The New Orleans Saints gained their first sport since head coach Dennis Allen was fired final Monday, defeating the Atlanta Falcons, 20–17. The victory below interim coach Darren Rizzi ended a seven-game shedding streak.
Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo missed three discipline objectives, together with a 46-yard try with 6:39 remaining within the fourth quarter that doinked off the fitting upright as a substitute of tying the sport.
Koo additionally missed a 53-yard kick within the first quarter and had a 35-yard try blocked simply earlier than halftime. Previous to Week 10, he made 16-of-20 kicks together with 5-for-7 from 50 yards or longer.
The Falcons nonetheless had a chance for a game-tying or go-ahead rating with 5 minutes remaining within the fourth quarter. However Kirk Cousins threw into double protection over the center and was picked off by Tyrann Mathieu.
Atlanta’s protection pressured the Saints right into a 3-and-out on the following possession, although Alvin Kamara dropped a wide-open go on Third-and-4 that doubtless would have resulted in a landing.
Derek Carr accomplished 16-of-25 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Each scoring throws (for 40 yards and two yards) went to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who had three receptions for 109 yards. Kamara compiled 55 yards speeding on 17 carries with one other 54 yards receiving on 5 catches.
The Falcons had one final drive to tie the rating or take the lead with Cousins finishing passes to Drake London and Darnell Mooney. New Orleans additionally gave Atlanta a primary down on a defensive holding penalty by Alontae Taylor.
Nonetheless, Cousins was sacked by Chase Younger on 1st-and-10 from the Saints’ 49 and fumbled. Jake Matthews recovered, however the play was a 19-yard loss.
Cousins threw for 250 yards, finishing 18-of-33 passes. Bijan Robinson rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns. And London had seven receptions for 86 yards.
The Falcons dropped to six–4 with the loss, however nonetheless maintain first place within the NFC South with a two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
MUST WATCH!!!!!
Darren Rizzi: insightful, informative and really actual!
The #Saints interim head coach with a no B.S. glimpse into how his day began within the Superdome.
How are you going to not love this man!!!!! pic.twitter.com/QrBjLjhMB2
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) November 10, 2024
For Vizzi, his first win as interim coach was an enchancment to how his Sunday began. As he defined in his postgame presser, his journey to the toilet within the head coach’s locker room introduced a troubling omen.
“I clogged the bathroom,” Rizzi shared with reporters. “And I am like, ‘That is gonna be a crappy day,’ pun meant!”
Everybody concerned with the Saints’ locker room services is probably going hoping this does not start a superstition.
