This is the textbook definition of a historic night. Drew Brees hits Darren Sproles for a nine-yard TD to break Dan Marino's season passing record with 5,087 yards on the season (and counting), and the Saints absolutely pummel the Atlanta Falcons en route to clinching their third NFC South title in the last six seasons.
It was close for a while (the Falcons actually led 10-7 early in the second quarter), and Brees' two interceptions (with a few other passes almost picked off) certainly made it interesting, as did the unusually high number of incompletions. But as the game wore on, the Saints played great complementary offense and defense to eventually overwhelm the Falcons and come away with the 29-point win.
Sproles (5 carries for 67 yards) and Pierre Thomas (9 for 53 and a TD) led the ground assault, while Marques Colston (7 for 81 and a TD), Robert Meachem (3 for 75, TD), and Jimmy Graham (4 for 42, TD) were the main aerial weapons. Lance Moore left the game early after possibly re-injuring his hamstring, so we'll have to see how that plays out.
On defense, they gave up lots of yards through the air, but made many a timely stop to force a punt or FG. Jabari Greer led the way with 8 tackles, while Scott Shanle tallied 4 along with a well-timed forced fumble that Malcolm Jenkins scooped and scored a TD with on a 30-yard dash in the second half.
Make the jump for stats and more discussion of the big win!
Saints Individual Stats
| Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
| D. Brees | 23/39 | 307 | 4 | 2 |
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
| D. Sproles | 5 | 67 | 0 | 36 |
| P. Thomas | 9 | 53 | 1 | 12 |
| C. Ivory | 8 | 35 | 0 | 11 |
| D. Brees | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| M. Colston | 7 | 81 | 1 | 23 |
| R. Meachem | 3 | 75 | 1 | 41 |
| L. Moore | 2 | 53 | 0 | 38 |
| J. Graham | 4 | 42 | 1 | 17 |
| D. Henderson | 3 | 30 | 0 | 12 |
| D. Sproles | 2 | 22 | 1 | 13 |
| P. Thomas | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Fumbles | FUM | LOST | REC | YDS |
| M. Jenkins | 0 | 0 | 1 | 30 |
| S. Shanle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| J. Kasay | 1/1 | 29 | 6/6 | 9 |
| Punting | NO | AVG | I20 | LG |
| T. Morstead | 2 | 52.0 | 0 | 59 |
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| D. Sproles | 4 | 36 | 0 | 92 |
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| D. Sproles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Falcons Individual Stats
| Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
| M. Ryan | 34/52 | 373 | 1 | 0 |
| C. Redman | 6/9 | 61 | 0 | 0 |
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
| M. Turner | 11 | 39 | 0 | 7 |
| J. Rodgers | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| M. Ryan | 2 | -3 | 0 | 2 |
| Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| J. Jones | 8 | 128 | 1 | 40 |
| R. White | 11 | 127 | 0 | 26 |
| T. Gonzalez | 5 | 41 | 0 | 9 |
| M. Turner | 4 | 36 | 0 | 12 |
| E. Weems | 3 | 33 | 0 | 18 |
| J. Snelling | 4 | 28 | 0 | 16 |
| M. Palmer | 2 | 19 | 0 | 10 |
| J. Rodgers | 2 | 19 | 0 | 11 |
| H. Douglas | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Fumbles | FUM | LOST | REC | YDS |
| J. Jones | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| M. Bryant | 3/3 | 51 | 1/1 | 10 |
| Punting | NO | AVG | I20 | LG |
