November 10, 2019
Atlanta 26/New Orleans 9
Article by Allison Smith
Photos courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons and the NFL
Inactives are Jamal Carter, John Cominsky (lingering injury), Matt Gono, Brandon Powell, Wes Schweitzer (concussion), Deadrin Senat, and still Desmond Trufant (turf toe). Ito Smith was placed on Injured Reserve on Saturday, Sean Harlow moved to the active roster, and Qadree Ollison is on the active roster for the first time this season.
The Falcons won the toss and decided to take the ball first. There was no return, so the Falcons begin on the 25. Matt Ryan hands off to Calvin Ridley who gains 18 yards (behind a great Julio Jones block) on his first carry of the season. Devonta Freeman gains no yards, but the Saints have a hands to the face penalty and give up 5 yards. First and 10 at the 49, Ryan drops back and throws up to Freeman at the line of scrimmage, where Free gains a yard. On second and 9, Ryan is in the shotgun and hands off to Freeman who is standing next to him and gets the first down. At the Saints’ 41, Ryan changes the call and hands to Freeman who goes behind the left side for 12 yards. A big flip back to Freeman, far left, he gains 4 yards and is forced out of bounds. Now, Ryan hands off to the left side to Kenyon Barner who gains another first down. Now at the 13 with a 1st and 10, naturally, there is a false start, by Kaleb McGary this time. Before the ball can be snapped, another false start, Jamon Brown, thanks to the crowd noise, which is louder now. First and 20, Brian Hill gains one yard. On the 2nd and 19, Ryan finds LSU’s own Russell Gage on the left side for a quick 3 yards. On 3rd and 16, Ryan is under pressure and throws the ball incomplete. This flag is on James Carpenter for holding and Younghoe Koo comes on for the 37-yard field goal.
Koo kicks the ball out of the endzone for the touchback. Drew Brees and the offense begins at their own 25. Latavius Murray gets the first run and is stopped quickly by Takk McKinley. Alvin Kamara gets the ball for an 8-yard rush along the left side. Murray gains the first down and more. At the 40, the Saints pass up to Michael Thomas for 16 yards, covered and pushed out by Isaiah Oliver immediately. In Falcons’ territory, Brees drops back and easily passes to Gerad Cook for 22 yards, with Kemal Ishmael in coverage. Taysom Hill in the shot gun hit Thomas at the 5, who gets both toes inbounds as he falls out. Murray takes the ball a yard where Ish flings him to the ground. Brees fakes, then throws to Cook who is immediately stopped by Kendall Sheffield in the open field. Third and goal from the 2, Brees drops back and is SACKED by De’Vondre Campbell for a big loss. The Saints are forced to kick a 28-yard field goal.
Freeman gets the first handoff of the 2nd possession, for a 2-yard gain. Julio is in the slot, Ryan drops back and overthrows Austin Hooper. On 3rd and 8, long pass to Ridley along the right sideline. Ryan under pressure finds Gage for a 9-yard pick up. Near midfield with a 2nd and 1, gives to Free who begins way in the backfield, he is at full speed by the time he hits the line of scrimmage and easily gains the first down and several more yards. On the next play, the linebacker doesn’t drop into coverage and gets Free for a 1-yard loss. Ryan passes to the sideline to Freeman for a 7-yard gain. At the Saints’ 44, the Falcons are 3rd and 4, with a 4 man rush, Freeman gets the pass and bats it to himself, but with the defender on him, cannot bring the ball in. On the 4th and 4, Ryan drops back, in trouble, yet scrambles for the first down. At the end of the first quarter, the Falcons are driving and tied.
