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Falcons Vs. Saints: Fortune Frowns Upon The Bold, 26-23

The Falcons played to win in overtime -- really, really played to win -- but a stuffed run joined a list of other mistakes, and the Saints hang on to the NFC South lead.

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Falcons Vs. Saints Final Score: Falcons Lose 26-23 In Overtime Heartbreaker

With only two minutes left, Matt Ryan would lead the Falcons offense on a 94-yard drive that culminated in a game-tying field goal as time expired. Though the Falcons won the toss, their red-hot offense would go three and out. Some great special teams play by Matt Bosher and the coverage team, however, would prevent Darren Sproles from gaining any yards on a return.

So, Drew Brees and the offense would march onto the field, and very quickly the Falcons would force a third-and-short. As they have all game, they've kept everything in front of them and prevented the Saints from making big plays on every drive. A third-down pass to Sproles would come up short, and the Saints would also go three-and-out. The Falcons would get another chance.

After finding Tony Gonzalez for a nine-yard game, Ryan checked down to new fullback Mike Cox in the flats, who made a great play to stretch out for the first down. However, further review of the play would spot the ball just short of the first down, bringing up a fourth-and-inches. Mike Smith would elect to go for it, brining up a do-or-die play for the Falcons.

It would come up short. The Falcons called for Turner to run it straight up the middle and he was simply stuffed in the backfield. The Saints would run a few plays and then kick the game-winning field goal, barely nabbing the 26-23 OT victory in the Georgia Dome.

It's a tough loss for sure, and though the Falcons are still alive and well in the playoff race, this loss makes an NFC South Championship seem pretty unlikely. Hopefully the Falcons can regroup and beat a Titans team next week that is by all accounts not bad. The Falcons played a darn good game, but just didn't get the W today.

Still, things could be worse. You could be an Eagles fan. Or (even worse) an Auburn fan.

For more on Sunday's game, check out The Falcoholic, SB Nation's Atlanta Falconsblog, and Canal Street Chronicles, SB Nation's New Orleans Saints blog.

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Falcons Vs. Saints Update: Last-Second Matt Bryant Field Goal Sends Falcons To Overtime

At one point, the Falcons were down 23-13 with only seven minutes left in the game. Now, with two minutes left, they have a chance to either tie the game with a field goal or perhaps even winning it outright in the final minutes.

After the Matt Ryan tip-interception led to a Saints field goal, the Falcons went three-and-out. The Saints, after hitting Lance Moore on a 28-yard passing play, drove deep enough into Falcons territory to extend their lead to ten points.

And then with his back against the wall and without his rookie phenom Julio Jones, Ryan a nine-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a 20-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Tony Gonzalez. All of a sudden, the lead- and possibly a win- was in reach.

After not being able to recover an onside kick, the Saints drove all the way to the Falcons 27, but a holding penalty on the field goal attempt pushed their offense out of John Kasay range. A New Orleans punt would ensue, and the Falcons would have two minutes to drive from their own six down into field goal range.

Man, did Matt Ryan show the Saints how to run a two-minute drill. It was perhaps the sweetest offensive drive I've seen all season. In two plays, Ryan found Harry Douglas twice for 46 yards. A few plays later, he found Douglas again on a 20-yard gain. After a pass interference penalty set up a first down at the Saints 20, Ryan found Eric Weems for an 11-yard gain to the New Orleans nine.

After two tries for end zone came up short- one nearly ending in a Roman Harper interception- Matt Bryant would march on for the 27-yard field goal attempt and knock it true as time expired. With the Falcons and Saints now tied at 23 points apiece, this game is headed to overtime.

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Falcons Vs. Saints Update: Game Tied 3-3 As Both Sides Settle For Three Early

It's Saints week, and the Atlanta Falcons' week 10 matchup is now under way in the Georgia Dome. As far as injuries are concerned, the Falcons will be without safety William Moore due to injury. James Sanders will start in his place. On the other side, the Saints will be without middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who was ruled out earlier in the week.

Right out of the gate, the Falcons put together a very impressive opening drive- one that spanned 15 plays and took over seven minutes off the clock, no less- that only produced three points. Michael Turner and the offensive line were dominant, as Turner carried the ball eight times for 39 yards, but a couple of incompletions by Matt Ryan and a false start on Will Svitek would limit the Falcons to a Matt Bryant field goal.

The Saints' first possession produced similar results. After a 39-yard return by Darren Sproles, Drew Brees quickly passed his way down into Falcons territory. However, a great play by Stephen Nicholas to stop Mark Ingram in the backfield, coupled with a third-down drop by Jimmy Graham, limited the Saints to a field goal as well.

On their next possession, the Falcons wouldn't find as much success, quickly going three-and-out. Ryan's second-down pass was deflected at the line, and on third-down his check down pass to Jacquizz Rodgers came up short of the first. Through one quarter of play, the Falcons are tied 3-3 with their division rivals.

For more on Sunday's game, check out The Falcoholic, SB Nation's Atlanta Falcons blog, and Canal Street Chronicles, SB Nation's New Orleans Saints blog. 

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Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.