The Atlanta Falcons (9-5), led by quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones, met the New Orleans Saints (10-4), led by quarterback Drew Brees and running back Alvin Kamara, in an NFC South battle, possibly for first place, in NFL Week 16 on Sunday, December 24, 2017 (12/24/17) at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Check the scoreboard above for the final score and click on the stats link for game stats.
Here's the AP recap:
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore corralled an unusual, momentum-turning interception off his back , New Orleans made two defensive stands from inside its own 2-yard line, and the Saints clinched their first playoff berth since 2013 with a 23-13 victory over the rival Atlanta Falcons.
Ted Ginn caught a 54-yard pass for a touchdown, which came just a few plays after Lattimore's interception and shortly before halftime. Mark Ingram used a sharp cutback to break loose for a 26-yard touchdown for New Orleans ( 11-4), which kept its tenuous hold on first place in the NFC South heading into the final week of the season.
While the loss eliminated the Falcons (9-6) from the NFC South race, Atlanta can clinch a wild-card berth by beating Carolina in the final regular season game on New Year's Eve.
The Falcons entered the game with a second straight division crown in their grasp, but they needed to beat the Saints. They squandered chances spectacularly, much to the delight of a deafening Superdome crowd -- and certainly to the chagrin of scattered fans wearing Falcons red. The Falcons were taunted on their way to the game by a plane towing a banner that read "28-3 Merry Xmas," a reference to Atlanta's Super Bowl collapse.
Atlanta trailed just 6-0 when Lattimore's interception of Matt Ryan set the Saints up to double their lead.
But early in the third quarter, Atlanta linebacker Deion Jones intercepted a passed that deflected off of Ginn's hands and returned it 41 yards to the New Orleans 2. But Devonta Freeman fumbled on a hit by Tyeler Davison two plays later and linebacker Manti Teo recovered.
Early in the fourth quarter, Freeman was stopped short on fourth-and-goal from the 1, preserving a 20-3 Saints lead. One play earlier, Julio Jones caught a third-down pass with his feet in the end zone, but he was unable to pull the ball across the goal line after reaching back to make the catch and being quickly driven down. Atlanta challenged the spot, but the call on the field was upheld.
Drew Brees completed 21 of 28 passes for 239 yards. Ginn finished with 76 yards receiving and Michael Thomas -- who'd been listed as questionable with a hamstring injury -- caught four passes for 66 yards. Brees became only the third quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 70,000 career yards passing, joining Peyton Manning and Brett Favre.
Ryan was 22 of 36 for 288 yards. He was sacked five times, twice by Cameron Jordan.
Jones had seven catches for 149 yards, but the Falcons' running game struggled.
Freeman was held to just 36 yards on 11 carries.
INJURY REPORT
Falcons: Tight end Levine Toilolo was sidelined by a knee injury in the second half.
Saints: Left tackle Terron Armstead left the game in the second half with a thigh injury.
UP NEXT
Falcons: Finish regular season at home against the Panthers.
Saints: Try to wrap up the division title at Tampa Bay on New Year's Eve.
Here's what you need to know:
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
When: Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017
Time: 1 p.m. Eastern
TV: Fox
Livestream: Fox Sports Go
Line: Saints -6
Falcons notes: FALCONS are 9-0 when scoring 20+ points in 2017. * QB MATT RYAN is 8-2 with 3,092 pass yards (309.2 per game), 23 TDs & 5 INTs for 114.2 rating in past 10 vs. NFC South. In his past 7 vs. NO, has 2,191 pass yards (313 per game), 15 TDs & 4 INTs for 108.4 rating. Since 2016, ranks 2nd in NFL in rating (105.7), 3rd in pass yards (8,434) & ties for 3rd in pass TDs (56). * RB DEVONTA FREEMAN had 194 scrimmage yards (126 rush, 68 rec.) & TD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with rush TD. In his past 6 vs. NO, has 809 scrimmage yards (134.8 per game) & 7 TDs (4 rush, 3 rec.). * WR JULIO JONES ranks 3rd in NFL with 1,215 rec. yards. Has 57 catches for 1,090 yards (136.3 per game) & 5 TDs in his past 8 vs. division. Is averaging 96.4 rec. yards per game in his past 7 vs. NO. WR MOHAMED SANU aims for 3rd in row vs. NO with TD catch. Has 3 TDs in his past 4 on road. * DE ADRIAN CLAYBORN has 7.5 sacks, 2 FFs & 2 FRs in his past 6. Had sack in last game vs. NO. DE TAKKARIST MC KINLEY leads NFC rookies with 6 sacks & ties for 1st among NFL rookies with 2 FFs. Had sack & FF in Week 15. Has 4 sacks & FF in his past 5. LB DEION JONES leads team & ranks 4th in NFC with 118 tackles. Has 30 tackles (10 per game) & INT in his past 3. In 3 career games vs. NO, has 28 tackles, 2 INTs, incl. 90-yard INT-TD & 7 PD. CB ROBERT ALFORD ties for 2nd in NFC with 16 PD. Is 1 of 2 in NFL with 60+ tackles (60) & 15+ PD (16). S KEANU NEAL had FF last week. Has 4 FFs in his past 5 vs. division.
Saints notes: SAINTS are only team in NFL with 3 players with 1,000+ scrimmage yards each: RB MARK INGRAM (1,420), rookie RB ALVIN KAMARA (1,336) & WR MICHAEL THOMAS (1,085). * QB DREW BREES ranks 3rd in NFL with 104 rating & 4th with 3,850 pass yards. Aims for 6th in row with 100+ rating. Has 10 games with 100+ rating this season, most in NFL. In his past 9 at home vs. Atl., has 2,866 pass yards (318.4 per game), 21 TDs & 10 INTs for 101.5 rating. * RB MARK INGRAM ranks 3rd in NFC with 1,045 rush yards, his 2nd consecutive 1,000+ yard season. Had 151 scrimmage yards (77 rec., 74 rush) & 2 rush TDs last week. RB ALVIN KAMARA leads NFL rookies with 12 TDs & ranks 2nd with 1,336 scrimmage yards. Is 1 of 4 rookies in NFL history (HOFers DOAK WALKER, CHARLEY TAYLOR & GALE SAYERS) with 5+ rush TDs (7) & 5+ rec. TDs (5). * WR MICHAEL THOMAS leads NFC with career-high 94 catches. Is 1 of 2 in NFL history (ODELL BECKHAM, JR.) with 90+ receptions in each of 1st 2 NFL seasons. Has 4 TDs in his past 5 vs. division. * DE CAMERON JORDAN leads team with 10 sacks, his 3rd career season with 10+ sacks. Has 10 tackles, 3.5 sacks, FF & FR in past 2 at home vs. Atl. Rookie CB MARSHON LATTIMORE aims for 3rd in row with INT. Ties for 1st among NFL rookies with 4 INTs & ties for 3rd with 13 PD. Had INT in last game vs. Atl. S KENNY VACCARO led team with 10 tackles in Week 15. In his past 5 at home, has 1.5 sacks, FR, INT & 4 PD. -- NFL Communications
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