With a first and 10 at the Saints 39, Ryan hits Julio, but Marcus Lattimore knocks the ball loose before Ju has possession. Second and 10, Ryan from the shotgun gives to Hill who finds a hole up the middle and gains 7 yards. Third and 3, Ryan is on the left side line, the ball is snapped directly to Hill who gains 2 yards. The defense has a hands to the face penalty and provides the Falcons with a first down. From the 25, Ju is in motion, but Ryan calls a time out to talk it over. A handoff to Freeman, who runs into a wall, the rolls off for a yard. Ryan changes the play at the line, fakes a handoff to Freeman, then under pressure throws the ball just over the defense. Another 5-yarder for hands to the face and another first down for the Falcons. From the 19-yard line, Ryan hands to Freeman, up the middle gains 3 yards. A pass to Freeman in the flat and 2 defenders immediately stop him at the line of scrimmage. On 3rd an 5, Ryan from the shotgun, lobs it to Julio near the end zone. The flag is a hold on Lattimore, another 5 yards and another first down. On the 9, Hill is in the backfield and gets the call for a single yard up the middle. On the 17th play of the drive, HOOPER for the touchdown. He jumps up, catches the ball, absorbs the hit and falls to the ground, with the ball. With 11:09 to go in the half, the Falcons lead…..10/3.
Koo has a short kick, but the Saints only get the ball out to the 20. Brees drops way back, throws up to Kamara at the line of scrimmage and gains one yard before Campbell stops him. Allen Bailey nearly gets to Brees as he pushes him out of the pocket and the makes an errant throw. The offense has a false start, now at 3rd and 14 from their own 15, under pressure, Brees throws to the fullback at the original line of scrimmage. He is met and stopped by committee, led by Sheffield, Damontae Kazee, and Blidi Wreh-Wilson. The Saints are forced to punt. Barner takes the ball at the 28 and finds a seam for a 22-yard return.
Freeman gets the opening carry for 2 yards. At midfield, a fake to Freeman, gets Hooper for 5 yards on the left side, but Julio is called for a PI and backs the Falcons up to the 41. On 2nd and 18, blitz coming, Gage gets the ball back to midfield. The Dome is getting loud at 3rd and 9, Ryan drops back, stands in and hits Ridley for 3 yards. Ryan Allen (5th punter of the year) punts to the 10-yard line.
Brees goes far side for a 9-yard pass to Thomas. On 2nd and 1, Murray goes to the left for a few yards and the first down. Brees in the shotgun, changes the play, drops back and throws to the sliding Thomas who is wide open in the middle of the field. Under pressure, Brees running, nearly sacked, gets the ball to the fullback where he is stopped at the line of scrimmage by Foye Oluokun. Brees hands to Kamara who leaps over the line for a few yards. On 3rd and 4 with a 4 man rush, Adrian Clayborn comes through hard and fast for a SACK. Another punt, Barner lets it take a Falcons bounce and will begin at their 12.
Ryan throws a little high to Jones with Eli Apple in tight coverage. On 2nd and 10, Ryan in the shotgun, fakes the hand off to Freeman and overthrows Julio again. 3rd and 10, the dome is loud again, Ryan under pressure, throws up to Christian Blake just past the first down marker – his first NFL reception. Teams go to the 2-minute warning.
First and 10 from the Atlanta 28, blitz coming and Ryan flings the ball down to Julio for the 54-yard reception, with Apple being taken out by Ridley’s big block. Lattimore is on the sideline and headed to the locker room after this play. Ryan finds Hooper across the middle for 6 yards. With 1:42 to go in the half, from the Saints’ 10, Ryan from the shotgun, gets sacked, untouched. 4th and 10, Koo on for the 36-yard field goal. With 91 seconds to go, Falcons lead 13/3.
From the 25, with no times, Brees throws quickly to Ted Ginn Jr, Wilson is called for PI. Moved up to the 33, Brees finds Jared Cook wide open in the middle of the field immediately hit by Campbell. Sheffield is called for a hold, that is declined. Another quick pass to Cook for 6 yards. Across midfield, Cook, still wide open, makes another catch for the first down. Brees goes another direction finally, to Thomas in the slant, who jams Kazee in the face and doesn’t let go, gets the 15-yard facemask. 1st and 12 from the 40, Thomas is still open for the reception, being taken down by Oliver in bounds. Brees dumps off to Kamara for the first down. Brees spikes the ball with 15 seconds to go. Then passes to Kamara along the sideline to the right side and out of bounds. An o-lineman trips/kicks Grady Jarrett and is called for the 10-yard penalty. Its 2nd and 20 with 9 seconds to go. Kamara gets the ball and takes it out of bounds at the 32. Lutz on for the successful field goal.
