Last Updated: November 27, 2023, 03:00 IST
ATLANTA: Desmond Ridder overcame two interceptions by throwing a landing move to Bijan Robinson within the fourth quarter and the Atlanta Falcons moved into a primary-place tie within the woeful NFC South by beating the New Orleans Saints 24-15 on Sunday.
The Saints (5-6) have been restricted by damage issues at vast receiver after dropping Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh). New Orleans nonetheless outgained the Falcons 444-397 as Derek Carr handed for 304 yards however needed to accept 5 subject targets by Blake Grupe.
The Falcons (5-6) snapped a 3-sport dropping streak as Robinson ran for 91 yards with a landing.
Atlanta led 14-12 earlier than Ridder lofted the 26-yard scoring move to Robinson. The rookie ran out of the top zone and into the tunnel.
Grupe’s first subject aim gave New Orleans a 3-0 lead earlier than Jessie Bates stepped in entrance of a move supposed for Shaheed and returned the interception 92 yards for a landing. It was Atlanta’s first decide-6 of the season.
Bates produced one other large play late within the third quarter when his hit on Taysom Hill compelled a fumble that was recovered by Atlanta defensive lineman Albert Huggins on the Atlanta 5.
The turnover got here after Saints cornerback Tyrann Mathieu’s second interception of the sport.
The Falcons have been attempting to extend their 14-9 lead late within the first half when Ridder’s excessive move for Robinson was picked off by Mathieu on the New Orleans 1.
Ridder’s interceptions have been disappointing in his return as a starter after enjoying behind Taylor Heinicke the previous two video games. Ridder accomplished 13 of 21 passes for 168 yards with one landing and two interceptions.
The Saints’ offensive frustrations continued within the third quarter once they moved 65 yards on 14 performs earlier than Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie sacked Carr on a 3rd down play. The sack arrange Grupe’s fourth subject aim, a forty five-yarder, to chop Atlanta’s result in 14-12.
Grupe’s fifth subject aim, a 39-yarder, trimmed Atlanta’s result in 21-15. The Falcons answered by holding the ball for nearly 5 minutes earlier than Younhoe Koo’s 39-yard subject aim prolonged the result in 9 factors.
Falcons left sort out Jake Matthews began his a hundred and fifty fifth consecutive sport, setting a workforce report with the NFL’s longest energetic streak. Quarterback Matt Ryan began 154 consecutive video games from 2009-19.
INJURIES
Olave had workforce-excessive totals of seven catches for 114 yards earlier than leaving within the third quarter. Shaheed was escorted to the locker room late within the second quarter. Shaheed’s damage got here after Michael Thomas was positioned on injured reserve earlier within the week. … Saints C Erik McCoy was taken to the medical tent within the third quarter. … Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes returned after leaving with a hand damage within the first quarter.
UP NEXT
The Saints start a stretch of three consecutive house video games once they host the Detroit Lions subsequent Sunday.
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The Falcons go to the New York Jets subsequent Sunday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
