ATLANTA — The Saints come 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 in the period from the NFC Southern. It absolutely wasn’t pretty, while the game ended up being a complete lot better than it will have already been. Nevertheless, 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 brand New Orleans forced a 3-and-out to start out the video game, however the Falcons eagerly came back the benefit on the opening offensive control after dealing with field that is bad from the Ken Crawley penalty in the punt return. The Saints appeared as if they might have chosen within the initial down regarding the drive, but Tre’Quan Smith could maybe perhaps not have the Taysom Hill pass.

The brand new Orleans protection 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 from the drive to assist supply 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 because of damage, and P.J. Williams went set for him. Matt Ryan discovered Julio Jones for a big 20-yard hookup that put the Falcons into Saints territory, but stalled away after maybe not to be able to convert a third down attempt.

brand New Orleans would begin to move the ball to their next control, and converted on a 3rd-and-13 that is big Hill discovered Tre’Quan Smith for the 21-yard pickup to find yourself in Falcons territory. The Saints would additionally grab a big 3rd-and-17 conversion from Hill to Michael Thomas to help keep the drive going, but would ultimately face a 3rd 3rd-and-long situation rather than manage to transform. Brand brand New Orleans kept the offense from the field for a 4th-and-4 to try to draw the Falcons offsides, however it did not work. When you look at the final 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 did not cost the Saints certainly not industry place, as Atlanta went three-and-out once more.

The Saints would once once once again built a drive that is nice-looking but would come up short in the long run after opting for it for a 4th-and-7 from the Falcons’ 36-yard line. Hill seemed to have Cook that is jared for transformation, but he could perhaps not obtain it. The drive began great after Tommylee Lewis took a jet sweep for a primary down, however it stalling down led to your Falcons capitalizing, getting a 30-yard industry objective from Younghoe Koo. Ryan ended up being finding success to Julio Jones working against P.J. Williams. a run that is 15-yard Ito Smith set the Falcons up during the Saints’ 11-yard line, but 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 calvin that is would-be ridley in the finish area after forcing him away from bounds.

brand brand brand New Orleans reacted quickly on the ensuing possession, getting a run that is 37-yard of Alvin Kamara to begin the drive. They would quickly get supported because of a Nick Easton keeping penalty, but convert on a 3rd-and-8 whenever Hill found Emmanuel Sanders for an increase of 18 to set 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 add an industry goal prior to the half after being assisted by some Saints charges, happening a 9-play, 48-yard drive. Brand brand brand New Orleans would not break, but Koo would include a 28-yard industry objective to really make 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 quarter that is third the Saints rattled off a principal drive, going 75 yards in 12 performs that took 5:59 off the clock. New Orleans capped from the scoring drive having A kamara rushing that is 11-yard touchdown. Hill hit Thomas in the beginning the drive for 2 good gains, whilst getting a 4th-and-1 conversion from a 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 for the 3rd.

The Falcons relocated the ball in early stages their possession that is first of half, with two good runs by Brian Hill to begin, then Ryan starting up with Calvin Ridley for 18 yards. But, that’d be all she penned here, as Atlanta would need to punt after crossing into Saints territory. New Orleans kept things moving 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 straight straight back at their very own line that is 13-yard. From the drive, Thomas became the player that is fastest to achieve 500 receptions inside the profession.

The Saints would obtain the ball back with an individual second left in the quarter after a three-and-out by the Falcons. Nevertheless, brand brand brand New Orleans would provide it immediately after a fast three-and-out of these very very own. Hill had Jared Cook for a yes first down on second down, but misfired and threw it behind him. It absolutely was short-lived when it comes to Falcons, as Carl Granderson would make a large sack on Matt Ryan that led to him getting stripped. The play had been evaluated further and determined to be Saints football.

Brand brand brand New Orleans would take control and faced a 4th-and-inches play, 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 just what occurred to Ryan to provide Atlanta new way life. They would march down the industry in 8 performs, going 85 yards to obtain the very first touchdown scored on a Saints protection in a bit. Ryan discovered Russell Gage from 10 yards out, rendering it 21-16 Saints with 7:43 kept in the overall game.