Falcons 27, Saints 25: Atlanta avoids another massive meltdown against their division rival

It’s the culmination of hate week. The Saints hosted the Falcons for the first of their two matchups for the season. New Orleans came in off a big win against the Buccaneers while the Falcons were limping into the stadium off an ugly home loss to the Carolina Panthers. Which team came out on top? Read on to find out.

First quarter

After the Saints win and defer, the Falcons offense starts on their 25 with Kyle Pitts dropping the deep pass from Matt Ryan. After Cordarelle Patterson runs for 1 yard on 3rd and 9 Ryan connects with Patterson deep for a 34 yard gain. Patterson runs for zilch and Feleipe Franks runs it for 4 from the QB spot. After offensive holding sets up 3rd and 16, Ryan hits Russell Gage for 7 yards. Atlanta opts to punt and it’s fair caught at the 8.

The Saint offense starts with a run by Mark Ingram for 9 yards. Alvin Kamara runs for 1 and the first. Ingram runs for 9, and 11 and loses a yard on the screen pass on a good tackle by Deion Jones. Jaylinn Hawkins bats one away from Adam Trautman on the pass from Trevor Siemian and he misses again on the deep pass to Kenny Stills. New Orleans has to punt. The fair catch sets Atlanta up on their 22.

The second drive for Atlanta begins with a pass to Kyle Pitts that gains 39 yards. Patterson runs for 1, Ryan scrambles for 5 and on 3rd and 4 Ryan connects with Patterson for 13 and the first. Patterson runs for no gain, Gage takes the pass for 6 and on 3rd and 4, the pass intended for Hayden Hurst is batted down. Younghoe Koo punches in the 32 yard field goal to take the lead.

Falcons 3, Saints 0

After the kickoff is returned to the 24, New Orleans starts with a run by Kamara for 9 yards. Alex Armah runs for 9 and the first. Kamara runs for 14 and then for 2 and 4. On 3rd and 4, Siemian hits Deonte Harris for 9 and the first down. After offensive holding and a false start sets up 1st and 25 as we go to the second quarter.

Falcons 3, Saints 0

Second quarter

Siemian misses a slipping Harris on 1st down and a delay of game sets up 2nd and 30. Ingram runs for 1 and on 3rd and 29 Siemian passes to Harris for 2 yards. New Orleans punts and the punt goes out of the end zone, setting Atlanta up on their 20.

Patterson runs for 2 to kickoff the drive and Davis adds 2 more on the ground. On 3rd and 6, Ryan passes to Hurst who is stuffed for no gain. Atlanta punts and sets up New Orleans on their 35.

Kamara runs for 3 and Siemian hits Tre’Quan Smith for 19 and the first. Kamara runs for 8 and Ingram loses 1 on the ground. On 3rd and 3, Siemian can’t connect with Smith as A.J. Terrell breaks up the pass. They go for it on 4th down and Adam Trautman drops the pass. Turnover on downs and Atlanta takes over on their 36.

Ryan throws incomplete on first down and Patterson runs for 1 on 2nd down. On 3rd and 9, Ryan connects with Gage for 8 and setting up 4th and inches. Atlanta stays on and Mike Davis loses a yard on the run. Turnover on downs and the Saints take over on the Atlanta 44.

Ingram runs for 3 and offensive holding sets up 2nd and 17. After Ingram takes the catch for 5, Trevor Siemian throws it away as he’s pressured. New Orleans punts and they down it on the Atlanta 8.

Atlanta’s drive starts with a run by Mike Davis for 3 and Ryan hitting Gage for 7 and the first. Patterson runs for 4 and the pass to Davis picks up 5. On 3rd and 1, Ryan scrambles right for 4 and the first. Davis runs for 5 and Ryan throws incomplete after being pressured. On 3rd and 5, Ryan connects with Kyle Pitts for 16 and the first. Patterson runs for 1 and Ryan hits Gage again for 7. On 3rd and 2, Ryan hits Gage for 20 yards to put them on the New Orleans 20 with the 1st. Ryan hits Pitts for 7 and Patterson for 4 and the first. Taunting on the Saints makes it first and goal from the New Orleans 3. Ryan throws incomplete on 1st targeting Pitts and completes the drive with a perfectly thrown TD pass to Olamide Zaccheaus. The Falcons kickoff takes us to the half.

Falcons 10, Saints 0

Third quarter

After the return by Harris to the 23, the Saints offense kicks off the second half with a short pass to Mark Ingram that gains 14. Kamara runs for 1, Ingram runs for 6 and on 3rd and 3, Siemian hits Deonte Harris for 7 and the first. A.J. Terrell bats away the pass intended for Marquez Callaway on 1st down and Kamara takes the short pass for 19 and the first. Kamara loses 1 on the first down run but takes another short pass for 11 and the first. Ingram runs for 3, Siemian can’t connect with Stills deep (AJ Terrell again) and on 3rd and 7 and the pass to Callaway falls incomplete on 3rd down. The Saints take the short field goal to get on the scoreboard.