| M. Bosher | 3 | 43.3 | 1 | 56 |
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| E. Weems | 1 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| E. Weems | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Team Stats
Falcons - - Saints
| Total First Downs | 23 | Total First Downs | 26 | |
| By Rushing | 1 | By Rushing | 7 | |
| By Passing | 21 | By Passing | 17 | |
| By Penalty | By Penalty | |||
| Third Down Efficiency | 8/17 - 47% | Third Down Efficiency | 10/13 - 76% | |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 0/3 - 0% | Fourth Down Efficiency | 0/0 - 0% | |
| Total Net Yards | 469 | Total Net Yards | 463 | |
| Total Rushing/Passing Plays (includes Sacks) | 75 | Total Rushing/Passing Plays (includes Sacks) | 63 | |
| Average Gain per Offensive Play | 6.3 | Average Gain per Offensive Play | 7.3 | |
| Net Yards Rushing | 35 | Net Yards Rushing | 164 | |
| Total Rushing Plays | 14 | Total Rushing Plays | 23 | |
| Average Gain per Rushing Play | 2.5 | Average Gain per Rushing Play | 7.1 | |
| Tackled for a Loss (Number-Yards) | 2--2 | Tackled for a Loss (Number-Yards) | 3--5 | |
| Net Yards Passing | 434 | Net Yards Passing | 299 | |
| Times Sacked (Number-Yards) | 0 - 0 | Times Sacked (Number-Yards) | 1 - 8 | |
| Gross Yards Passing | 434 | Gross Yards Passing | 307 | |
| Pass Comp-Att-Int | 40 - 61 - 0 | Pass Comp-Att-Int | 23 - 39 - 2 | |
| Average Gain per Passing Play (includes Sacks) | 7.1 | Average Gain per Passing Play (includes Sacks) | 7.5 | |
| Kickoffs (Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks) | 5 - 3 - 1 | Kickoffs (Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks) | 8 - 7 - 7 | |
| Punts (Number-Average) | 3 - 50.0 | Punts (Number-Average) | 2 - 52.0 | |
| Blocked | 0 | Blocked | 0 | |
| Net Punting Average | 43.3 | Net Punting Average | 52.0 | |
| FGs Blocked - PATs Blocked | 0 - 0 | FGs Blocked - PATs Blocked | 0 - 0 | |
| Total Return Yardage (excludes Kickoffs) | 14 | Total Return Yardage (excludes Kickoffs) | 0 | |
| Punt Returns (Number-Yards) | 0 - 0 | Punt Returns (Number-Yards) | 0 - 0 | |
| Kickoff Returns (Number-Yards) | 1 - 27 | Kickoff Returns (Number-Yards) | 4 - 147 | |
| Interception Returns (Number-Yards) | 2 - 14 | Interception Returns (Number-Yards) | 0 - 0 | |
| Penalties (Number-Yards) | 7 - 57 | Penalties (Number-Yards) | 4 - 46 | |
| Fumbles (Number-Lost) | 1 - 1 | Fumbles (Number-Lost) | 0 - 0 | |
| Touchdowns | 1 | Touchdowns | 6 | |
| Rushing | 0 | Rushing | 1 | |
| Passing | 1 | Passing | 4 | |
| Interceptions | 0 | Interceptions | 0 | |
| Kickoff Returns | 0 | Kickoff Returns | 0 | |
| Fumble Returns | 0 | Fumble Returns | 1 | |
| Punt Returns | 0 | Punt Returns | 0 | |
| Extra Points (Made-Attempted) | 1 - 1 | Extra Points (Made-Attempted) | 6 - 6 | |
| Kicking (Made-Attempted) | 1 - 1 | Kicking (Made-Attempted) | 6 - 6 | |
| Two Point Conversions (Made-Attempted) | 0 - 0 | Two Point Conversions (Made-Attempted) | 0 - 0 | |
| Field Goals (Made-Attempted) | 3 - 3 | Field Goals (Made-Attempted) | 1 - 1 | |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 0/3 - 0% | Red Zone Efficiency | 4/6 - 66% | |
| Goal To Go Efficiency | 0/1 - 0% | Goal To Go Efficiency | 2/2 - 100% | |
| Safeties | 0 | Safeties | 0 | |
| Final Score | 16 | Final Score | 45 | |
| Time of Possession | 33:19 | Time of Possession | 26:41 |