NEW ORLEANS – Of all the teams to end the Atlanta Falcons’ unbeaten run, it had to be their resurgent rivals, the New Orleans Saints in game filled with drama until the end.
Jimmy Graham caught seven passes for a career-best 146 yards and two touchdowns, cornerback Jabari Greer made a diving, touchdown-saving pass breakup on a late fourth-down play, and New Orleans held on to hand the Falcons their first loss, 31-27 on Sunday.
Graham and his Atlanta counterpart, veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez, both were superb in a game that showcased all the intensity and momentum changes one would expect from one of the NFL’s most passionate and longstanding rivalries.
Gonzalez finished with 11 catches for 122 yards and two scores for Atlanta (8-1), and in the process became the first tight end to catch 100 touchdown passes.
Brees threw for 298 yards and three TDs as the Saints (4-5) won for the fourth time in five games, keeping alive hope of getting back into the wild card race after an 0-4 start. It was also New Orleans’ 11th win in 13 games against Atlanta since Brees joined the Saints in 2006.