Drew Brees had 308 yards passing, Pierre Thomas scored two touchdowns and Jabari Greer returned an interception for a score to help the Saints improved to 7-0 with a 35-27 victory against the Atlanta Falcons last night.
Greer's touchdown was the Saints' fifth score on an interception this season, tying a single-season franchise mark set in 1998. Tracy Porter also had an interception on the Saints' 1-yard line on a pass tipped by Jonathan Vilma in the fourth quarter, preserving a 28-24 lead.
Darren Sharper sealed the win with his seventh interception of the season in the final seconds, the third interception of the game thrown by Matt Ryan.
Brees hit Marques Colston for an 18-yard score, and New Orleans also scored on runs of 22 yards by Thomas and 1 yard by Reggie Bush.
Greer also gave up a touchdown, however, when he was beaten by Roddy White on a 68-yard pass from Matt Ryan early in the third quarter. That score made it 28-21.
Atlanta's Michael Turner had 118 yards rushing through three quarters, including a 13-yard touchdown.
The Falcons' defense also produced a score. Thomas DeCoud's jarring sack on a delayed blitz up the middle dislodged the ball from Brees and Kroy Biermann returned the ball from the 4-yard line, giving Atlanta a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.
Brees came back strong from the turnover, leading the Saints 80 yards on 12 plays to tie it at 14. Jeremy Shockey's 27 yard catch over the middle moved New Orleans into Atlanta territory and Brees capped the drive by lofting his scoring pass to Colston, who jumped in front of cornerback Tye Hill to make the grab.
Both teams had more chances to score, but failed to capitalize.
Atlanta squandered a promising chance set up by Turner's 37-yard run when Jason Elam's 34-yard field-goal attempt hit off the left upright. Elam also missed a 51-yard attempt on the final play of the half.
One Saints drive stalled deep in Atlanta territory when cornerback Brent Grimes jumped high for an outstretched interception at the Atlanta 18, marking Brees' sixth turnover in two games.
Brees once again bounced back, going 4 for 4 for 76 yards on the Saints' final offensive series of the first half, setting up Bush's touchdown on a pitch to give New Orleans its first lead before Greer's interception made it a two-score game.
The crowd was cheering wildly as the Saints defense took the field after the opening kickoff. However, Ryan calmly led the Falcons 77 yards for a score.
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