Thanks to some Falcons penalties to help the Saints defense, the drive stalled again within FG range, and Matt Bryant booted a 50-yarder to cut the lead to one point, 7-6.
The Saints responded by driving into FG range and then murphing their way right back out of it before having to punt the ball away for the second time in the first half.
Atlanta scored a touchdown on a Matt Ryan shovel pass to Eric Weems from the three-yard line with :03 left in the half, and they took a 13-7 lead into the half.
Both teams will look to make a statement on the opening drive of the second half, which will see Atlanta starting with the ball.
Falcons vs Saints coverage
Team Stats
ATL | NO | ||
First Downs | 10 | 6 | |
Total Yards | 223 | 78 | |
Passing Yards | 209 | 42 | |
Rushing Yards | 14 | 36 | |
Penalties (Yds) | 5(54) | 3(25) | |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 | |
Punts (AVG) | 2(55) | 3(49) | |
Time of Pos. | 16:03 | 13:57 |
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | ||||
Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
D. Brees | 7/13 | 74 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing | CAR | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Ingram | 8 | 21 | 1 | 8 |
D. Brees | 2 | 8 | 0 | 9 |
Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
K. Stills | 3 | 41 | 0 | 22 |
P. Thomas | 2 | 24 | 0 | 16 |
J. Saunders | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
ATLANTA FALCONS | ||||
Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Ryan | 19/26 | 209 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | CAR | YDS | TD | LG |
S. Jackson | 4 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
D. Freeman | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
R. White | 4 | 46 | 0 | 15 |
J. Jones | 3 | 59 | 0 | 24 |
H. Douglas | 3 | 20 | 0 | 9 |