, they marched right down the field.

Turner capped an eight-play, 77-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run around right end.

The Saints came right back with their own touchdown drive. Thomas slipped through tackle attempts from John Abraham and Coleman on a 23-yard touchdown run.

The Falcons were unable to take advantage of some good field position after the Saints were called for excessive celebration. The Falcons drive stalled, but Micheal Koenen's punt pinned the Saints at their 8-yard line.

The Falcons defense then came up with a big play.

Safety Thomas DeCoud, on a delayed blitzed, hammered Brees and caused a fumble. Defensive end Kroy Biermann scooped it up and scored from 4 yards out. Jason Elam's extra point made it 14-7.

On their ensuing drive, the Saints overcame a second-and-17 and made their fourth consecutive third down conversion to get into position for a touchdown.

On second-and-7 from the Falcons' 18, Brees found wide receiver Marques Colston in the endzone for a touchdown. Colston, 6-foot-4, soared over cornerback Tye Hill, who was making his first start for the Falcons in place of Brent Grimes, to haul down the catch.

With Turner rolling, the Falcons marched right down the field. But a Michael Jenkins dropped pass on third down forced them to attempt a field goal.

Elam's 34-yard attempt smashed into the left upright and was no good.

Grimes took over from Hill on the next drive and came up with a big interception to stop a promising Saints drive. He nearly leaped out of the Superdome to haul down a pass intended for Devery Henderson.

But the offense couldn't move the ball and were force to punt after a three-and-out.

Then came one of the Saints' scoring flurries that had helped them score at least 45 points in four of their first six games.

The Saints marched 80 yards in six plays. Reggie Bush scored on a 1-yard touchdown to make it 21-14.

Then New Orleans' opportunistic defense came to life. Cornerback Jabari Greer stepped in front of a Ryan pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown and a 28-14 halftime lead.