The New Orleans Saints won their first game since head coach Dennis Allen was fired last Monday, beating the Atlanta Falcons 20-17. The win under interim coach Darren Rizzi ended a seven-game losing streak.
Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo missed three field goals, including a 46-yard attempt with 6:39 left in the fourth quarter that strayed off the right side instead of tying the game.
Koo also missed a 53-yard kick in the first quarter and had a 35-yard attempt blocked just before halftime. Before Week 10, he made 16 of 20 kicks, including 5 of 7, from 50 yards or longer.
The Falcons still had a chance to tie or lead with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. But Kirk Cousins threw double coverage over the middle and was picked off by Tyrann Mathieu.
Atlanta’s defense forced the Saints into a 3-and-out on the next possession, although Alvin Kamara dropped a wide-open pass on 3rd and 4, which likely would have led to a touchdown.
Derek Carr completed 16 of 25 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Both scoring throws (for 40 yards and two yards) went to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who had three receptions for 109 yards. Kamara racked up 55 yards rushing on 17 carries, while adding another 54 yards receiving on five catches.
The Falcons had one final drive to tie the score or take the lead, with Cousins completing passes to Drake London and Darnell Mooney. New Orleans also gave Atlanta a first down on a defensive holding penalty by Alontae Taylor.
However, Cousins was sacked by Chase Young on 1st and 10 from the Saints’ 49 and fumbled. Jake Matthews recovered, but the play was a 19-yard loss.
Cousins threw for 250 yards and completed 18 of 33 passes. Bijan Robinson rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns. And London had seven receptions for 86 yards.
The Falcons dropped to 6-4 with the loss, but still maintain first place in the NFC South with a two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
MUST WATCH!!!!!
Darren Rizzi: insightful, informative and very real!
The #Saints interim head coach with no BS look at how his day started in the Superdome.
How can you not love this man!!!!! pic.twitter.com/QrBjLjhMB2
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) November 10, 2024
For Vizzi, his first win as interim coach was an improvement on how his Sunday started. As he explained in his postgame presser, his visit to the bathroom in the head coach’s locker room was a troubling omen.
“I clogged the toilet,” Rizzi shared with reporters. “And I’m like, ‘This is going to be a crappy day,’ pun intended!”
Everyone involved in the Saints’ locker room facilities is probably hoping this isn’t the start of superstition.
