Saints were prepared for critical fourth-down play

By Michael Carvell

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Saint remain one of the NFL’s two undefeated teams because linebacker Jonathan Vilma has a good memory.

In Sunday’s most critical play of the game, Vilma clinched the 26-23 win when he recognized a Falcons offensive play from the first quarter. The Falcons had fourth-and-2 situation at the New Orleans 46-yard line with 1:18 remaining, with Jason Snelling catching a short pass out of the backfield.

However, Vilma flattened Snelling almost as soon as he touched the ball, falling one yard short of the first down. Game over. The Saints took possession, with quarterback Drew Brees kneeling for the game’s final two plays.

“That play worked earlier, so you knew they were going to come back to it at a certain point in the game,” said Vilma, a six-year veteran from Miami. “We talked about it on the sidelines and had a different defense ready for it. It worked the second time against it.”

On the play, the Falcons wide receivers and tight end Tony Gonzalez line up together in a “bunch” formation on the right side. Snelling starts off to the left of quarterback Chris Redman, then shifts to the right after going in motion. When the ball is snapped, Snelling trails behind Gonzalez then cuts inside at the line of scrimmage and looks for the ball.

When Redman first made the call in the first quarter, Vilma opted to cover Gonzalez, leaving Snelling wide open in the middle of the field for a 38-yard gain.

With the clock winding down in the fourth and the Falcons needing two yards to keep their upset chances alive, Vilma took one step back with Gonzalez, then charged forward as fast as could, smacking Snelling as he caught the ball.

“I knew where the sticks were the whole time,” Snelling said. “I was trying to beat him across his face, make the catch and get up the field. They read it well.

“It hurts ... having the opportunity to have the ball in your hands at the end of the game. But those things happen and you just let it go.”

Redman had a look of disbelief on his face after the play failed.

“[Snelling] was an early option on the play,” he said. “It worked earlier in the game on a big play. I thought surely we’d get the first down. But they changed up their defense a little bit and they had a guy sitting there to make a great play.”

Snelling and teammate Jerious Norwood did what they could in replacing injured starter Michael Turner. Snelling had a career-high 65 receiving yards on four catches, while rushing for 37 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Norwood rushed nine times for 33 yards.

“It’s frustrating anytime you play with a great team like that for four quarters and then end up with a loss,” Norwood said. “But we’ve got to keep a positive attitude and keep fighting.”