New Orleans Saints (3-7) – Atlanta Falcons (6-4): 20-17
After seven defeats in a row, here are the Saints again! With Darren Rizzi as interim coach following the dismissal of Dennis Allen, the New Orleans team seemed to come back to life.
The attack started strong. And when it ran out of steam, it was the defense that managed to hold on when Atlanta seemed to be able to get back in front.
It wasn't perfect, far from it, but for one evening, the Saints were smiling again.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling!?!
For their rebellion, the Saints found themselves an executioner that the Falcons certainly did not expect: Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
In the first half, he was the one who broke the opposing defensive barrier. In the second quarter, he caught a 40-yard pass for the first touchdown of the game (10-0). Then another of 67 yards, and a third of two short lengths, but for a second touchdown (17-7)!
The improbable symbol of Saints who came with the desire to strike hard. Because from their first offensive action, Derek Carr (16/25, 269 yards, 2 TDs) found Taysom Hill (2 rec, 36 yards) for an 88-yard touchdown… canceled for a holding! On this same first driver, this same Hill attempted a run on 4th&1, but he was stopped.
After the break, Valdes-Scantling disappeared and much of the attack with him. But the defense took over. She would have had a little less to sweat if Alvin Kamara (17 races, 55 yards – 5 rec, 54 yards) had not let a potential winning touchdown slip through his fingers at the end of the match.
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons too short
Atlanta finally gave balls to Bijan Robinson (20 races, 116 yards, 2 TDs – 3 rec, 28 yards). And that's quite a good idea. After scoring in the first half, the running back did it again in the third quarter to bring his team back three points (20-17).
At that point, the Falcons seemed to have regained the upper hand. And yet, they will never come back. Their next four series resulted in a punt, the third field goal missed by Younghoe Koo (!), an interception by Kirk Cousins and a player tackled in the field before the final seconds expired.
Koo's three failures at 53, 36 (blocked) and 46 yards obviously hurt a lot. But with a sluggish start and finish to the match, Cousins also probably left some points on the table.
Enough to delight Saints who were coming out of a complicated period.
