NEW ORLEANS — For the first time since 2021, the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints inside their own Caesars Superdome.
Final score: 24-10
Why it's important: The Falcons end their losing streak at five games and win their first NFC South game. Atlanta is still just 4-7, but a victory Sunday is a step in the right direction with six games remaining. The Falcons remain third in the division rather than dropping to last, which would have been the case had they lost.
Key takeaway: The Falcons' offense did enough to win in New Orleans, even without starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and star wide receiver Drake London. That's a good sign, especially since Penix is out for the remainder of the season and London holds a week-to-week status. Atlanta needed this win. Not only did it stop the recent losing skid, but it also feels good to get a win against such a big rival.
Key moment: Falcons inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison deflected a Saints pass on fourth-and-1 at Atlanta's 1-yard line. It ended a third-quarter drive in which the Saints moved the ball 74 yards on 15 plays – their longest drive by far. Had New Orleans scored, it would have become a one-possession game. Instead, the Falcons remained up, 16-17, at the time.
Standout performance: Brandon Dorlus. The Falcons' defensive lineman recorded 1.5 sacks, which put him at six in his career. Dorlus is now tied with linebacker Aundray Bruce (1988) for most sacks through 13 career games as a Falcons player.
- Honorable mention: James Pearce Jr. The Falcons' edge rusher also recorded 1.5 sacks. His last one gave the Falcons four overall against the Saints. Atlanta, therefore, has had at least four sacks in its last four games – a franchise first.
Number to know: 3. The number of plays the Falcons ran in the third quarter. It tied for their fewest plays in a quarter since 1991.
Player milestones:
- Wide receiver David Sills V scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter when he caught a 9-yard pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins.
- With the touchdown pass, Cousins moved into 10th place on the Falcons' all-time passing touchdown leaderboard with 19.
- Running back Tyler Allgeier moved to 10th on the Falcons' all-time rushing list in the second quarter. He passed running back Haskel Stanback, who had 1,662 rushing yards from 1974-79.
- Zane Gonzalez made field goals from distances of 41, 54 and 56 yards. He is only the second Falcons kicker ever to make two field goals of at least 54 yards in a single game. The other was Hall of Famer Morten Andersen on Dec. 10, 1995, also against the Saints.
- Wide receiver Darnell Mooney caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Cousins in the fourth quarter. It was Mooney's longest reception this season and tied for his longest since signing with the Falcons last year.
Injury updates:
- Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. had to be evaluated for a concussion in the second quarter after tackling Saints tight end Juwan Johnson on a pass play for no gain. Terrell was cleared to return. Cobee Bryant filled in for Terrell immediately afterwards. The Falcons signed Bryant to the active roster from the practice squad on Saturday.
- Saints running back Alvin Kamara injured his knee in the second quarter and was ruled out in the third quarter. He had three carries for 11 yards.
- Falcons left guard Matthew Bergeron left the field in the third quarter. Kyle Hinton filled in for him along the offensive line. Bergeron returned for the offense's next series in the fourth quarter, though.
- Falcons safety Xavier Watts went down with an injury in the fourth quarter. Jordan Fuller took his place in the secondary.
- Watts returned to the field on the next defensive series.
A quick tweet: The Falcons editorial staff of Tori McElhaney, Will McFadden and Terrin Waack share their gut reactions to Sunday's outcome in 280 characters or fewer.
- McElhaney: The Falcons needed that win. My God, how they needed that win.
- McFadden: Beign-yay!
- Waack: Zane Gonzalez > Blake Grupe
Setting the storylines:
- Week 12: Inactives | Practice squad elevations
- My Cause My Cleats: Edge rusher Jalon Walker laced up Sunday for a loved one.
- Starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was placed on season-ending injured reserve due to the knee injury he sustained in the Falcons' Week 11 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Kirk Cousins was promoted to starting quarterback; Easton Stick was signed to the active roster as the backup; Kyle Trask was signed to the practice squad.
- After all the quarterback moves, Tori McElhaney reflected on the Falcons’ history at the position in recent years, noting the team is back in a position it hoped to avoid.
- With star wide receiver Drake London injured, the Falcons would like to see Darnell Mooney take off during the final stretch of the season.
- Catch up on all the news that came out in the lead-up to Sunday's game here.
Looking forward: The Falcons play the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium next Sunday for their Week 13 matchup.