Falcons 10, Saints 3

After Patterson returns the kickoff to the Falcons 19, the Atlanta offense starts with a pass to Tajae Sharpe for 12 yards. Mike Davis runs for 2 and Ryan hits Zaccheaus deep for 49 yards. Davis runs for 1 and Ryan hits Hayden Hurst for 16 to setup 1st and goal from the Saints 1. Patterson runs for no gain on 1st down and Matt Ryan scrambles in for the touchdown.

Falcons 17, Saints 3

The Saints offense takes over on their 21 after a kickoff return and penalty. Ingram starts off with a 2 yard run and a huge run by Kamara is negated by offensive holding. On 2nd and 16, Tre’Quan Smith takes the pass for 20 yards and the first. Ingram takes a short pass for 4 and offensive holding sets up another 2nd and 16. The pass to Kamara goes incomplete and on 3rd and 16, the pass to Callaway picks up 15. The Saints go for it on 4th and 1 and they get the first as Tyler Davison is called for encroachment. The pass to Kamara gains 15 and he runs it for 2 on 1st down. The pass to Stills goes incomplete as the quarter comes to a close.

Falcons 17, Saints 3

Fourth quarter

On 3rd and 8 from the Atlanta 34, Siemian throws incomplete to Callaway. Saints pop in the 52 yard field goal for 3 more on the scoreboard.

Falcons 17, Saints 6

After Patterson returns it to the 21 and the Falcons recover his fumble, the offense starts with a pass to Patterson that gains 13. Davis runs for 3, Ryan can’t connect with Gage and on 3rd and 7, Ryan can’t hit Kyle Pitts and the Falcons have to punt. The punt and return puts New Orleans on their 26.

New Orleans starts their drive with a screen pass to Ingram that loses 1. Taysom Hill comes on and passes to Tre’Quan Smith for 14 and the first. He then hits Harris for 19 and another first. After a false start, Trevor Siemian is sacked by James Vaughters and fumbles it. Steven Means recovers it and runs it back to the New Orleans 6. Falcons ball.

With 1st and goal from the Saints 6, Ryan immediately adds another touchdown with the pass to Olamide Zaccheaus.

Falcons 24, Saints 6

After the kickoff is returned to the Saints 34, the offense starts with a pass from Siemian to Kamara that gains 9. Passes to Trautman gain 7 and then 6 more. Callaway takes a pass for 5 and the first and Deion Jones knocks down the pass intended for Kamara. The pass to Trautman gains 9 and on 3rd and 1, Siemian hits Trautman for a big 25 yard gain to setup 1st and goal at the Atlanta 5. Siemian hits Callaway to finish the drive with a touchdown.

Falcons 24, Saints 13

The Falcons offense starts from their 25 with a run by Mike Davis that loses 4 yards. The short pass to Patterson also loses 4 and on 3rd and 18, Ryan hits Gage for a gain of 9 but it’s not enough. Falcons punt and after a stupid penalty on Richie Grant, the Saints get the ball on their 46. Siemian targets Harris and Fabian Moreau is flagged for defensive pass interference, giving them the ball at the Atlanta 27. Siemian throws incomplete to Kamara and again to Harris. On 3rd and 10, Siemian is sacked by Foye Oluokun, but he’s called for a roughing the passer penalty. With the ball on the Falcons 13, the pass to Harris gains 7. Taysom Hill comes in and runs it for 4 and sets up first and goal from the Atlanta 2. Siemian throws incomplete to Trautman on 1st down and Alvin Kamara runs it in for the touchdown. They go for the 2 point conversion and can’t convert.

Falcons 24, Saints 19

After the touchback, the Atlanta offense starts with a defensive holding penalty for an easy first. Feleipe Franks comes in at QB and runs for a 1 yard loss. Matt Ryan is then sacked for an 11 yard loss by Cameron Jordan and on 3rd and 22, Ryan is sacked for a small loss. Atlanta has to punt on 4th and 22. The punt and return gives the Saints the ball at their 43 with a little under 3 minutes left.

Siemian kicks off the drive with a 22 yard pass to Kenny Stills to put it on the Atlanta 21. Kamara runs for 2 as we hit the 2 minute warning. Siemian hits Harris for 11 yards and the first. Armah runs for 3 and Siemian hits Stills for the go-ahead touchdown. They go for the 2 point conversion and can’t convert.

Falcons 24, Saints 25

With two timeouts and 61 seconds left and the ball on the 25, the Falcons offense starts with a deep pass to Cordarelle Patterson for a huge 64 yard gain. Mike Davis runs for 2 and nearly fumbles it away. Matt Ryan kneels to take the clock down and setup the short field goal for Younghoe Koo. He comes on and punches it in for the win.

Final: Falcons 27, Saints 25