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Marques Colston (right) of the New Orleans Saints drops a pass as Atlanta Falcons defender William Moore hits him in the first half during their game at the Georgia Dome on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia. The Saints won 17-14. Scott Halleran / Agence France-Presse |
ATLANTA, Georgia - The Atlanta Falcons' goals for the regular season - a division title and home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs - remain in reach. What's been lost is that feeling of invincibility, especially if they face the New Orleans Saints again in a few weeks.
"We've got to take a long look at ourselves," John Abraham said.
Drew Brees threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham with less than 3 1/2 minutes remaining, and the defending Super Bowl champ clinched its return to the postseason with a 17-14 victory over Atlanta on Monday night.
New Orleans (11-4) snapped the Falcons' eight-game winning streak and stopped them from wrapping up the NFC South and home field all the way up to the Super Bowl.
If the teams meet again in the playoffs, a distinct possibility, the Saints know they are capable of winning even at the Georgia Dome - a huge psychological boost in late December.
"Here we are, having won seven of eight," Brees said. "It doesn't matter whether we're playing on the road or at home. We're battle-tested."
OK, so all is not lost for Atlanta (12-3). Far from it. The Falcons merely need to beat Carolina (2-13) at home on the final week of the season to wrap up their first NFC South title since 2004 and the top seed in the conference.
But this one stung.
Atlanta had a chance on the national stage to silence all those skeptics who wondered if the team with the best record was truly the NFC's best team.
Not on this night.
The Falcons had two crucial fumbles, breaking a streak of seven straight games without coughing the ball up. Matt Ryan's two favorite receivers were effectively shut down. Roddy White scored the only touchdown for the offense but was held to three catches for 43 yards. Tony Gonzalez managed just two receptions for 12 yards.
"We forced them to do some things they didn't want to do," New Orleans safety Roman Harper said. "We made them play left-handed. We disrupted their timing."
The Saints won even though Brees threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter, the first of which was returned 26 yards for a touchdown by defensive end Chauncey Davis, giving Atlanta its first lead of the night. Abraham also picked off a pass after New Orleans' apparent go-ahead touchdown was ruined by a false-start penalty.
Through it all, the Saints persevered. Brees completed six straight passes on a 13-play, 90-yard drive that won it, capped by a quick slant to Graham.
Associated Press
(China Daily 12/29/2010 page22)