In-game Replay: Falcons take the lead on lengthy second-quarter touchdown drive

12/7/17 - Atlanta -  Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) gains five yards on the Falcons first possession. The drive ended in a field goal.  Atlanta Falcons play their rival, the New Orleans Saints in an NFL football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.   Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

12/7/17 - Atlanta - Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) gains five yards on the Falcons first possession. The drive ended in a field goal. Atlanta Falcons play their rival, the New Orleans Saints in an NFL football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Odds are Matt Ryan, Steve Sarkisian nor anybody else on the offense cares how long a drive takes, as long as it ends with the Falcons scoring a touchdown.

In the second quarter of Thursday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Falcons had one of those lengthy drives, which ended in Devonta Freeman giving Atlanta a 10-3 lead over the New Orleans Saints.

The Falcons drove 90 yards down the field in 15 plays, bleeding 8:27 off the clock. It was all worth it when Freeman scampered into the end zone from 1-yard out to put the Falcons ahead by a touchdown.

Atlanta was 4-for-4 on third down during the scoring drive, which was an area of emphasis for the offense this past week.