The Falcons defense picked Drew Brees off for a third time tonight, but Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense have scored only three points since halftime.
Ryan is just 11-for-25 passing, having accumulated just 127 yards through three quarters of play. Roddy White, who was held catchless for entire first half, now has one catch for 20 yards.
The running success that the Falcons found on their first drive of the football game has disappeared completely, with Atlanta managing a woeful three yards on three carries since the half.
Brees and the Saints offense, however, have not been much better. William Moore intercepted the Saints QB for a third time tonight, and thus far he has been kept out of the end zone.
Pierre Thomas, however, has begun carving up Atlanta's defense. He now has 83 yards on 12 carries, and is in large part why the Saints have put up six points since halftime.
Still, the Falcons have done what they'd needed to keep this game competitive. Ryan finally found a semblance of rhythm late in the third quarter and drove the offense to within Matt Bryant field goal range, whom gave Atlanta its current 20-13 lead.
But the way the Falcons exploded onto the scene tonight, with so much promise, its a mystery how they've been utterly shut down since that strong opening drive.