Falcons-Saints Game Notes

NEW ORLEANS -- Official game notes, updates and injury reports from the Superdome press box.

• The Atlanta Falcons won the coin toss and received the opening kickoff. Jerious Norwood took the opening kickoff to the 22-yard line.
• Rookie cornerback Chris Houston made his first career start at the right cornerback position.
• Quarterback Byron Leftwich came out with guns blazing, completing an eight-yard pass to Roddy White in his first play as the Falcons' starting quarterback. Leftwich led the Falcons to two straight first downs before the drive stalled near midfield.
• The Saints struck first, exploiting a mismatch in coverage when linebacker Michael Boley dropped into deep man coverage on Devery Henderson. The speedster from LSU got separation on a deep post pattern, and Brees hit him for a 37-yard touchdown strike to give the Saints a 7-0 lead with 7:10 remaining in the first quarter.
• The Falcons dominated the time-of-possession battle in the first half, 20:34 to 9:26. The Falcons ran 38 offensive plays to the Saints' 22.
• BUMPS AND BRUISES: Leftwich injured his right ankle with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter when he was rolled up on by Saints DE Will Smith after throwing a long incomplete pass. Leftwich was attended to by trainers for several minutes as play was halted, then he left the field with the assistance of several members of the Falcons' medical staff. Joey Harrington took Leftwich's place. After being evaluated on the sidelines for about 10 minutes, Leftwich was taken to the locker room in a cart. He did not return to the game.
• Falcons linebacker Demorrio Williams intercepted his second pass of the season and the fifth of his career when he picked off Drew Brees during a Saints two-minute drive at the end of the second quarter.
• Rookie wide receiver Laurent Robinson recorded his career long reception on a 22-yard strike from Leftwich in the second quarter. The completion led Atlanta’s second field goal of the game.
• Running back Jerious Norwood broke a 30-yard run the in the second quarter, which led to a Falcons field goal. His run was his fifth of 30 yards or more in his career.

Norwood's career rushes of more than 30 yards...

• BUMPS AND BRUISES: The Falcons injury woes continued, at a position to which they could ill-afford them. With 3:45 rmaining in the game starting left tackle Renardo Foster, who was pressed into service with the season-ending injury to Wayne Gandy, was rolled up on by a Saints' lineman and appeared to injure his knee. Foster lay on the field for several minutes in obvious pain, and he had to be taken to the locker room in a cart. He did not return to the game, and he was replaced by Quinn Ojinnaka.
• In his first start as an Atlanta Falcon, Leftwich completed 15 of 23 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown. His first touchdown as a Falcon was a 9-yard completion to White.
• Wide receiver/return man Adam Jennings recovered Atlanta’s first onside kick attempt of the season following the team’s second field goal of the game. The Falcons started their drive at their own 42-yard line. It was Atlanta’s first successful onside kickoff since Dec. 31, 2006 at Philadelphia. Falcons kickoff specialist Michael Koenen has converted three of six career onside kickoff attempts.
• Robinson recorded a career long reception on a 25-yard strike from Harrington in the third quarter. Robinson finished with a career-high 53 receiving yards.
• Falcons kicker Morten Andersen split the uprights on all three of his field goal attempts and added one PAT for a total of 10 points. He has now recorded 2,488 career points.

MORE FROM THE FALCONS-SAINTS GAME:

• GAMEDAY: All the coverage from the Saints-Falcons game
• STATS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY: NFL.com Game Center
• GAME NOTES: Updates and injury news from the Superdome press box
• INACTIVES AND STARTERS: Inactives and starters from Week 7
• QUOTABLE: Thoughts on the game from Falcons players and coaches
• VIDEO: Head Coach Bobby Petrino
• HIGHLIGHTS: Game highlights from NFL Network
• HIGHLIGHTS: Byron Leftwich highlights