Saints vs. Falcons final score: New Orleans holds off Atlanta to clinch NFC South
- 4 years ago
Saints vs. Falcons final score: New Orleans holds off Atlanta to clinch NFC South
The Saints erased the sting of its Week 10 defeat to the Falcons with a hard-earned 26-18 victory over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night to claim the NFC South title.
New Orleans (10-2) took its largest lead of the game after Wil Lutz's fourth field goal made the score 26-9. The Falcons (3-9) weren't done, though. Atlanta found its way into the end zone with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Russell Gage. The score gave the Falcons life after a flurry of empty possessions and turnovers.
Following an unsuccessful 2-point conversion, Atlanta recovered an onside kick and marched into New Orleans territory, setting up a 43-yard Younghoe Koo field goal to make it a one-possession game with just under two minutes remaining.
Even more drama ensued. Koo got a friendly hop on another onside kick and the Falcons recovered, igniting the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd that had been kept in check for most of the night.
This time, though, the Saints had the answer. Ryan, who finished the night with two interceptions and a lost fumble, was sacked for the ninth time on a do-or-die fourth-down attempt from the Saints' 44, sealing the New Orleans victory.
Sporting News tracked live updates, highlights and score changes for Saints vs. Falcons.
Saints vs. Falcons final score for Thanksgiving 2019
FINAL
Saints: 26
Falcons: 18
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Saints 7 10 3 6 26
Falcons 0 9 0 9 18
Saints vs. Falcons live updates, highlights
(All times Eastern)
11:34 p.m.: Cameron Jordan gets his way into the pocket to sack Ryan on fourth down to put the wraps on the Thanksgiving win.
11:32 p.m.: The Saints sack Ryan on third down but get an illegal hands to the face penalty. First down for Atlanta in Saints territory.
11:29 p.m.: Younghoe Koo delivers yet again with his third (successful) onside kick. The Falcons will have a chance to tie things up.
11:28 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, FALCONS. Atlanta opts to bring out eh field-goal unit on first down to make it a one-possession game and Koo delivers. Saints 26, Falcons 18.
11:26 p.m.: Atlanta is down to the Saints 25 at the two-minute warning.
11:20 p.m.: The Falcons recover the initial onside kick but are called for an offsides penalty. Atlanta tries again and is successful again.
11:17 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, FALCONS. Ryan hits Russell Gage in the end zone after he beat his defender for a 13-yard score. Atlanta's two-point conversion is no good for Cameron Ridley. Saints 26, Falcons 15.
11:11 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, SAINTS. Add another three points to the Saints' total via Lutz's 45-yard kick. Saints 26, Falcons 9.
11 p.m.: Another Matt Ryan turnover. He tries to scramble for the first down but fumbles and the Saints are on it.
10:54 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, SAINTS. Lutz drills another kick, this time a 42-yard field goal. Saints 23, Falcons 9.
10:45 p.m.: Ryan is picked off again, this time by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. He returns it 28 yards to the Falcons 29.
The Saints erased the sting of its Week 10 defeat to the Falcons with a hard-earned 26-18 victory over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night to claim the NFC South title.
New Orleans (10-2) took its largest lead of the game after Wil Lutz's fourth field goal made the score 26-9. The Falcons (3-9) weren't done, though. Atlanta found its way into the end zone with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Russell Gage. The score gave the Falcons life after a flurry of empty possessions and turnovers.
Following an unsuccessful 2-point conversion, Atlanta recovered an onside kick and marched into New Orleans territory, setting up a 43-yard Younghoe Koo field goal to make it a one-possession game with just under two minutes remaining.
Even more drama ensued. Koo got a friendly hop on another onside kick and the Falcons recovered, igniting the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd that had been kept in check for most of the night.
This time, though, the Saints had the answer. Ryan, who finished the night with two interceptions and a lost fumble, was sacked for the ninth time on a do-or-die fourth-down attempt from the Saints' 44, sealing the New Orleans victory.
Sporting News tracked live updates, highlights and score changes for Saints vs. Falcons.
Saints vs. Falcons final score for Thanksgiving 2019
FINAL
Saints: 26
Falcons: 18
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Saints 7 10 3 6 26
Falcons 0 9 0 9 18
Saints vs. Falcons live updates, highlights
(All times Eastern)
11:34 p.m.: Cameron Jordan gets his way into the pocket to sack Ryan on fourth down to put the wraps on the Thanksgiving win.
11:32 p.m.: The Saints sack Ryan on third down but get an illegal hands to the face penalty. First down for Atlanta in Saints territory.
11:29 p.m.: Younghoe Koo delivers yet again with his third (successful) onside kick. The Falcons will have a chance to tie things up.
11:28 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, FALCONS. Atlanta opts to bring out eh field-goal unit on first down to make it a one-possession game and Koo delivers. Saints 26, Falcons 18.
11:26 p.m.: Atlanta is down to the Saints 25 at the two-minute warning.
11:20 p.m.: The Falcons recover the initial onside kick but are called for an offsides penalty. Atlanta tries again and is successful again.
11:17 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, FALCONS. Ryan hits Russell Gage in the end zone after he beat his defender for a 13-yard score. Atlanta's two-point conversion is no good for Cameron Ridley. Saints 26, Falcons 15.
11:11 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, SAINTS. Add another three points to the Saints' total via Lutz's 45-yard kick. Saints 26, Falcons 9.
11 p.m.: Another Matt Ryan turnover. He tries to scramble for the first down but fumbles and the Saints are on it.
10:54 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, SAINTS. Lutz drills another kick, this time a 42-yard field goal. Saints 23, Falcons 9.
10:45 p.m.: Ryan is picked off again, this time by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. He returns it 28 yards to the Falcons 29.