Saints Sacked by Falcons at Home, 26-9
Atlanta played New Orleans Saints football today dominating the Saints in offensive time of possession, being more physical, and converting on 3rd and 4th downs. The New Orleans Saints came into the game overwhelming favorites to defeat the Atlanta Falcons. However, the Falcons did not believe the press and odds-makers. Matt Ryan guided his team to an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter. The Saints defense self-destructed several times, and the team had too many silly penalties. Also, the defense could not get Matt Ryan off of the field and allowed several long drives to keep Brees and the Saints offense on their sidelines most of the game.
New Orleans offense responded in the first-quarter with a 10 play, 64 yard drive of their own, only to score 3 points. The key play was on 3rd down, Kamara slips and falls, Brees could not get him the football and was sacked. Wil Lutz added the field-goal and tied Atlanta, 3-3.
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In the 2nd Quarter, Atlanta scored a touchdown after driving 75 yards in eight minutes on 17 plays. Matt Ryan passed to TE Hooper for 8 yards and K Koo added the extra point. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome was stunned, and the Falcons led 10-3. Later in the quarter, Demario Davis sacked Matt Ryan for 8 yards on 3rd down. Atlanta settled to add 3 points with a Koo 36 yard field goal after an 8 play, 65 yard drive.
Brees led the Saints with a 9 play drive and with 0:05 on the clock, Lutz kicked for 3 points going into the halftime, 13-6, Falcons. They lost starters CB Marshon Lattimore and OL Andrus for the rest of the contest because of injuries. Lattimore pulled his hamstring and Peat injured his arm.
Derick E. Hingle - USA Today Sports
After, halftime, Atlanta's defense continued to put pressure on New Orleans. Brees could not generate a first down after the kickoff, after 3 plays, Morstead punted. Both teams traded the football with punts. The Saints went 9 plays and could not get into the endzone. Another field goal by Lutz closed the Falcons lead to 13-9.
However, the Saints defense had no answer for Matt Ryan on the afternoon. In the fourth quarter, Ryan maneuvered his offense down the Superdome’s field on 13 plays and 75 yards. RB Hill caught a pass in the flat as Saints LB A. J. Klein fell down and easily scored a touchdown. Atlanta led 20-9 and took 6:12 minutes off the clock. This would be a common theme as Atlanta saw little resistance from the Saints defense.
The Saints could not answer the Falcons with points and were forced to punt. The Saints defense collapsed and Ryan had another double-digit play drive of 11. Atlanta kicked a field goal and increased the lead by 14 points. Falcons 23, Saints 9.
Derick E. Hingle - USA Today Sports
New Orleans turned the football over to the Falcons on downs after Beasley's seven yard sack. This was one of the six sacks the usually impenetrable Saints offensive line gave up to Atlanta on the afternoon. The Falcons recorded the most sacks on Drew Brees in one game of his career. Ryan ran three plays only to pass deep to Ridley for a Marcus Williams interception at New Orleans' 19 yard-line. Brees could not break the Falcons defense the entire day. The Falcons stopped New Orleans again on downs and added 3 points to lead and solidify their hold on the contest at 26-9 over the Saints. The Saints attempted to score once more, but Brees' pass to Michael Thomas at the Atlanta 1 yard line ended the game.
Atlanta gained their second win of the season at 2-7, and New Orleans falls to 7-2. The Saints defense did not perform well in the game. They allowed 143 yards rushing and 182 yards to Ryan in the passing attack. Ryan ran for 2 first downs on a hobbled ankle, but played very well finding his receivers to extend drives all day. The only bright side for the Saints was the Deonte Harris' performance. He had a total of 128 yards on punt and kick returns. Harris averaged 27.3 yards per return on 4 kickoffs with his longest of 46 yards.
The Saints will look to rebound next Sunday with another NFC South foe, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game will be in Tampa at 12 Noon CST/ 1PM EST and broadcast by Fox Sports.
