Falcons sought running back help

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NEW ORLEANS – Falcons running backs Jerious Norwood (right hip flexor) and Jason Snelling (hamstring) were inactive for the nationally televised game against the Saints on Monday night.

Fullback Ovie Mughelli, who did not play in each of the last two games, did return to action.

To help provide depth, the Falcons signed running back Aaron Stecker last Tuesday. Stecker and Verron Haynes played reserve roles.

Stecker did not run from scrimmage in the first half, but he did have a reception for 5 yards. Haynes also had two catched for 12 yards.

Michael Turner was working on his best game of the season with  151 yards on 20 carries.

Musical cornerbacks

The Falcons started Tye Hill at left cornerback. But after he gave up a touchdown catch, Brent Grimes returned to the field.

Grimes had a spectacular interception in the second quarter.

The Falcons traded for Hill, sending a seventh-round pick to the St. Louis Rams before the outset of the season. It was his first start with the Falcons.

Baker's battles

Left tackle Sam Baker had a rough day. He gave up two sacks to Saints defensive end Will Smith and was called for holding in the third quarter.

Lofton goes down

Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton went down in the second quarter and was checked out by the medical staff.

They were looking at his left leg. He left the field under his own power and returned to action.

First-down runs

The Falcons were able to move the ball against the Saints despite not getting much on first downs.

The Falcons entered the game with 98 first-down rushes for 307 yards (3.1 per carry).

Against the Saints when the Falcons ran it on first down in the first half, they gained 3, 0, 3, 3, and 4 yards.

Sharper's stalkings

Saints free safety Darren Sharper has been stalking some of the league's younger quarterbacks early this season. He had six interceptions and the team had 13 before facing the Falcons.

The Saints have gotten fat against some of the league's young quarterbacks. They have already faced Detroit's Matthew Stafford, Miami's Chad Henne, New York Jets rookie Mark Sanchez and Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb.

New Orleans cornerback Jabari Greer got the Saints an interception in the second quarter and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown.

Bush whacked

Saints running back Reggie Bush appeared on Sports Illustrated last week for his Superman leap into the end zone against Miami last week.

He walked into the endzone against the Falcons on a 1-yard run to make it 21-14 late in the second quarter.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees faked inside and tossed it out to Bush, who went in untouched.

Streak continued

Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez pushed his streak of catching at least one pass to 138 games with his 27-yard catch in the first quarter.

Brees a surgeon

In last season's first matchup, nine Falcons batted down at least one of Brees' passes, and he was intercepted three times. The Falcons held Brees to his lowest completion percentage of the season (53.4).

They needed a repeat performance, but Brees was near perfect as the Saints built a 28-14 halftime lead.

He was 15 of 17 for 201 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the first half.