It seems like every time the New Orleans Saints (9-4) and the Atlanta Falcons (8-5) meet up, it’s going to go down to the wire. Thursday night was no exception with a late interception from Drew Brees giving the Falcons a 20-17 win.
The Saints were starting to cruise in their opening drive, getting to the Falcons 12-yard line before Alvin Kamara was rocked by Deion Jones. This would be the last time the rookie saw the field as he left with a concussion. The Saints offense sputtered out and settled for a 34-yard field goal by Wil Lutz to take a 3-0 lead early.
The Falcons responded in quick fashion with a chip shot from Matt Bryant to tie it up. It remained tied until late in the second quarter when the Falcons put together a methodical 15-play drive that was capped off by a one-yard run into the endzone by Devonta Freeman to make it 10-3.
The Saints tied it up yet again late with Brees connecting with Tommylee Lewis and thanks to some shifty moves from the second-year wideout out of Northern Illinois. The momentum started to turn to the Saints late in the first half when Marshon Lattimore picked off Matt Ryan and returned it all the way to the Falcons 29-yard line. However, after an illegal formation by the Saints on a field goal as time expired, it remained tied at 10 as both teams headed into the locker room.
The Saints defense started out strong with Chris Banjo picking off Ryan on the first offensive play of the second half to set up a short pass to Michael Thomas to take a 17-10 lead. However, the Falcons tied things up about midway through the fourth quarter after another methodical drive ended with Ryan finding Mohamed Sanu in the endzone.
After the Falcons defense forced a three-and-out, Bryan got a 52-yarder through the uprights with 3:49 left in the ballgame for what would become the game-winner.
The Saints will return to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome when they take on the New York Jets (5-7) with kickoff set for 12 pm.
-Clint Domingue