FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons safety Jessie Bates III was named the NFC defensive player of the week Wednesday.

Bates had a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown and a big forced fumble in the Falcons’ 24-15 win over the Saints on Sunday.

Bates also had 12 total tackles and one pass defensed. The Falcons scored 14 points off Bates’ two takeaways. Bates is tied for the third most interceptions in the NFL this season. He’s behind Dallas’ Daron Bland (six) and Baltimore’s Geno Stone (five).

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Falcons owner Arthur Blank gives cornerback Asante Samuel a high five on the sidelines. (Curtis Compton/AJC File)

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Atlanta art and antiques appraiser and auctioneer Allan Baitcher (right) takes bids during a 2020 auction. Baitcher and his company, Peachtree Antiques, are being sued by a Florida multimillionaire who says he paid them $20 million for fakes. (AJC 2020)

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