November 22, 2020
Article by Allison Smith
Photos Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons 9 at New Orleans Saints 24
The Falcons take on the Saints for the first time of the 2020 season, two weeks removed from their hosting of the Saints in Atlanta.
Inactives for the day, recently added to active roster, Kurt Benkert. Qadree Ollison is back to inactive, along with the still healing Deadrin Senat. Calvin Ridley was questionable, but is active, as is the hamstring hampered Julio Jones.
The New Orleans Saints win the toss and defer the ball. They kick to the Atlanta Falcons.
From the 25, the Falcons begin with a fake to Todd Gurley, then hits Gurley at the 28-yard line. Matt Ryan changes the play at the line, fakes to Gurley again, then finds Calvin Ridley for 42 yards. Ryan finds Olamide Zaccheaus for another first down of 16 yards. Gurley gets the call for a 2-yard run along the right side. From the Saints 14, Ryan throws to Keith Smith for 4 yards. On 3rd and 4, Ryan cannot connect with Hayden Hurst, who was covered by 3 defenders. Younghoe Koo successfully kicks the field goal and gives the Falcons the lead.
First and 10 from the 21, Taysom Hill passes to Michael Thomas for an 8-yard gain, stopped by Deion Jones. Latavius Murray goes for a yard forcing a 3rd and 1. Grady Jarrett and Allen Bailey combine for a sack of Hill. The Saints punt to Brandon Powell at the 32.
Before the Falcons snap the ball, Chris Lindstrom has a false start and backs the Falcons up to the 27. On 1st and 15, Ryan flips it out to Powell who gains 3 yards along the right side. Under a 4-man rush, Ryan finds Russell Gage for 1 yard and is immediately stopped. On 3rd and 11, Ryan is sacked by Cam Jordan. Sterling Hofrichter punts to the 30-yard line, where the special teams group ensures he gains to yards.
Alvin Kamara gets the ball for a quick 6-yard gain, stopped by Jarrett. On 2nd down, Deonte Harris gets the ball for a big 24-yard gain around the left side. Keanu Neal finally knocked him out of bounds. Under pressure Hill takes the ball himself and gains 4 yards before sliding to avoid the Neal hit. Kamara goes up the middle for 4 yards up the middle. On 3rd and 2 Hill throws toward Thomas, but he has been knocked down for Darqueze Dennard. Automatic first down. From the 23, Hill drops back and finds Adam Trautman for the first down, eventually stopped by Foye Oluokun. From the 4, wild cat, Kamara gets the direct snap and gains a few yards. The Saints call a time out. Hill drops back and throws into the end zone, Mykal Walker nearly made the pick. Walker read the play perfectly and got a single hand on the ball. ON 3rd down, Thomas gets the ball but Dennard hits him immediately at the line of scrimmage. The Saints kick the field goal to tie the game.
At 2:47 to go in the 1st quarter, Falcons 3/Saints 3.
Ryan scrambles for no gain. On 2nd and 10, Ryan, from the shotgun, under a blitz, finds Julio Jones for a 17-yards. From the 42, Gurley gets the call, after a stutter step, he finds a 7-yard hole. Gurley is behind the block of Jones. Gurley breaks tackles to cross midfield for the first down. Brian Hill gets the call from the backfield and gains 5 yards along the right side.
End of Q1. Tied at 3.
On 2nd and 6 from the Saints 41, Ryan cannot find a receiver. On 3rd and 6, Ryan is pressured and dumps off to Smith. A flag on the Saints for holding moves the Falcons up 5 yards and provides the automatic first down. From the 36, Ryan is in trouble, throws the ball that is tipped at the line. Gurley goes up the middle for 3 yards. Third and 7, another incompletion toward Hurst, under pressure, Ryan throws behind Hurst. Another Koo field goal.
With 13:56 to go in the half, Falcons lead 6/3.