At the half, the Falcons lead 13/6.
Brees opens up with a quick pass to Kamara for 4 yards. 7 gets the back toss and gains the first side, stopped by Kazee finally. Kamara gains 4 up the middle. A big pass down to Thomas, but Sheffield is in perfect coverage to break up the pass. Thomas gets the running pass across the field, Oliver makes the big stop and forces the 4th down. The offense stays on the field, Murray and Kamara are both in. Brees with the hard count. False start on the offense, 4th and 8. The punt is taken at the 10.
Ryan is under center with Hill in the backfield, fakes the handoff and throws to midfield to Ridley under double coverage. On 2nd and 10, from the shotgun, Ryan hands off to Hill for a 5-yard gain. Barner in motion, under pressure, Jones is guarded by PJ Williams and makes the easy catch at the 27-yard line. Hill tries up the middle to no avail. Ridley is called for a false start. Ryan throws a highly contested ball high to Gage, but he cannot bring it in. The noise is deafening again on 3rd and 15. Ryan throws way to the right of Jones and the Falcons are forced to punt.
Josh Harris has a false start to back the punt up. The punt is short, and Harris returns 20plus yards to give the offense the start at the Falcons’ 38.
Murray rushes for 2 yards. Brees drops back and throws the ball high, Ginn tips the ball cannot bring it in. A quick snap and pass to Trevon Smith who is hit by Kazee. Smith’s helmet flies off, but he holds on to the first down catch. Thomas runs the ball for 8 yards. Fake to Kamara, then handoff to Ginn an another first down, now at the 10. Low throw to Kamara that he cannot bring it, tightly covered by Ricardo Allen. Clemson unites at the quarterback again. Getting out of the offensive hold, Grady Jarrett spins Brees and Vic Beasley, Jr. taps him the rest of the way down. Rattled, Brees calls a time out.
Under a 3 man rush, Brees under pressure, throws short to Murray, Kazee makes the big time open field tackle, but is hurt. He eventually pops up and runs to be checked out. His big hit forced the field goal, Falcons lead 13/9 now.
After the kickoff – Hill gets the first call and the 15-yard run along the sideline, behind a good Jones block. Hill goes up the middle for 4 yards. On 2nd and 6, Ryan hands to Hill again for a 1-yard gain. Ryan changes the play at the line, takes the shotgun snap and the ball to Ridley is incomplete. Illegal use of the hands is called, 5-yards and an automatic first down. At midfield, Hill gets the ball for no gain up the middle. On 2nd and 10, from the shotgun, Ryan sees the blitz and finds running Ridley for a 15-yard gain. After a fake to Hill, Jones hauls in the 14-yard pass across the middle. The Saints challenged Julio’s catch….no one is challenging the no call on the hug he received before the ball arrived. The play was overturned. It is 2nd and 10 at the Saints’ 35. Back to Julio for the completion, with no PI or “drop.” From the 22, Ryan hands off to Hill who loses a couple of yards. Ryan finds Blake for 4 yards. On 3rd and 8, Ryan is in the shotgun, under pressure, Ryan runs for the 8 yards, behind a big Hooper block. Both Julio and Ridley were being mugged. Ryan is under pressure again, starts to run, sees Hill fall and get back up and tosses to him, but Hill can’t bring the ball in. The Falcons call a time out on 2nd and 10 at the 12. Showing blitz, under pressure Ryan throws to Gage for a couple of yard gain.
