By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — It was right on the fingertips of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara. A huge third-and-four deep shot down the left sideline to a wide-open Kamara careened off his hands. That moment could have sealed the win for New Orleans.
He dropped it.
The defense was then charged to do something it had not done all season– close out a game with a single score lead. And they pulled it off.
Entering Sunday, the Saints had effectively two wins against opponents with better records than them over the last three seasons. The exceptions were a win against the 13-3 Gardner Minshew-led Philadelphia Eagles in 2022 and an 8-and-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in 2023.
That trend finally changed under Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi.
New Orleans came out with a renewed energy in the first half that started to teeter out a bit in the second. But when it counted, everyone showed up. A big Chase Young sack led to a huge negative play for the Falcons, and then a clutch fourth-down stop by safety Ugo Amadi iced the game. These New Orleans Saints were different than they have been over their seven-game losing streak.
Now, with that streak over, the Saints will look to see how they can build from here.
Quarterback Derek Carr and wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling connected for a pair of touchdown strikes. Safety Tyrann Mathieu made what Rizzi called “the biggest play of the game” on a big downfield interception. The team also walked away with a field goal block, one of Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo’s three missed field goals in this game.
Rizzi opens his time as the Saints interim head coach with a win. He was quick to credit everyone in the facility from the players down to the equipment staff. They’ll work to turn his first-time win into a streak starting next week at home against the Cleveland Browns.
The coach said that he wants to “Get the (Caesars Superdome) back to what it used to be.” And this was a good start.
The Plays
- Derek Carr and Marquez Valdes-Scantling connected on a 40-yard touchdown throw-and-catch to kick off scoring.
- The two connected again for a 67-yard deep pass which led to another touchdown for the pairing. That time from two yards out.
- Defensive tackle John Ridgway III blocked a Falcons 35-yard field goal attempt to close out the first half.
The Stats
- Running back Alvin Kamara is now the Saints’ career leader in rushing yards with 6,544, passing former Saints rusher Mark Ingram. It took just a pair of carries for the back to break the previously set total of 6,500.
- Carr and Valdes-Scantling caught fire early, connecting for 109 passing yards together on three completions in the first half.
The Injuries
- Starting left tackle Taliese Fuaga left the game briefly with a thigh injury in the first half. He was able to return.
- Safety Jordan Howden was helped off the field in the first half after suffering a shoulder injury on kickoff coverage. He returned to the game in the second half.
- Linebacker Pete Werner left the game with a hand injury in the second half.
- Defensive lineman Payton Turner left the game with an undisclosed ailment but was quickly back in.
- Safety J.T. Gray left the game with an injury and was testing things out on the sideline.
