12/8/17 10:45am
Deion Jones’ late game heroics lead to
20-17 Falcons victory
Photo: @atlantafalcons
Working with a short week, the Falcons looked to get a much needed divisional victory against the NFC South leader, New Orleans Saints.
With the Thursday night game being both team’s color rush jersey week, the Atlanta atmosphere was hyped and ready to see an intense game. As the game got underway both offense’s had no trouble going down the field but were both stopped in the red-zone leading to field goals. After the 1st quarter, the score was locked at 3-3 and both defenses began to stick out their chest’s as they were both stopping the run and causing the QB’s to make passes down the field.
In the 2nd quarter, the Falcons struck first with a 15 play 90 yard drive that chewed up 8:27 that was capped off with a Devonta Freeman 1 yard TD.
*Fun Fact: That TD gave Freeman 1 TD in each of his last 6 games against the Saints*
With the Falcons up 10-3, the Saints showed some fight and orchestrated their own 5 play 66 yard drive that resulted in a 26 yard TD catch by Tommy Lee Lewis tying the game up a 10-10. Towards the end of the half, the game began to get away from Matt Ryan as he threw an interception straight to Saint’s Marshon Lattimore to close out the half.
With the Falcons receiving the ball to start the 2nd half, the Falcons took over at their own 24 yard line and on the 1st play, Matt Ryan threw yet another interception his 2nd in 2 passes. With the defense now having to work with a short field, ultimately gave up a 1 yard TD catch by Michael Thomas and the Saints took the lead at 17-10.
The bleeding didn’t stop there, with the Falcons putting together a pretty decent drive on their second possession in the 2nd half, Matt Ryan threw yet another interception (his 3rd) while trying to connect with Julio Jones. In a game where the offense couldn’t get anything going, the Falcons relied on their defense and they didn’t disappoint. After causing a 3 and out, the Falcons offense took over and put together a long 11 play 69 yard TD drive that was helped kept alive by multiple defensive penalties. With the game tied at 17-17 courtesy of a 8 yard TD catch by Mohamed Sanu, the Falcons looked to build some momentum and once against stopped the Saints offense and caused a punt with 7 minutes left.
The Falcons sensing the game near the end, Matt Ryan connected with Julio Jones for a much needed 14 yard completion to put them in field goal range. Trying to get Matt Bryant some extra yards, Matt Ryan took 2 shots to Mohamed Sanu but both passes went incomplete and Bryant drilled a 52 yard field goal with 3:49 remaining.
With the Falcons leading 20-17, the defense needed to step up and stop Drew Brees but had difficulty doing so, allowing him to throw for 67 yards in their final drive of the game. Following a 4th and 1 conversion on the Falcons 24 yard line, Drew Brees took a shot in the end-zone and Deion Jones was able to intercept it and seal the victory for the Falcons!
The Falcons now 8-5 and free until their next game on December 18th vs the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay, will look to get healthy and continue winning games with hopes of making the playoffs!
404thebeat.com 