Third and 8 to begin the 4th quarter. Under pressure, a defender touching Ryan’s shoulder and he gets the pass away to Hill, who gets the first down and scores the touchdown. Ridley is the first with congrats, then Barner and Keith Smith from the running back room. With seconds gone in the 4th quarter, the Falcons lead 20/9.
After a kick just inside the end zone by Koo, the Saints avoid a tackle by Kazee and get back close to midfield. A quick run by Kamara, then pass reception, but the left tackle is hooking Takk to stop the sack, and suddenly its 2nd and 14 back at the 42. Brees throw to a covered Thomas, who is holding onto Campbell and he is blocking Thomas completely. 3rd and 14, Falcons drop everyone, Brees can’t find a receiver and Grady gets another SACK with Takk and Claybo in the backfield.
After the punt, the Falcons take over at the 34. Hill runs on the left side for a first down. A short run, then a 2nd and 7, Ryan from the shotgun fakes to Barner, nearly sacked and throws the ball away. Ryan fires one to Hooper for a gain of 9 and the first down. Hill rushes on the left side for another 5 yards. A fake to Hill, Ryan throws to Hooper for a loss. Hooper limps off the field. On 3rd and 11, Ryan from the shotgun, overthrows Jones. The Falcons punt to the 12, but Allen is taken out and the offense returns to the field as Allen is helped off the field.
Hill runs into a wall for no gain. Ryan fakes the handoff and runs for his life toward the sideline and finally throws the ball away. On 3rd and 10, Hill runs for a couple of yards. On the 4th down, Koo comes on to kick the 48-yard field goal and extend the Falcons’ lead 23/9.
Koo’s kickoff again goes short into the end zoe, but Jaeden Graham hits the returner HARD at the 20 to ensure there is no big run back. Thomas hauls in the quick 15 yard catch in front of Oliver. Claybo and Grady meet at Brees, for another Sack. Kamara gets a big chunk back of the 2nd and 19. On 3rd and 4, Brees is hit by Grady as he throws an errant pass. On 4th and 4, Brees drops back and is WWE speared by Beasley.
Falcons take over on the 46. Hill runs left for one yard, but there is a holding on rookie #17. First and 20, Ryan hands to Hill again, for a few yards up the middle. Ryan drops back to throw a bomb to Ridley, it is picked off by Marcus Williams in excellent coverage and read of Ryan.
The Saints take over at their own 11. An immediate pass to Cook for a 7-yard gain. Brees throws to Ginn, and the ball is almost picked by Wilson. Third and 3, Brees over throws Cook. Campbell had perfect step by step coverage and the ball had to be thrown past Cook. Grady peels himself off of Brees on the ground. It’s 4th and 3 deep in Saints territory, Brees throws incomplete to Cook. Jack Crawford had a chip in the middle of the field on Cook, knocking him off his spot.
It’s the Falcons’ ball at the 18. Hill gets the ball back to back before the Saints call a time out. Another short Hill run. Koo hits another field goal and Falcons lead 26/9.
Ishmael is hurt on the kickoff, but walks off the field under his own power.
Brees has a completion that is quickly stopped by Oluokun as Takk hits Brees. Brees has two more pass completions to Thomas as the 2-minute warning stops the clock. Brees hits Thomas for a gain up to midfield. Kamara runs for 6 yards. Brees finds Cook for another first down. With 12 seconds to go, Brees spikes the ball at the 9. An incompletion to Thomas in the end zone. Third and goal, under pressure, Brees throws into the ground. On 4th and goal with 2 seconds in the game, the Saints have a delay of game and are back at the 14-yard line. Brees throws to Thomas, he is stopped at the goal line by Beasley, Oluokun, and Allen.
In week 8, the Falcons have their 2nd win of the season and are the only team to be undefeated in the NFC South.
Injury Report – Devonta Freeman did not return after a 2nd quarter ankle injury. Austin Hooper did not return, but was hurt late and likely would have returned with more time or need in the game. All other players evaluated played again.
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