Falcons pick off Brees 5 times, beat Saints 23-13

Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (88) makes a catch for a touchdown as New Orleans Saints Saints middle linebacker Curtis Lofton (50) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

By By PAUL NEWBERRY

AP Sports Writer / November 30, 2012

Text Size:

E-mail

Page 2 of 2 --

‘‘Honestly, I thought we had more time than we did,’’ Brees said. ‘‘The last time I remember, we had 17 seconds. ... But it was down to 7 when I looked up after the completion. That wasn’t enough time to get the spike. That’s on me.’’

But New Orleans got the ball to start the second half, and Brees went back to work. This time, he made a couple of nifty moves to avoid sacks, completing six passes on an 83-yard drive consuming 15 plays and more than 6 1/2 minutes. But the Falcons held again, forcing Garrett Hartley to boot a 21-yard field goal that cut it to 17-10.

Hartley connected again from much farther out on the Saints’ next possession, a 52-yarder that brought New Orleans even closer.

The Falcons, meanwhile, failed to pick up a first down on five straight possessions, a stretch in which the Saints had a 289-30 lead in total yards and a staggering 18 first downs.

But the Atlanta defense kept coming through when it counted.

Late in the third, Brees rolled to his right and threw over the middle. Moore stepped in front of the receiver and returned it to the New Orleans 16. Ryan connected on first-down throws to Gonzalez and Roddy White to set up Bryant for a 29-yarder that extended the lead back to a touchdown.

NOTES: Brees had two previous games with four interceptions. ... This was Brees’ lowest-rated game since joining the Saints in 2006. With San Diego, he turned in a 35.7 at Washington in 2005 and a 26.8 at Chicago in 2003. ... Turner ran 12 times for 83 yards. ... Lance Moore of the Saints hauled in 11 passes for 123 yards.

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963