National Sports
Falcons strike quickly, lead Saints 14-7
AP
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Michael Turner scored on a 13-yard run and the Atlanta defense returned a Drew Brees fumble for a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead over the New Orleans Saints at the end of the first quarter Monday night.
Thomas DeCoud's jarring sack on a delayed blitz up the middle dislodged the ball from Brees, and Kroy Biermann picked up the loose ball at the 4-yard line and trotted in for an easy score, giving Atlanta the lead late in the quarter.
A little more than three years ago, the Falcons were the visitors when the Saints returned to the newly reopened Louisiana Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. That Monday night had a storybook start for the Saints, who scored on a blocked punt on Atlanta's opening drive.
With those vivid memories still fresh, the Superdome crowd was cheering wildly as the Saints defense took the field on the opening drive.
This time, however, Matt Ryan calmly marched the Falcons 77 yards for a score. He got plenty of help from Turner, who gained 22 yards up the middle on the second play of the game and finished with 38 yards on the series. Ryan also connected with tight end Tony Gonzalez for a 27-yard gain to the Saints 13, setting up Turner's eighth TD of the season.
New Orleans answered quickly. Brees narrowly avoided a third down sack with a throw to Jeremy Shockey to keep the drive alive. Later in the series, on third-and-4, the Saints ran the ball and it produced a touchdown. Pierre Thomas broke former LSU star Chevis Jackson's tackle near the line of scrimmage, then cut left away from John Abraham and into the open for a 22-yard score to tie it at 7.
Thomas DeCoud's jarring sack on a delayed blitz up the middle dislodged the ball from Brees, and Kroy Biermann picked up the loose ball at the 4-yard line and trotted in for an easy score, giving Atlanta the lead late in the quarter.
A little more than three years ago, the Falcons were the visitors when the Saints returned to the newly reopened Louisiana Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. That Monday night had a storybook start for the Saints, who scored on a blocked punt on Atlanta's opening drive.
With those vivid memories still fresh, the Superdome crowd was cheering wildly as the Saints defense took the field on the opening drive.
This time, however, Matt Ryan calmly marched the Falcons 77 yards for a score. He got plenty of help from Turner, who gained 22 yards up the middle on the second play of the game and finished with 38 yards on the series. Ryan also connected with tight end Tony Gonzalez for a 27-yard gain to the Saints 13, setting up Turner's eighth TD of the season.
New Orleans answered quickly. Brees narrowly avoided a third down sack with a throw to Jeremy Shockey to keep the drive alive. Later in the series, on third-and-4, the Saints ran the ball and it produced a touchdown. Pierre Thomas broke former LSU star Chevis Jackson's tackle near the line of scrimmage, then cut left away from John Abraham and into the open for a 22-yard score to tie it at 7.
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