The Falcons battled all day to keep the game close, holding the Saints offense to field goals on two possessions and to just 296 yards in the air. Atlanta moved the ball on the Saints defense pretty easily most of the game, connecting on a big 50 yard pass from quarterback Chris Redman to Michael Jenkins to make it 23-16. Atlanta would score early in the fourth quarter on a 4 yard touchdown run to tie the game up at 23.
After a 38 yard Garret Hartley field goal made it 26-23 with just under five minutes to play, Vilma made his first big play. On the Falcons second play of the drive, Vilma dropped back into coverage and picked off a Redman pass.
The Saints however failed to add to their three point lead thanks to questionable play calling. Saints quarterback Drew Brees and the offense began the drive with 3:53 on the clock. After a quick first down on two plays moved the ball down to the Falcons 18 yard line, a run on first down, and pair of incompletions forced the Saints to attempt a field goal prior to the two-minute warning. Payton then incomprehensibly dialed up a fake field goal. Holder Mark Brunell seemed to be looking for guard Carl Nicks in the end zone, but then checked off to tight end Darnell Dinkins short of the first down. The pass would go incomplete and turn the ball over to Atlanta, having only taken 1:46 off the clock.
Atlanta would take over at their own 15 and move the ball down to the Saints 46 yards line. Vilma would then make his second big play of the game on 4th and 2. Redman threw to running back Jason Snelling over the middle just in font of the first down. Vilma quickly wrapped Snelling up preventing him from picking up the first down.
A look at total yards shows how evenly matched the game was. The Saints had 391 total yards of offense, while the Falcons had 392. Payton no doubt will again be displeased with the number of penalties picked up by the team. The Saints were flagged six times for 59.
Brees, who threw to eight different receivers on the day, finished 31 of 40 for 296 yards and three touchdowns. The scoring strikes went to running back Reggie Bush twice, once for 6 yards and another for 21 yards. Brees hit receiver Marques Colston for 3 yards just before the end of the first half. Hartley however would follow that score by pushing the PAT right.
On the ground, Pierre Thomas carried the ball 13 times for 47 yards. Bush rushed six times for 33 yards, and Lynell Hamilton saw action carrying it four times for 13 yards.
Next up for the Saints will be the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night in the Superdome.
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