FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Falcons' defense helped secure an important home victory against the rival Saints on Thursday night, keeping Atlanta alive in the NFC South race and right in the thick of the playoff picture. Now with an extended break before a Monday night matchup with the Buccaneers, the Falcons 20-17 win provided some serious momemtum for the final three games.
As always, let's dive into some of the best tweets from the Falcons' victory.
Pregame
Gameday 🏈
— Devonta Freeman (@devontafreeman) December 7, 2017
TNF!!!
— Keanu Neal (@Keanu_Neal) December 7, 2017
Me if any Saints fans try to reply pic.twitter.com/5kAUEM0GPV
— austin garrick (@AustinGarrick) December 7, 2017
#RingOfHonor #Legends these guys are the best of the best of the best! #Riseup @AtlantaFalcons and #Weezy is next. pic.twitter.com/sQeJqOJTsR
— Brian Finneran (@BFinn86) December 7, 2017
Caleb’s psyched for some prime time @AtlantaFalcons football! #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/ZGwgcYlfx3
— Keith Roberts (@oursportsguy) December 8, 2017
Can't believe I'm at my first @AtlantaFalcons home game! #RiseUp
— King Durdy (@King_DurdyBoyz) December 8, 2017
“Warrick Dunn... that’s my brother!” -@MichaelVick
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
👻- falcons pic.twitter.com/N5TOInSNXE
GAME. TIME.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
It's time to #RiseUp. pic.twitter.com/UOiix1B5n2
First quarter (Falcons 0, Saints 3)
New Orleans won the toss and elected tot receive. #Falcons defense up first! I'm nervous now.
— Weñdy Adams (@wendyradio) December 8, 2017
The #Falcons defense is undersized, but they can fly to the football.
— Brian L Jones (@BrianJones247) December 8, 2017
That’s a huge stop by the Falcons defense. Playing extremely physical against the run. #NOvsATL
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) December 8, 2017
Alvin Kamara might be hurt.
— Jamey Eisenberg (@JameyEisenberg) December 8, 2017
#Falcons defense tightens up in a big way. Saints settle for a field goal. 0-3. #NOvsATL
— Matt Karoly (@mattkaroly) December 8, 2017
Alvin Kamara is walking off the field with trainers. Would be a huge loss for the #Saints if he can't return against the #Falcons
— William McFadden (@willmcfadden) December 8, 2017
First quarter (Falcons 3, Saints 3)
Julio Jones running in space! 👀#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/WLzrAPmJu2
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
Saints starting linebacker A.J. Klein is on the Saints sideline and being looked at now, too. #NOvsATL
— Matthew Tabeek (@MatthewTabeek) December 8, 2017
Matt Bryant knots it up 3-3 with a 28-yd FG.
— Weñdy Adams (@wendyradio) December 8, 2017
Matt Bryant is money 💰 as always
— 🔶 (@Koby_jakoby) December 8, 2017
Second quarter (Falcons 10, Saints 3)
Alvin Kamara is being evaluated for a possible concussion, while A.J. Klein's return is questionable with a groin injury. #NOvsATL
— William McFadden (@willmcfadden) December 8, 2017
Good job by the Falcons defense. Winning 1st and 2nd down again there.
— Matt Chernoff (@RealMattlanta) December 8, 2017
Falcons defense stops the Saints again.
— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) December 8, 2017
Mohamed Sanu gently but firmly declined to go down there. First down
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) December 8, 2017
2 catches for 59 yards for Julio Jones so far today. #NOvsATL
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) December 8, 2017
After getting called for a block in the back, Austin Hooper picks up the 20 yards needed for a first down by himself on back-to-back plays. Nice couple of catches for the second-year tight end. #NOvsATL
— William McFadden (@willmcfadden) December 8, 2017
Devonta Freeman with leisurely stroll into the end zone!#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/QXb7hltTUV
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
Since 2015, no one has more rushing touchdowns than @AtlantaFalcons Devonta Freeman (28)#TNF
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 8, 2017
Feels right to see Devonta Freeman score a touchdown on the night Warrick Dunn joins the Ring of Honor
— Andrew Hirsh (@andrewhirsh) December 8, 2017
Second quarter (Falcons 10, Saints 10)
Brees is picking apart the Falcons defense with relative ease.
— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) December 8, 2017
Thought Falcons defense would take advantage of Saints losing a few offensive guys due to injury. Instead, they give up a touchdown.
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) December 8, 2017
Brees finds Lewis for the 26 yard score.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
NO 10 | ATL 10
Q2 1:53
Julio Jones is a better tackler than approximately 94.2% of all defensive players in the league. #NOvsATL #TNF pic.twitter.com/F7rVWrwLeL
— Jason Hartelius (@jasonhartelius) December 8, 2017
I believe in my heart Julio Jones could play nine positions on defense at a Pro Bowl level.
— Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) December 8, 2017
The field goal was good but doesn’t count because of the penalty on the Saints and ends the half. Wow!
— DJ GB3🎧 (@DjGb3_) December 8, 2017
Wowzers. #Falcons and Matt Ryan get bailed out on a dumb mistake by #Saints in field goal formation. Still tied. #TNF
— Amy Lawrence (@ALawRadio) December 8, 2017
Alvin Kamara has been ruled out with a concussion #NOvsATL
— William McFadden (@willmcfadden) December 8, 2017
Third quarter (Falcons 10, Saints 17)
Austin Hooper bobbles a ball that leads to INT and now Saints driving in for score. Turnovers.
