Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Falcons Fall 27-26 to Saints in Week 1: Live Game Log
The Atlanta Falcons' 2022 season begins Sunday with a matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons are coming off a 7-10 season but after an offseason of change that saw 14-year quarterback Matt Ryan traded to the Indianapolis Colts and Marcus Mariota brought in, it's officially a new era in Atlanta.
However, the new era starts just as the last one ended against the Saints. The Saints are coming off a 9-8 season where the team barely missed the playoffs. But this season also marks a new chapter for the Saints. Head coach Sean Payton stepped down after 15 seasons earlier this year and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was promoted to lead the team.
Today presents an opportunity for both teams to start off their new books on the right foot. For the Falcons, a win today would put the team over .500 for the first time since 2017. For the Saints, a win today would mark the first road win in a season opener against Atlanta in franchise history. The team is 1-7 all-time in openers against Atlanta, with the one win coming in New Orleans back in 2013.
Check back here for live updates, scores and drive-by-drive coverage on Falcon Report.
The Saints won the toss and deferred. The Falcons will start the season on offense.
FIRST QUARTER Saints 7, Falcons 3:
The opening kickoff sailed over Cordarrelle Patterson's head, and the Falcons will start from their own 25.
The first play of the campaign is a designed rollout for Mariota, who keeps it and picks up the first down.
Faced with a 3rd and 4 just two plays later, Mariota found the tight end, Parker Hesse, on another rollout, just making the yard to gain and extending the drive.
After a short Damien Williams run, Mariota was on the move again, finding Kyle Pitts for another first down as Atlanta continues its methodical march down the field.
The Falcons' drive stalled at the New Orleans' 37, as Mariota couldn't find anybody downfield.
FIELD GOAL FALCONS: Younghoe Koo's 54-yard field goal splits the upright and matches a career-long. Atlanta is on the board first in the season opener. Falcons 3, Saints 0
The Saints start from their own 25. New Orleans' first offensive play is a run to Alvin Kamara, who is swallowed up at the line of scrimmage by A.J. Terrell and Rashaan Evans.
A six-yard scramble by Jameis Winston sets up a 3rd and 4. Winston targeted tight end Juwan Johnson, but his pass was wide right. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins had tight coverage for Atlanta.
New Orleans' 54-yard punt is returned by Avery Williams across the 20, where the Falcons will set up shop.
Atlanta starts the drive with a handoff to Damien Williams, who had two defenders on him instantly but made both players miss. He managed to get back to the line of scrimmage but remained down after the play.
After an incomplete pass to Patterson, Atlanta had to burn its first timeout. A quick screen to Olamide Zaccheaus results in a 5-yard gain on 3rd and 10, and the Falcons will be forced to punt.
Bradley Pinion's 51-yard punt is fair caught by Deonte Harty, giving the Saints the ball at their own 23.
Atlanta took over and on 3rd and 1 from the NO 32, Taysom Hill rattled off a 57-yard run to the ATL 11.
TOUCHDOWN SAINTS: Hill ran right end for 11 yards for the touchdown. The Lutz extra point is good for a 7-3 Saints lead with 5:44 left in the first quarter.
Atlanta took over from their own 25 after the touchback.
FUMBLE RECOVERY SAINTS: Mariota hit Zaccheaus deep for 22 yards, but Zaccheaus fumbled, recovered by B. Roby at the ATL 47.
The Saints converted a 3rd and 3 with a six-yard run by Mark Ingram to the ATL 30.
The Falcons' defense held on 3rd and 6 from the ATL 26 when Jameis Winston passed incomplete.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS FALCONS: Will Lutz's 44-field goal was incomplete. The Falcons take over on downs.
Atlanta marches down the field to the NO 37 to end the quarter.
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER Falcons 16, Saints 7
The Falcons advance the ball to the NO 5 with a mix of Patterson rushes and Mariota passes.
TOUCHDOWN FALCONS: Patterson runs five yards off right guard for the touchdown. Koo extra point is good for a 10-7 Falcons lead with 12:12 left in the half. The scoring drive goes nine plays, 66 yards, and takes 5:30 off the clock.
The Saints take over at their own 25 and go three-and-out and punt to the Falcons, fair caught at the ATL 21 by A. Williams.
Atlanta goes five plays and 18 yards to the ATL 39 and is forced to punt. Binion punts to the NO 10, returned to the NO 22 by McCullough.
The Saints went four plays and eight yards to their own 30 before being forced to punt as Gilikin punts 52 yards to the ATL 18.