Hill finds Thomas for a 26-yard gain. The biggest play against AJ Terrell this season. Walker is injured on the play. Near midfield, Hill finds Thomas for 9 yards. Kamara gains 6 yards for the first down, then the Saints get a free 5 on a hold in the defense. Hill cannot connect with Thomas on the next play. On 2nd and 10, Hill has all day, but cannot find an open receiver, Charles Harris tackles him for a 3-yard loss. On 3rd and 13, Hill throws an incomplete screen to Kamara. Will Lutz hits the goal post on the field goal attempt.
From the 44, Hill goes up the middle for 4 yards. On 2nd and 6, Ryan changes the play at the line, Powell gets the ball, but the play is called dead on a penalty on Luke Stocker. Ridley makes the 8-yard reception. Ryan is sacked on 3rd down for a 6-yard loss. Jake Matthews gives up the sack. Hofrichter on for the punt that falls into the end zone.
From the 25, Hill hands off to Murray for 2 yards. Hill’s next pass is incomplete. Hill finds Harris for a yard gain, but is met hard by Terrell. Isaiah Oliver is being tackled by two blockers, giving Terrell the space to make the play.
After the punt, the Falcons begin on their own 30. Ryan flips back to Hill, who cannot find any space along the edge. From the shotgun, the draw to Gurley for 2 yards. On 3rd down, Gage makes the reception for 11 yards. The next pass is to Gage as well for 17 yards along the sideline. A quick 3-yard gain by Gurley. On 2nd down, Ryan fakes to Gurley and has the ball knocked out of Christian Blake’s face by the defender. On 3rd and 7, the Saints call their second time out. Jones has been missing for quite a while and is back on the field. On the 3rd down, with Jones in the slot, Ryan drops back and has the ball tipped at the line and falls incomplete. Koo kicks a successful 52-yard field goal.
With 4:31 to go in the half, Falcons 9, Saints 3.
The Saints bring the kickoff out of the end zone, but met by the Falcons special teams at the 20. Hill fakes to Kamara, under pressure finds Thomas for 16 yards. Terrell in tight coverage and makes the stop. Kamara gains 7 yards. on 2nd down, Hill lobs the ball to the 15 where Emmanuel Sanders makes the reception. Sanders rolls, gets back up, then Dennard knocks the ball out and Neal comes up with the fumble. After a booth review, Neal had tapped Sanders while he was down originally. Frist and 10 at the Falcons 13. Kamara takes the direct snap and goes for 2 yards. After a fake handoff, Hill goes along the right side with Jacob Tuioti-Mariner in hot pursuit, making the tackle with Blidi Wreh-Wilson.
Two Minute Warning.
From the Falcons 9, on 3rd and 6, Hill finds Jared Cook right at the first down marker, stopped at the line by Oluokon and Allen. Atlanta takes a time out, meanwhile, the spot of the stop is under review. The play stands and is a first down at the 3. Hill hands to Kamara who goes in for the touchdown.
With 1:46 until the half, Falcons 9, Saints 10.
From the 25, Ryan drops back and finds Ridley at the 32. Ryan finds Ridley again at the 43 for a first down. Ryan is under pressure and throws near Ridley, incomplete. A flag is thrown on the defense for holding, a first down and 5 yards. From the 48, Ryan drops back and lobs the ball down field for Ridley, but the ball goes out of bounds. Ryan finds Hill over the right side for 2 yards, another defensive hold for another 5 yards and first down. From the Saints 47, Ryan hits Gage for an 8-yard gain. Ryan throws toward Blake, where he is covered/blocked by a defender. The ball falls incomplete. On 3rd down, Ryan is sacked again by Jordan. The loss knocks the Falcons out of field goal range. The Falcons call a time out with 3 seconds remaining. Ryan throws to the end zone and he is intercepted by Marcus Williams who makes it to the 20-yard line. Hill is called for a horse collar, the Saints are provided 15 yards and a free play. The Saints decline the penalty and go in at half.
