ATLANTA — The Saints have been in the playoffs after knocking off the Falcons 21-16 and achieving the Lions beat the Bears on Sunday. The group sweeps Atlanta, increasing to 5-0 from the period up shagle against the NFC Southern. It absolutely wasn’t pretty, additionally the game had been lot better than it will have already been. But, Brand Brand Brand New Orleans is 10-2.

Game Recap

The Saints won the opening coin toss and elected to defer, offering Atlanta the opportunity that is first the soccer. brand brand New Orleans forced a 3-and-out to begin the video game, however the Falcons eagerly came back the benefit on the opening offensive control after dealing with bad industry place from a Ken Crawley penalty from the punt return. The Saints appeared as if they are able to have chosen up the first down in the drive, but Tre’Quan Smith could perhaps maybe not have the Taysom Hill pass.

This new Orleans protection once once once again stopped the Falcons, and seemed it right back to Atlanta on a 3-and-out, but a personal foul roughing the passer penalty on Grady Jarrett gave the Saints new life and helped them get out of the shadow of their own goal post like they were going to give. Taysom Hill assisted pilot a 7-play, 87-yard drive that took 3:33 off the clock that ended with him tossing their first touchdown pass to an extensive available Tre’Quan Smith from 15 yards away. Hill additionally had a large 43-yard scramble in the drive to simply help provide the Saints a 7-0 lead.

The Falcons would come up with a scoring drive, responding to having A younghoe that is 53-yard koo objective after going 40 yards in 7 plays. The Saints had lost Patrick Robinson as a result of damage, and P.J. Williams went set for him. Matt Ryan found Julio Jones for a big 20-yard hookup that put the Falcons into Saints territory, but stalled away after maybe perhaps perhaps perhaps not having the ability to convert a third down effort.

brand New Orleans would begin to go the ball on the next control, and converted on a 3rd-and-13 that is big Hill discovered Tre’Quan Smith for the 21-yard pickup to get involved with Falcons territory. The Saints would additionally get a 3rd-and-17 that is big from Hill to Michael Thomas to help keep the drive going, but would ultimately face a 3rd 3rd-and-long situation and never manage to transform. Brand brand New Orleans kept the offense regarding the industry for the 4th-and-4 to try to draw the Falcons offsides, nonetheless it did not work. Within the end, Wil Lutz would miss from 40 yards away and also the game remained 7-3 with 11:56 kept into the half. Fortunately, it don’t cost the Saints certainly not industry place, as Atlanta went three-and-out once more.

The Saints would once once again come up with a nice-looking drive, but would come up short in the long run after opting for it on a 4th-and-7 from the Falcons’ 36-yard line. Hill did actually have Jared Cook for the transformation, but he could not obtain it. The drive began great after Tommylee Lewis took a jet sweep for a primary down, however it stalling down led towards the Falcons capitalizing, obtaining a field that is 30-yard from Younghoe Koo. Ryan ended up being success that is finding Julio Jones working against P.J. Williams. a 15-yard run by Ito Smith set the Falcons up at the Saints’ 11-yard line, but brand brand brand brand New Orleans would tighten up the clamps to force the industry objective, which makes it 7-6 with 4:51 until halftime. Marshon Lattimore assisted break up a would-be calvin ridley touchdown in the conclusion zone after forcing him away from bounds.

brand brand New Orleans reacted quickly to their ensuing control, getting a 37-yard come to an end of Alvin Kamara to begin the drive. They would quickly get copied as a result of a Nick Easton keeping penalty, but convert on a 3rd-and-8 whenever Hill discovered Emmanuel Sanders for an increase of 18 to create them up within the red area. Just a couple of performs later on, Hill discovered Cook for an touchdown that is 11-yard put the Saints up 14-6 with 1:45 kept into the half.

Atlanta would put in a industry objective prior to the half after being assisted by some Saints charges, taking place a 9-play, 48-yard drive. Brand brand brand New Orleans would not break, but Koo would put in a 28-yard field objective to produce it 14-9 at halftime. The Saints had committed 7 charges for 54 yards set alongside the Falcons’ 1 for 15 yards.

Going into the 3rd quarter, the Saints rattled off a principal drive, going 75 yards in 12 performs that took 5:59 off the clock. Brand New Orleans capped from the scoring drive by having a 11-yard kamara rushing touchdown. Hill hit Thomas in early stages the drive for 2 good gains, whilst getting a 4th-and-1 transformation from the Hill keeper and a 3rd-and-7 pickup to Jared Cook to simply help expand the drive. It had been 21-9 Saints by 9:01 of this 3rd.

The Falcons relocated the ball in the beginning their very first control associated with the half, with two good runs by Brian Hill to start out, then Ryan starting up with Calvin Ridley for 18 yards. Nevertheless, that’d be all she composed there, as Atlanta would need to punt after crossing into Saints territory. brand brand New Orleans kept things going offensively, but stalled away after crossing into Atlanta territory. Dealing with a 3rd-and-3, a Hill keeper went for no gain, which sent Thomas Morstead in to punt and pin the Falcons right straight back at their very own 13-yard line. Regarding the drive, Thomas became the player that is fastest to attain 500 receptions in their profession.

The Saints would obtain the ball straight back with just one left that is second the quarter after a three-and-out by the Falcons. But, brand brand brand New Orleans will give it immediately after a three-and-out that is quick of very own. Hill had Jared Cook for the yes first down on second down, but threw and misfired it behind him. It absolutely was short-lived when it comes to Falcons, as Carl Granderson would make a big sack on Matt Ryan that led to him getting stripped. The play ended up being evaluated further and determined to be Saints football.

Brand brand New Orleans would take control and faced a play that is 4th-and-inches transforming by having a Hill keeper. The Saints were poised to go on it in the long run area or at the least get some good points, but Hill would fumble just like just exactly just what took place to Ryan to provide Atlanta life that is new. They would march along the industry in 8 performs, going 85 yards getting the touchdown that is first for a Saints protection in a little while. Ryan discovered Russell Gage from 10 yards out, which makes it 21-16 Saints with 7:43 kept in the overall game.