NEW ORLEANS -- The Falcons snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Sunday.
After a big 64-yard reception by Cordarrelle Patterson, kicker Younghoe Koo made a 29-yard field goal at the buzzer to pull out the 27-25 victory over the Saints.
The Falcons were sitting pretty with an 18-point, but collapsed in the fourth quarter behind a rash of penalties, poor blocking and poor coverage.
The Saints took the lead with 1:01 left, but couldn’t check a streaking Patterson, who hauled in the Matt Ryan pass and got the Falcons immediately into field goal range.
Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Stills with 1:01 left to play to take the lead. He also had a 5-yard touchdown pass to Marquez Calloway and Alvin Kamara added a 2-yard touchdown run as New Orleans stormed back.
Ryan tossed two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Falcons improved to 4-4. The Saints, playing with backups Siemian and Taysom Hill at QB, dropped to 5-3.
The Falcons’ defense had a major role in slowing down the Saints and outside linebacker James Vaughters helped to close out the win with a fourth-quarter strip sack.
Outside linebacker Steven Means scooped up the fumble and rumbled 32-yards down to the Saints’ 6-yard line. On the next play, Ryan tossed his second touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus.
After going up 24-6, things went crazy as the Saints stormed back to take the lead.
But Ryan to Patterson proved unstoppable and Koo, who went to the Pro Bowl last season, has been clutch.
Here are the five things we learned from the victory:
1. Defense showed up: The Falcons’ defense withstood an opening rushing onslaught by the Saints, settled down and then held them scoreless over the first half.
The Saints rushed nine times for 69 yards in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, led by Grady Jarrett, Deion Jones and A.J. Terrell, the Falcons started to stiffen on defense.
The Saints didn’t score a touchdown until they were down 24-6 with under eight minutes to play.
Vaughters and Means combined on their big play, while linebackers Foye Oluokun and Jones amassed tackles.
2. Ryan’s masterful drive: The Falcons offense has been sputtering and had been stuffed on a fourth-and-1 in the second quarter.
After the defense forced another punt, the Falcons received the ball back at their 8-yard line with 5:36 left in the second quarter.
Ryan completed 8 of 10 passes for 71 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus. The play capped a 15-play, 92-yard drive that took 5:30 off the clock.
The Falcons converted on three third downs in the drive, including Ryan escaping the pocket on third-and-1 from their 27 for a 4-yard gain.
Ryan completed passes to five players -- Russell Gage (three), Mike Davis, Kyle Pitts, Patterson and Zaccheaus – on the drive.
It was the Falcons’ fourth 15-play scoring drive of the season. They also scored a touchdown against the Giants on a 15-play drive. They made field goals at the end of 15-play drives against the Eagles and Washington.
The 92-yard drive tied the longest of the season. They also had a 92-yard drive against in a win over the Jets on Oct. 10 in London.
3. Second-half start: The Falcons’ defense held the Saints to a field goal on the opening drive of the second half.
Ryan then put together an 81-yard touchdown drive. He capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run.
The two touchdown scoring drives were two of the longest four of the season. They also had an 83-yard touchdown drive against Washington on Oct. 3.
4. Fourth down: The Falcons were struggling to run the ball early, but that didn’t stop coach Arthur Smith from going for it on fourth-and-inches from the Falcons’ 45 early in the second quarter.
Davis was stuffed for a loss of a yard on the play.
5. Coaching debuts: Since 2006 when Sean Payton was named the Saints’ coach, Falcons coaches were 1-3 in their debuts against New Orleans.
Former coaches Jim Mora, Bobby Petrino and Dan Quinn lost. Former coach Mike Smith beat the Saints 34-20 in 2008 in his first meeting against Payton and the Saints.
