SB Nation Atlanta - Saints Outlast Falcons 17-14, Atlanta Must Beat Carolina To Clinch Home Fieldhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2010-12-28T00:00:57-05:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16505912010-12-28T00:00:57-05:002010-12-28T00:00:57-05:00Saints Vs. Falcons Final Score: 17-14, Saints Prevent Falcons From Clinching NFC's Top Seed
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> eight-game winning streak came to an end Monday night with a 17-14 loss to their <span class="caps">NFC</span> South rivals, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a>. The loss prevents the Falcons from clinching the <span class="caps">NFC</span> South crown and home field advantage throughout the <span class="caps">NFC</span> playoffs – if only for a week. A win next week against the 2-13 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a> will still lock everything down for Atlanta but this loss has a bigger effect on the mindset of Atlanta.</p>
<p>The Saints are all but locked in to the No. 5 seed which means the Falcons will likely see them again in the conference semi-finals. The Falcons have won 19 of 23 games at the Georgia Dome since 2008 but had their seven-game home winning streak snapped. Their last loss at home was also to the Saints. Psychologically, this was a bad loss. It puts doubts in the Falcons minds. They are no longer invincible.</p>
<p>Notes: The Falcons gained just 215 yards of total offense, the lowest total since <span>Mike Smith</span> took over in 2008.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2010/12/28/1899581/saints-vs-falcons-final-score-17-14-saints-prevent-falcons-fromTroy Heinzman2010-12-27T23:36:02-05:002010-12-27T23:36:02-05:00Saints Vs. Falcons Score: 17-14, Drew Brees Gives Saints Lead
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<p>After throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown earlier in the quarter, <span>Drew Brees</span> made up for it with a touchdown of his own to <span>Jimmy Graham</span>, giving the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>After a three-and-out, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> defense will need a stop to give their fofense another chance. If they could the stage would be set for Matt Ryan to deliver on his “Matty Ice” nickname as he attempts to drive the Falcons down for a game-winning touchdown or at the very least, a game-tying field goal. He’s done it all year and at home in the Georgia Dome, where he’s 19-1, is as good a place as any for this comeback.</p>
<p>The Falcons offense has struggled so far with under 200 total yards and it will take an impressive drive to earn this victory. If they can do it, it means they won’t have to play another game outside Georgia until the Super Bowl in Dallas. Monday Night Football, down by three. Who hasn’t played this scenario as a kid in the backyard?</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2010/12/27/1899552/saints-vs-falcons-score-17-14-drew-brees-gives-saints-leadTroy Heinzman2010-12-27T23:07:35-05:002010-12-27T23:07:35-05:00Saints Vs. Falcons Score: 14-10, Drew Brees Interception Gives Falcons The Lead
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<p><span>Drew Brees</span> has made some spectacular plays when he has been forced to improvise throughout his career. Against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a>, it backfired. Brees was pressured by <span>Jonathan Babineaux</span> and tried to flick a pass to <span>Pierre Thomas</span> but it was intercepted by <span>Chauncey Davis</span> and returned 26 yards for a touchdown giving the Falcons a 14-10 lead and nearly breaking all sound barriers in the Georgia Dome.</p>
<p>Brees had made a similar play earlier in the quarter and it was touted as a terrific play – even Favre-ian – by a savvy veteran but sometimes a player can try to do too much, as was the case with this pick six.</p>
<p>This was the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> first turnover and the first time they trailed all game. The Falcons had a chance to take the lead earlier in the third quarter but a <span>Michael Turner</span> fumble at the goalline ended that threat.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2010/12/27/1899519/saints-vs-falcons-score-14-10-drew-brees-interception-gives-falconsTroy Heinzman2010-12-27T23:06:06-05:002010-12-27T23:06:06-05:00Saints Vs. Falcons Update: Roddy White Held To Three Catches Through Third Quarter
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> WR <span>Roddy White</span> has made himself a key character in Atlanta Falcons-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> rivalry history this week. By which I’m referring to his Twitter outburst, not his impact on tonight’s game, though he is drawing quite a bit of attention from New Orleans defenders before, during, and after snaps.</p>
<p>While White leads the Falcons in receiving yards with 43, he left a few more on the field by dropping a first-down conversion. He has opened the field for <span>Michael Jenkins</span> to possibly end up with one of his best games of the past few seasons — Jenkins has five catches, tying his season high.</p>
<p><span>Mike Smith</span> sat White for one play on the Falcons almost-touchdown drive after a late hit on Matt Ryan got the receiver good and stirred up. Other than that, he hasn’t been involved in as many post-play scuffles as you might’ve expected after such a heated week of chatter.</p>
<p>White also grabbed the touchdown that remains Atlanta’s only score. His excellent blocking hasn’t been much of a factor, as <span>Michael Turner</span>’s runs have largely been directed up the gut, to little avail.</p>