Atlanta took over from its own 18 and moved up the field utilizing time-outs and the two-minute warning to the NO 32.
FIELD GOAL FALCONS: Koo 50 yard field goal is good. The scoring drive went seven plays, 50 yards in 2:41. It's a 13-7 Falcons lead with 1:06 left in the half.
New Orleans went three-and-out and punted back to the Falcons to the ATL 39.
The Falcons marched down the field in four plays and 39 yards setting up a field goal attempt as time expired.
FIELD GOAL FALCONS: Koo's 40-yard field goal is good for a 16-7 Falcons lead as the half expired.
HALFTIME
THIRD QUARTER Falcons 23, Saints 10
The Saints begin the half with the ball at their own 25 and moved the ball swiftly to the ATL side of the field.
Runs by Ingram and Hill took the Saints to the 41, where, on 3rd and 19, Winston found Olave for 10 yards bringing up 4th and 9.
FIELD GOAL SAINTS: Lutz's 49-yard field goal is good with 9:15 left in the third quarter. The scoring drive went 11 plays, 44 yards, and 5:45. It's 16-10 Falcons.
Atlanta takes over from their own 25 after the touchback.
Mariota hit Zaccheaus for nine yards, Patterson ran for 11, and Zaccheaus caught another pass for 13 yards, taking the Falcons to the NO 41.
Mariota missed Zaccheaus in the end zone but New Orleans was called for pass interference placing the ball at the two.
TOUCHDOWN FALCONS: Mariota ran up the middle for two yards for a touchdown. Koo extra point is good for a 23-10 Falcons lead. The scoring drive went 75 yards in five plays and took 2:26 off the clock.
The Saints took over from their own 25.
TURNOVER SAINTS: Mark Ingram fumbled on a 3rd and 6 play, recovered by Walker returned to the NO 36. First Down ATL with 5:05 left in the third quarter.
TURNOVER FALCONS: Mariota carried off the left side and fumbled the ball at the NO 14 recovered by Mathieu. First down Saints.
Kamara carried off the left end for two yards, and Ingram ran up the middle for another two yards. on 3rd and 9, Winston threw incomplete to Thomas bringing up a punting situation.
New Orleans punted 59 yards to the ATL 32, and the ball was returned 18 yards to midfield by A. Williams.
It's first down Atlanta from midfield with 1:41 left in the third quarter.
The Falcons ran the ball to the 34 to end the third quarter.
END THIRD QUARTER
FOURTH QUARTER Saints 27, Falcons 26
Mariota ran for five then threw for nine, then Patterson carried for another five to get the Falcons down to the NO 4.
A false start penalty on Hesse backed the Falcons up to the NO 9.
FIELD GOAL FALCONS: Yoo's 27-yard field goal is good. The Falcons extended their lead to 26-10 with 12:41 left in regulation. The scoring drive went nine plays, 41 yards, and took 4:00 off the clock.
The Saints took over at their own 25. It took three plays to get to the ATL 34. On 1st and 10 from the 34, Winston found Landry at the three for 31 yards.
TOUCHDOWN SAINTS: Winston passed to the left for Michael Thomas for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was good, Winston to Olave, for a 26-18 score, Atlanta still leads. The scoring drive went four plays, 74 yards, and took 1:29 off the clock.
Atlanta went six plays and 20 yards and was forced to punt.
New Orleans took over at their own 14 after the punt. Winston hit Olave for 20, then Landry for seven to get the ball to the NO 34.
Winston then hit Thomas at the ATL 38 for 21 yards. Then he hit Thomas again for 20 yards to the ATL 28. See a pattern here?
TOUCHDOWN SAINTS: Winston completed nine yards to Thomas for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was missed.
Atlanta started the drive at their own 25 with 3:38 left in the game.
Needing a first down to extend the drive and potentially ice the game, Atlanta was facing a 3rd and 1 from the NO 42. Mariota fumbled the snap and picked it up, but could not reach the line to gain forcing a punt, and giving New Orleans life.
New Orleans downed the punt at their own 20.
Winston found Landry for 40 yards to the ATL 40, but a penalty pushed the ball back to the 50.
Winston then hit Johnson for 16 yards to the ATL 34 only needing a field goal to win the game.
FIELD GOAL SAINTS: Lutz's 51-yard field goal is good with :19 left.
Atlanta got in position for a 61-yard game-winning field goal, but the Koo kick was blocked.
END OF GAME
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