Saints hand Falcons first loss of season
A quarter-by-quarter look at the Saints’ 31-21 victory against the Falcons before 73,018 fans on Thursday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
FIRST QUARTER
Big play: On second-and-9 from the Falcons' 26, Saints quarterback Drew Brees found wide receiver Willie Snead sitting down in a zone wide open for a 24-yard gain. Running back Mark Ingram slammed into the end zone on the next play for the touchdown. The Saints were 3-for-3 on third-down situations during their game-opening 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
Turning point: Saints linebacker Michael Mauti stormed through the Falcons punt protection and blocked Matt Bosher's punt. He recovered and then scored the touchdown to put the Saints up 14-0. Mauti came throw the gap between long snapper Josh Harris and the right guard. Up-back Eric Weems missed the block and Mauti ran to the front of Bosher's foot.
The takeaway: The Falcons came out flat and the offensive line was stymied in the run game and punt protection.
Score: Saints 14, Falcons 0/
SECOND QUARTER
Big play: Falcons wide receiver Roddy White beat Saints cornerback Brandon Browner and caught a 7-yard touchdown pass to a cap a nine-play, 80-yard drive that started in the first quarter.
Turning point: On second-and-18 from New Orleans 48, Brees threw a pass to Brandin Cooks that was ruled a 12-yard gain. The Falcons challenged the play and it was ruled an incompletion. Instead of third-and-6, it was third-and-18. The defense held and forced a punt.
The takeaway: The Falcons continued to shoot themselves in the foot. After driving deep into Saints' territory, running Tevin Coleman fumbled. Browner recovered at the Saints' 9. That killed promising scoring drive No. 1. Later, on third-and-8 from the 14 with 2 minutes to play center James Stone's snap hit is behind when Ryan was in the shot gun. The Saints recovered to kill promising drive No. 2. Two red-zone trips, two fumbles.
Score: Saints 14, Falcons 7.
THIRD QUARTER
Big play: With the Falcons needing to come out and score on their first possession, left guard Chris Chester was called for a holding penalty that essentially killed the drive. The Saints got a field goal on their first possession of the second half to make it 17-7.
Turning point: On a fourth-and-2, after Falcons defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman had jumped offside, the Saints faked out the Falcons. After a play-action fake, Brees found tight end Ben Watson all alone in the end zone for a touchdown.
The takeaway: Penalties played a key role in the Falcons not being able to make up any ground in the third quarter.
Score: Saints 24, Falcons 7.
FOURTH QUARTER
Big play: Ingram slammed into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:02 to play. The score capped an 11-play, 80-yard that erased 5:05 off the clock.
Turning point: After the Falcons flirted with another comeback with Freeman's touchdown run, the Saints answered by making seven first-downs in a game-clinching touchdown drive.
The takeaway: The Falcons are kicking themselves for all of the miscues they committed in the first half.
Score: Saints 31, Falcons 21.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
