|
 Saints tight end Watson pulled down 10 receptions for a career-high
127 yards.
The Saints (2-4) held the high-powered Atlanta offense 11 points
under their 32.4-point average, forced two red-zone fumbles and
blocked a punt for a touchdown.
New Orleans running back Mark Ingram scored twice on runs of two and
one yards, and the Saints rolled up 207 yards of total offense and
17 points in the second half.
The key sequence came with the Saints leading 17-7 late in the third
quarter. Brees moved the Saints to the Atlanta six, but New Orleans
gained only two yards on three plays.
On fourth-and-goal from the four, instead of settling for a
chip-shot field goal, Saints coach Sean Payton sent the offense back
on the field.
Brees drew an encroachment penalty on defensive tackle Ra'Shede
Hageman with a hard count, but the Saints still faced fourth down
from the two. Brees faked a handoff to Ingram and Watson ran free in
the back of the end zone to haul in an easy toss for a 24-7 lead.
The Falcons (5-1) had rallied for victories in the fourth quarter
for four of their previous five wins, but they could not get closer
than 10 points late in Thursday's game.
Quarterback Matt Ryan completed 30 of 44 passes for 295 yards and
two touchdowns, but was sacked five times and fumbled three times.
Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan had three sacks.
BLOCKED PUNT
The Falcons moved the ball up and down the field in the first half,
outgaining the Saints 265 yards to 174, but a blocked punt for a
touchdown and two fumbles inside the Saints 15-yard line sent New
Orleans into halftime leading 14-7.
[to top of second column] |
The Saints took the opening kickoff 80 yards in 12 plays -- their
only sustained drive of the half -- to take a 7-0 lead. Brees
converted three third downs on the march, and his 24-yard strike to
wide receiver Willie Snead set up the Saints at the Atlanta 2.
Ingram scored on the next play on a good second-effort carry.
The Saints took their biggest lead of the season -- 14-0 -- when
linebacker Michael Mauti broke up the middle to block Matt Bosher's
punt at the Atlanta 4, and Mauti picked up the ball and dived into
the end zone.
Ryan took the Falcons 80 yards in nine plays to cut the lead to 14-7
on a 7-yard pass to Roddy White in the left corner of the end zone.
The wide receiver easily beat cornerback Brandon Browner on the
throw.
The Falcons drove inside the Saints 15 on their next two
possessions, but the drives ended with a fumble by running back
Tevin Coleman and a bad shotgun snap by reserve center James Stone.
The Saints failed to convert either turnover into points, however.
New Orleans kicker Zach Hocker missed a 51-yard field-goal attempt
late in the half.
(Compiled by Peter Rutherford)
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