Half Time – Falcons 9/Saints 10
The Saints begin on their own 20. Kamara tries to go up the middle, for no gain. Hill draws Steven Means offsides. On 2nd and 4, Hill rifles the ball to Thomas at the 41. Hill quickly hits Thomas for 9 yards. Kamara gains the first down crossing midfield. From the Falcons 46, Hill finds Murray who breaks tackles and gets down to the 21. Murray goes up the middle for another quick first down. From the 10, Hill has all day, finally runs the ball himself and is knocked out of bounds after 3 yars by Dennard. Hill’s pass is tipped high by Falcons defense. On third down, Thomas makes the reception, but is in the arms of Terrell and stopped there. On 4th and goal from the 2, the Saints beef up the line, then Hill runs the ball in for a touchdown.
With 9:11 to go in the 3rd quarter, Falcons 9/Saints 17.
Beginning on the 25, Ryan fakes to Gurley and is sacked. On 2nd and 17, Ryan throws to Gage for a 4-yard gain. A flag is on Atlanta for illegal formation, but declined. On 3rd and 13, Ryan has his foot grabbed by a defender and is sacked for the 6th time today. On the 4th down punt, there is movement and Hofrichter kicks from the end zone.
The Saints begin on their own 43. Hill drops back and hits Sanders for the touchdown. There was a hold – complete bear hug on an offensive lineman calling the play back and backing the Saints up. On 2nd and 20 from the 33, Hill hands to Murray who goes up the middle for 7 yards. Hill finds Thomas for a huge 19-yard gain and first down. Immediately stopped by Allen. From the Falcons 41, Kamara gains a yard. Hill is sacked quickly by Jones for an 11-yard loss. Tuioti-Mariner and John Cominsky were closing. Hill connects with Sanders for a short gain and the Saints punt to the 12.
Gurley goes left for a couple of yards, then is stopped at the line. On 3rd and 7, Ryan’s pass to Gage is knocked out in good coverage by the defender. Another Hofrichter punt from the edge of the end zone.
Saints begin on their own 47. Hill throws out of bounds toward Cook, Oluokun is called for PI. Hill throws the same pass, this time caught by Cook under coverage by Kendall Sheffield. The play is called back due to a hold on the offense. It is first and 20 from the 45. Murray goes 11 yards. Jarrett forcing a quick pass by Hill. Hill finds Sanders for a 6-yard gain.
End of 3rd quarter, Falcons 9/Saints 17.
Hill runs for the first down. Kamara finds a few yards up the middle. Murray gets the first down up the middle. Jarrett is tackled and taken down from behind, opening the hole for Hill to run for the 20-yard touchdown.
With 12:41 to go in the game, Falcons 9/Saints 24.
Powell brings the kickoff out, rams into his own teammates and is stopped at the 17. Ryan drops back and finds Blake at the 20. An incompletion toward Ridley. On 3rd and 7, Ryan is sacked again, by Jordan, again. Falcons punt to the 35.
Kamara goes 12 yards before Oluokun makes the stop. Murray goes for 2 yards before meeting Jarrett. On 2nd and 8, Sanders gains the first down. Murray gains no yards on the next run. Hill makes a big run, Terrell pops the ball out and Oluokun recovers the fumble.
Ito Smith gets the first play after the turnover and goes for 5 yards. Ryan nearly throws an interception on an attempt to Stocker. On 3rd and 5, Jones is back on the field, Ryan is nearly sacked, but gets the ball out to Gage for the first down. Ryan has back to back passes to Gage knocked incomplete. On 3rd down…..Ryan….sacked….again. On 4th and 13 from the 25, Ryan finds Jones at the 50 for a first down. Another pass to Gage is knocked out of his hands. Jones is limping on the sideline and sits down to be looked at again. Hill goes up the middle for 7 yards. Pass to Ridley is picked off at the 36.
With 5 minutes remaining in the game, the Saints continue to run the ball and the Falcons take back to back time outs.
Under a minute to go in the game, the Falcons get the ball back just outside their endzone. The first two passes are to Ridley. Both very contested. The first was a leaping catch of 18 yards, the next an incompletion. The incomplete pass to Gage is reviewed and the incompletion is upheld. Ryan finds Gage on the next play for a 9-yard reception. As time runs out, Blake makes the 15-yard reception.
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