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.