By: Tyler Ward
The only game (so far) to go into overtime this weekend? The Saints vs. Falcons. And it was an exciting game. The NFC South showdown featured both teams facing each other in New Orleans, with the Falcons beating the Saints 27-24.
Saints kicker Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime, which can almost be considered a guarantee in the NFL. However, he did not, and with 1:55 left in overtime, Falcons kicker Matt Bryant made a 46-yard field goal to seal Atlanta's victory. New Orleans seemed to be in control of the game and it looked like they were going to win the game on their first possession of overtime. The Saints started off overtime at their own 32-yard line and running back Pierre Thomas ran for 23 yards on the first play from scrimmage. They would next use five plays to march 34 yards down field to the Falcons' 11-yard line. Hartley came out onto the field and proceeded to miss the "easy" 29-yard field goal.
Hartley had recently played hero, as he kicked the Saints to a 25-22 win over the 49ers last week. However, his luck ran out this week. Hartley has missed 3 of 7 field goals so far this season after previously making 22 of 24 attempts in his career. And if ya'll remember correctly, Hartley was the one that kicked the Saints into the Super Bowl last season. After the game, Hartley told the media, "That was then," he said. "That was then. This is now, and I just lost a game we should have won."
New Orleans were clicking on all cylinders with the passing game. Drew Brees went 30-for-38 for 365 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. The best wide receiver of the game, however, wasn't Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, or Devery Henderson. It was Lance Moore, who has been relatively quiet this season. Moore finished the day with 6 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns (dang, I wish I had him on my fantasy team!) Colston, Meachem, and Henderson were quiet the entire game, combining for 7 receptions for only 53 yards. The Saints also could do nothing on the ground game, with Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory combining to carry the ball 16 times for 43 yards (a. 2.7 average).
The Saints also lost the time possession battle. The Falcons held the ball for 45:50, while the Saints had it for just 27:15. Atlanta finished off the game with a long 12-play drive that spanned a little over 7 minutes in overtime, with Bryant kicking the field goal to end it.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan went 19-for-30 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Unlike his counterpart, he did not throw an interception, which severely helped Atlanta win the game. Tight End Tony Gonzalez had his best game of the year, catching 8 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Roddy White added in the other touchdown, while catching 5 passes for 69 yards.
Roddy White added after the game, "This is a character win. ... It shows the division that we are going to compete." And he may be right. Want to know a little fun fact? No team in the NFC South has ever repeated as the division winner. So, with that being said, the Saints may not retain their division title. I'm not superstitious, but you never know.
The Falcons also did something that the Saints could not do all game - and that was rushing the ball. Michael Turner carried the ball 30 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, his first 100-yard game of the year. Turner left last week's game with a groin injury, and back-up running back Jason Snelling admirably filled in for him to finish the game and rushed for over 100 yards. Snelling also played well against the Saints, carrying the ball 14 times for 62 yards.
Ryan acted like Drew Brees in the second quarter, leading the Falcons on a 19-play, 72-yard drive that lasted 10:39 and successfully tied the game right before halftime at 14. The Falcons were able to convert on two fourth-and-short plays before Turner ran into the endzone on a 1-yard touchdown carry.
