The New Orleans Saints entered this week at 4-9, going up towards their division rival Atlanta Falcons who sat a 5-8. If the Saints misplaced and both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Carolina Panthers received, the Saints had been out of the playoffs, and on the opposite aspect, the Falcons had been seeking to push additional towards the highest of the division.
On the finish of the day, it got here out to be an in depth sport, however the Saints pulled it off by the best of margins in a 21-18 win that got here all the way in which all the way down to the final play. This leaves the Saints at 5-9, tied with Atlanta and Carolina for 2nd, and considerably in charge of their very own future now. If the Buccaneers lose this night, the Saints shall be inside a sport and a half of first place (Tampa holds the tiebreaker resulting from successful the season collection). They’ll meet with the Cincinnati Bengals who sit at 9-4.
Within the First Half, the Saints bought off to a sizzling begin, with a 19-yard landing to Juwan Johnson and a 68-yard landing to Rashid Shaheed on the opening drives, going up 14-0. They then held Atlanta to a discipline aim all through the remaining half, holding a 14-3 lead till the third quarter. The protection held exceptionally effectively by means of the primary half-hour and saved Ridder guessing and on the transfer with strain by the defensive position early and infrequently.
Within the Second Half, the Saints began to permit Atlanta again into it, with an enormous drive for Tyler Allgeier together with a 43-yard rush, after which he bought into the endzone with a 5-yard rush and introduced issues again. The Saints would reply on a drive with 11 performs, 75 yards, and a landing taking 7 minutes and 12 seconds off the clock. Juwan Johnson caught his 2nd of the day with a 22-yard landing, placing the Saints up 21-10.
Atlanta didn’t go down with out a combat, nonetheless, scoring one other landing with distinctive discipline place, beginning on the NO 32-yard line, by working and working some extra. Patterson bought the landing on a 3-yard run, after which Tyler Allgeier bought the 2-point conversion to make it 21-18. New Orleans bought all of it the way in which into Atlanta territory on the ATL 27, then turned it over on 4th and 1 on downs. Atlanta had two ultimate performs, a 6-yard reception by Drake London who went out of bounds rapidly, after which a… 19-yard scramble by Desmond Ridder? Bizarre ending to the sport, and a rookie mistake, however the Saints took residence the win, and now sit tied for 2nd within the division, and look to this night to see how Tampa Bay does towards Cincinnati.
Huge Performs & Scoring Performs Recap
Quarter 1:
- Andy Dalton finds Juwan Johnson on third and 9 for a 14-yard acquire
- Two performs later, Andy Dalton throws once more, this time to Chris Olave for a 16-yard acquire and first down
- Rashid Shaheed will get the higher of Jaylinn Hawkins, catching the ball for 16 yards and selecting up one other 2 after the catch.
- Dalton catches Juwan Johnson on a 15-yard route throughout the center of the sector, Johnson takes it the additional 4 yards and reaches the ball simply over the airplane for the landing after evaluate!
- NO 7 – ATL 0
- Atlanta goes 3 and out after a 2-yard rush and a pair of incompletions thrown by Desmond Ridder whereas beneath strain.
- Saints get the ball at their very own 27 after the punt and a good catch by Rashid Shaheed
- Taysom Hill comes on at QB and throws a 68-yard landing to Rashid Shaheed in stride! 33-yard go and 35 yards after the catch on a vertical route!
- NO 14 – ATL 0
- Tyrann Mathieu known as for defensive go interference on a seemingly clear protection on his half, 19 yards gained for the Falcons and a brand new set of downs.
- Falcons go 3 and out after the defensive go interference, with a -1 yard rush to Cordarrelle Patterson then 2 straight incompletions by Desmond Ridder.
- Rashid Shaheed honest catches the punt on the NO 9-yard line, a 40-yard punt by Pinion.
- Quick drive subsequent for the Saints, a 2-yard run by David Johnson, then a 6-yard run by Taysom Hill, and a 3-yard reception by Adam Prentice. The saints then get 9 yards on the bottom from Alvin Kamara earlier than he loses 3 the following play, Dalton loses 5 on a false begin, after which he’s sacked for a lack of 8 resulting in a 49-yard punt by Blake Gillikin to the Falcons 38.
Quarter 2:
- 2 completions from Desmond Ridder to Drake London for 12 and 9 yards respectively open the following drive and a pair of rushes by Cordarrelle for 4 and seven yards respectively.
- Ridder then throws an incomplete go and is sacked, resulting in a 28-yard discipline aim for Younghoe Koo, which is nice.
- NO 14 – ATL 3
- The Saints lead a protracted drive subsequent up, with a 21-yard reception by Chris Olave and a 13-yard run by Alvin Kamara, going 7 performs for 60 yards with quick runs by Kamara/Johnson and a 12-yard go from Taysom to Juwan.
- David Johnson Fumbles on the Atlanta 14-yard line, which is recovered by Lorenzo Carter and introduced again for a yard to the Atlanta 15-yard line.
- Atlanta doesn’t take advantage of this fumble restoration, going 3 performs for 3 yards then punting after 2 quick runs and an incompletion.
- The Saints additionally return the favor, going 5 performs then having to punt, with a Taysom Hill run for 13 yards within the center, then quick runs and an incompletion to finish the drive and power the punt.
- Falcons go 13 performs for 51 yards in return, besides are compelled to punt after being held to incompletions late within the 2nd quarter at midfield. Tyler Allgeier has a number of good runs for 7, 7, and 15 yards every to maintain this drive earlier than the punt.