<p>It’s worth noting Turner’s one breakout run, a 27-yarder, came to the sideline, but I’m just talking out my butt because I really don’t know whether it was to White’s side. You can pretend you didn’t read this paragraph if you like.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2010/12/27/1899515/saints-vs-falcons-update-roddy-whiteJason Kirk2010-12-27T22:42:18-05:002010-12-27T22:42:18-05:00Saints vs. Falcons: Michael Turner Fumble Keeps Saints In The Lead
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<p>Earlier this season, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> played four consecutive games without turning the ball over once but they’ve committed two turnovers in just over two-and-a-half quarters against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a>. The latest was by <span>Michael Turner</span> at the Saints goalline. The Falcons had a 2nd-and-1 but Turner couldn’t hang on and the Saints recovered their second fumble of the game.</p>
<p>This season, the Falcons have only turned the ball over 14 times and have a plus-13 turnover margin. It’s no surprise then, that they trail the Saints 10-7 in the third quarter. The Falcons have not committed three turnovers in a game this season and it would make this game nearly unwinnable if they did so here.</p>
<p>Turner’s goalline fumble was his first turnover in 417 touches, the longest active streak in the <span class="caps">NFL</span>. He still has 40 yards on 15 carries but would have put the Falcons up 14-10 had he held on.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2010/12/27/1899483/saints-vs-falcons-michael-turner-fumble-keeps-saints-in-the-leadTroy Heinzman2010-12-27T22:13:38-05:002010-12-27T22:13:38-05:00Saints Vs. Falcons Score: 10-7, Saints Lead Falcons By Three At Halftime
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<p>In a surprising defensive struggle, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>, 10-7, at halftime of Monday Night Football. The Saints opened the scoring behind a 52-yard field goal from <span>Garrett Hartley</span> and increased their lead to 10 after a Falcons turnover gave the Saints a short field and <span>Pierre Thomas</span> scored from two yards out.</p>
<p>The Falcons finally got their offense in gear with a 78-yard drive that ended with <span>Roddy White</span> catching a seven-yard touchdown from Matt Ryan to cut the lead to three. The Falcons get the ball in the second half but the Falcons are only 2-13 since 2008 when trailing at halftime.</p>
<p>Matt Ryan is 7-for-13 for 85 yards and one touchdown while <span>Drew Brees</span> is 20-for-26 for 135 yards. <span>Michael Turner</span> has 31 yards on 11 carries and Thomas has 24 rushing yards on seven carries. Roddy White needs three more catches and 56 yards to set the Falcons single-season receiving record for catches and yards.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2010/12/27/1899456/saints-vs-falcons-score-10-7-saints-lead-falcons-by-three-at-halftimeTroy Heinzman2010-12-27T21:45:38-05:002010-12-27T21:45:38-05:00Saints Vs. Falcons Score: 10-7, Roddy White TD Cuts Saints Lead To Three
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<p>After the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> converted an <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> turnover into seven points, the Falcons answered right back with a touchdown of their own. Matt Ryan found <span>Roddy White</span> on a seven-yard pass to cut the Saints lead to three, 10-7, in the second quarter of their Monday Night Football game.</p>
<p>The Falcons drive was an eight-play, 78-yard effort that included a 27-yard scamper by <span>Michael Turner</span> and was aided by a personal foul penalty on JoLonn Dunbar of the Saints when he hit Ryan late after the Falcons’ quarterback went into a slide. There have been a few contentious moments so far as it’s clear these two teams will not be going out for coffee afterward.</p>
<p>White, who needed just six catches for 99 yards to set a Falcons single-season receiving record has three catches for 43 yards. He’ll need just three more receptions and 56 more yards to put his name at the top of the Falcons’ receiving list.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2010/12/27/1899425/saints-vs-falcons-score-10-7-roddy-white-td-cuts-saints-lead-to-threeTroy Heinzman2010-12-27T21:32:42-05:002010-12-27T21:32:42-05:00Saints Vs. Falcons Score: 10-0, Saints Capitialize On Falcons Turnover
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<p>A fumbled exchange between <span>Todd McClure</span> and Matt Ryan gave the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> the football at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> 34-yard line and five plays later, they cashed in with a two-yard touchdown run by <span>Pierre Thomas</span> to give the Saints a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.</p>
<p>The Saints have a healthy time of possession advantage, something the Falcons have always enjoyed this season. The Saints have 99 total yards – 76 through the air – and have gathered six first downs.</p>
<p>The Falcons’ offense has looked sluggish and the Saints have done a good job of clogging the running lanes and preventing <span>Michael Turner</span> from getting going. Turner has just five yards on seven carries while his counterpart, Thomas, has 23 yards on six carries and the aforementioned touchdown run.</p>
<p>A solid, clock-eating drive by the Falcons would be just what this team needs. It’s what they’ve done all season and now they have another shot.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-falcons/2010/12/27/1899403/saints-vs-falcons-score-10-0-saints-capitialize-on-falcons-turnoverTroy Heinzman