The Saints leave Atlanta victorious in their 43-37 win over the Falcons.
ATLANTA — The New Orleans Saints spent almost an entire day answering the Atlanta Falcons offense, and, in the end, they did not want to answer any more.
It was a leaping Drew Brees who gave the Saints a hard-fought win against their most bitter rival when he jumped high with the ball extended toward the goal line, a 1-yard touchdown run that made the Saints 43-37 winners in overtime against the Falcons.
That was Brees‘ second touchdown run of the game, which was sent into overtime when he capped an 11-play, 81-yard drive with his first touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 37.
The Saints maintained control from the opening kick of the overtime period, methodically working the Falcons defense over on the 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. They initially thought they had the game won on an Alvin Kamara touchdown catch, but the play was overturned on replay. Brees ended it on the next play with his game-winner.
Brees was magnificent on a day when his team needed it. In addition to turning back the clock with his athletic touchdown runs late, he completed 34 of 49 passes for 396 yards and three scores through the air.
The Saints‘ defense had been carved to pieces all day by the Falcons‘ passing game, but made the crucial stand late. Brees‘ first touchdown run came with 1:15 to go in the game, leaving plenty of time for the Falcons to move into field goal position.
But linebacker A. J. Klein burst through the line on a third and four to force a rushed Matt Ryan throw and a punt on Atlanta’s final drive in regulation.
Defensively, the Saints had no answer for Falcons rookie wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who torched the Saints secondary for 146 yards and three touchdowns on seven catches.
Often in the first half, it was Saints defensive back P. J. Williams left in Ridley’s wake. Williams earned a start this week after Ken Crawley struggled in the first two games, but the Falcons went his direction early and often.
Williams covered Ridley when the rookie scored his first touchdown of the day, an 18-yarder that capped a 12-play, 81-yard scoring drive in the first quarter. Williams was on him again in press coverage later in the second quarter, and Ridley beat him off the ball and raced past him for a 75-yard touchdown.
The Saints substituted Crawley into the game for Williams after the 75-yarder, but Ridley was not done. His last touchdown came in the third quarter, when the Saints pass rush could not get home against Matt Ryan. That gave Ridley plenty of time to get loose behind the Saints secondary for a 9-yard scoring catch.
Ridley’s big day fueled a career effort for Ryan, who finished the day with a career-best five passing touchdowns. Ryan also successfully threw for a pair of 2-point conversions.
The Saints frequently had the answers to the Falcons‘ big plays.
To match the third quarter Ridley touchdown, Alex Okafor blocked a Matt Bosher punt. Craig Robertson recovered the fumble inside the 20, and Brees hit Cameron Meredith for an 11-yard score to put the Saints ahead, 23-21.
When the Falcons took the lead in the fourth quarter on a pass from Ryan to Tevin Coleman, the Saints responded by going 75 yards in eight plays, the last play being a 1-yard touchdown pass from Brees to fullback Zach Line on fourth and 1.
The Falcons took the lead right back on Ryan’s fifth scoring strike of the day, but the Saints once again showed their resolve, when Brees capped an 11-play, 81-yard drive with his seven-yard spinning touchdown run.