- Saints take a knee with 8 seconds left within the half to get to halftime. Total the offense regarded good to begin, with back-to-back touchdowns to open the sport, however has faltered since. The protection has executed its job, nonetheless, holding Atlanta to three within the half and forcing Ridder to expire of the pocket early and infrequently.
Quarter 3:
- Atlanta Falcons lead a protracted drive, 8 performs for 75 yards, and get their first landing of the sport on the again of Tyler Allgeier dashing all around the Saints’ protection. Patterson begins the drive with 3 rushes for 15 yards, then Allgeier rips off an enormous 43-yard run, one other 6 after that, after which will get the landing 2 performs later on a 5-yard run.
- NO 14 – ATL 10
- Saints reply with a protracted, strong-handed, clock-burning drive, 11 performs for 75 yards and a landing, taking on 7 minutes and 12 seconds, pushing the sport lengthy into the third quarter. Highlights of the drive embody a number of good rushes by Alvin Kamara, a 16-yard completion from Dalton to Olave, and the closing play, a 22-yard go from Andy Dalton to Juwan Johnson for his 2nd landing of the day, taking it 10 yards after the catch to the endzone.
- NO 21 – ATL 10
- Saints do a line drive kick on the following kickoff, holding Atlanta to a 3-yard return to the ATL 14-yard line and holding them on their very own aspect of the sector.
- Alontae Taylor will get a DPI name towards Drake London for 11 yards, and the primary down.
- Small quick runs comply with, with a Patterson 5-yard run, a Ridder scramble for five, the primary down, after which again to Patterson for 3 yards.
- Ridder completes a stable go to Drake London for 11 yards and a contemporary set of downs, now on the New Orleans 48-yard line.
Quarter 4:
- Wonky trick play by Atlanta to open the quarter, handoff to Felipe Franks, who laterals again to Ridder, who’s then sacked for five yards making an attempt to throw the ball downfield.
- Patterson is then given a reception behind the road of scrimmage, getting again to the road for 0 yards, after which Ridder throws incomplete to Anthony Firkser, forcing a punt to the New Orleans 11-yard line.
- Saints go nowhere after the punt, with Kamara dashing twice for two yards whole after which Andy Dalton being sacked for a lack of 9. The punt is brief as effectively, to the New Orleans 42, and a 10-yard return by Avery Williams to the NO 32.
- 3 rushes to open the drive for Atlanta, 8 yards for Allgeier on 2 rushes, after which a designed scramble by Ridder to only barely get the primary down. Patterson then rushes for 4, Ridder on the bottom for two, and Allgeier will get the primary on the bottom with a 5-yard run into the crimson zone on the NO 16.
- Atlanta retains it on the bottom with Patterson for 8 yards, after which he runs once more for 3 yards into the endzone, bringing Atlanta inside 1 rating.
- Atlanta goes for the 2-point conversion, and is stopped on a Cam Jordan sack, however Jordan will get a chunk of the facemask. Allgeier will get the second alternative on the bottom and converts the conversion.
- NO 21 – ATL 18
- Saints do themselves no favors, going 3 and out after an ill-advised throw by Andy Dalton into double protection, a 5-yard run by Kamara, after which an incompletion from Dalton to Juwan. The punt goes 53 yards to the ATL 17, with Avery Williams returning the ball 20 yards. Offensive holding is enforced, nonetheless, so Atlanta will begin at their very own 10-yard line.
- Falcons begin the drive with a brief rush to Allgeier for 4, a go to Avery Williams for five, after which 3 straight first downs on a 1-yard run by Allgeier, a 14-yard go to Pruitt, after which an 11-yard run by Allgeier.
- Falcons then rush for five with Patterson after an incompletion by Ridder, after which Ridder throws an incomplete go to Firkser as effectively, 4th and 5, PBU by Marcus Maye. The falcons elect to go for it on 4th. Drake London catches the ball for 16 yards, IT’S PUNCHED OUT BY JUSTIN EVANS AND RECOVERED BY BRADLEY ROBY! FIRST DOWN SAINTS ON THEIR OWN 39!
- Alvin Kamara rushes for five yards, taking the sport all the way down to the 2-minute warning.
- Taysom Hill rushes for 7 yards and will get the primary down, Atlanta takes the primary of their timeouts.
- Kamara will get the ball once more, dashing for 13 yards, one other first down, and forcing Atlanta to take their 2nd timeout.
- Kamara half 3, taking the ball for one more 5 yards, and Atlanta takes their ultimate timeout with 1:48 left within the 4th.
- Kamara half 4, dashing for 4 yards to the ATL 37, tackled in bounds so the clock is working, third and 1.
- New Orleans calls their first timeout with 0:59 left within the 4th on third and 1
- Taysom Hill is available in for QB energy however is stopped proper on the line, with no first down, 4th and inches. New Orleans calls their 2nd timeout with 0:12 left.
- Saints go for it on 4th, don’t convert on a foul snap by Erik McCoy to Taysom. Atlanta will get the ball with 0:09, no timeouts, on their very own 27.
- Desmond Ridder throws for six yards to drake London, 5 seconds left now with London out of bounds.
- Ridder…scrambles? Desmond takes the ball 19 yards however the clock runs out. Anyhow, THE SAINTS WIN! The season, in technical phrases, just isn’t over but. Carolina additionally simply misplaced 24-16 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, in order that helps.