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) December 8, 2017
Brees finds Thomas for the 1-yard TD reception.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
NO 17 | ATL 10
Touchdown to Michael Thomas. The Falcons went from possibly having a field goal at the end of the first half to seven for the Saints to start the third quarter
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) December 8, 2017
Fourth quarter (Falcons 17, Saints 17)
Just give the ball to Devonta Freeman... He's playing angry and runs even faster when he's angry.
— Weñdy Adams (@wendyradio) December 8, 2017
Devonta Freeman knifes through defenses like some sort of sharp-edged cutting instrument
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) December 8, 2017
Ryan throws an interception in the end zone on a pass intended for Jones.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
NO takes over at their 5.
think this is the best i've ever seen the falcons defense play against the saints
— charles mcdonald (lakers 0-0) (@FourVerts) December 8, 2017
Shoutout to the falcons defense playing hard and keeping us in this game
— ReggieNorwoodJr (@1ReggieNorwood) December 8, 2017
falcons defense with a great stop please don't throw another pick thank you
— Kendall “Idris Elba” Jackson (@projectjax) December 8, 2017
Dontari Poe with the BIG sack to force New Orleans to punt!#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/wHpqRxXY5F
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
#Freeeeeeee .@devontafreeman running that Damn thing#Falcons
— Carl Dukes (@putemupcdukes) December 8, 2017
I love watching the falcons play football because they have an amazing run game — BridgeBro (needs bf/gf/nbf) (@BridgeBro) December 8, 2017
Julio Jones with the first down, or as he would call it, "going through the motions in a boring, mundane life"
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) December 8, 2017
Matt Ryan ➡️ Mohamed Sanu for 6️⃣#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/0cDBqwM2ji
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
Mohamed Sanu can only be a bass player, but you need bass players. Having a very consistent, underrated season.
— scott pianowski (@scott_pianowski) December 8, 2017
Mohamed Sanu is the most underrated receiver in football
— Derek Kudjer (@koojababy) December 8, 2017
Fourth quarter (Falcons 20, Saints 17)
Adrian Clayborn is a BEAST. Sack No. 9 this season!#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/uUYkuDj5ru
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
Adrian Clayborn now has 29.5 career sacks, including a team and career-best nine this season #NOvsATL
— Matt Haley (@FalconsMHaley) December 8, 2017
My bro @AJaClay out here playing ANGRY!!!!#Hawkeyes
— Mike Daniels (@Mike_Daniels76) December 8, 2017
If the Falcons win this, game ball to the entire defense.
— Eric Robinson (@_Eric_Robinson) December 8, 2017
Sack!!!!! I Don’t know what else we can ask the Atlanta Falcons defense to do tonight- Offense needs to comeback off the deck and win this game #riseup #InBrotherhood
— HometeamBrandonLeak (@HometeamBleak) December 8, 2017
OK, defense been doing there job to lift up the offense. Now let's see of there's a complete team effort in there somewhere against a very good team.
— Vienna Falcons (@ViennaFalcons) December 8, 2017
#MoneyMatt💰 hits from 52 and we TAKE THE LEAD!
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
NO 17 | ATL 20
Q4 3:49 pic.twitter.com/1yDebimhdb
Our franchise scoring leader, @Matt_Bryant3 now has 1️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ points as a Falcon. #InBrotherhood pic.twitter.com/HuVdTAobT4
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
Tevin Coleman is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return to this game. #NOvsATL
— William McFadden (@willmcfadden) December 8, 2017
Two minute warning. Up 3. Saints driving and in the red zone with third and short pic.twitter.com/9VxH5Q8LqZ
— James Darden (@jwdarden94) December 8, 2017
DEION JONES SAVES THE DAY!!! #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/N0IwfO0vSI
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
13 tackles
— charles mcdonald (lakers 0-0) (@FourVerts) December 8, 2017
7 solo tackles
3 tackles for loss
2 passes defended
one (1) game clinching interception
deion jones, have a day. pic.twitter.com/l05M0BAnSQ
Deion Jones, you super-human freak!!!!!!!
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) December 8, 2017
Deion Jones has played the Saints three times in his career. Here are his stats.
— Colin Hubbard (@ColinHubbard22) December 8, 2017
28 tackles
3 TFLs
5 PDs
2 INTs
1 TD
Postgame (Falcons win 20-17)
FALCONS WIN!!!!!! FINAL SCORE: 20-17 pic.twitter.com/dEHS7SllJj
— DBN Fanatics (@DBN_Fanatics) December 8, 2017
That was a huge win for the Falcons. And it’s always fun to beat the Saints...especially when they think they’re good. pic.twitter.com/4LRMjRpGf4
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) December 8, 2017
Falcons Win!!! pic.twitter.com/wQrltVjv8z
— Jimmy Hughes (@BluReaper3) December 8, 2017
Ppl are gonna paint this as an ugly win, but the #Falcons won the yards, TOP, YPA, YPC, 1st downs, 3rd down % and red zone battle. The #Saints were in it due to fluky turnovers, injuries and opposing coaches gifts. A "clean" version of this game would have been a ATL win as well.
— Vienna Falcons (@ViennaFalcons) December 8, 2017
Special message from the hero of the night, @debo! pic.twitter.com/5cFONJ5j7W
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 8, 2017
Great Win
— Grady Jarrett (@GradyJarrett) December 8, 2017
Man s/o to @debo we all witnessed Greatness tonight ✊🏾
— Brian Poole (@poolioo) December 8, 2017
The @AtlantaFalcons take a bite out of the Saints on #TNF! pic.twitter.com/RZ4zDPlTjV
— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 8, 2017
Now the Falcons have to go into Tampa and win, Go into New Orleans and win and beat the Panthers at home to win the division. One step at a time.
— Scott Carasik (@CarasikS) December 8, 2017
