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Younghoe Koo's 58-yard field goal with 2 seconds left gives Falcons 26-24 win over Saints
ATLANTA (AP) As soon as the flag flew for pass interference, Younghoe Koo knew he would have a chance to win it for the Atlanta Falcons.
Koo kicked a career-best 58-yard field goal with two seconds remaining as the Falcons rallied for a 26-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints without scoring an offensive touchdown Sunday.
Koo kicked four field goals in all, also connecting from 53, 44 and 42 yards to give the Falcons (2-2) a desperately needed home victory. It was his eighth game-winning kick in the final 10 seconds since the beginning of the 2021 season - the most in the league during that span.
“We’ve been in that situation a lot and you know that’s how it is in this league,” the 30-year-old South Korean said. "A lot of the games, the majority of the games in this league, comes out to a one-possession game. Every point matters and our unit takes a lot of pride in that."
The Falcons lost their first two games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and seemed on the verge of falling to 0-3 in Atlanta when Alvin Kamara scored on a 1-yard run with a minute remaining to push the Saints (2-2) to a 24-23 lead.
A 30-yard pass interference penalty on Paulson Adebo gave the Falcons hope at the New Orleans 40. Kirk Cousins threw three straight incompletions, but it didn't matter.
Koo knocked down the longest field goal in the stadium's seven-year history with plenty to spare, sending the Saints to their second straight close loss after two dominating victories to open the season.
Koo threw both arms in the air before was mobbed by his teammates.
“I’ve made that in practice,” he said. “Once we got to the 40, I knew I had a chance."
Taysom Hill scored on a pair of touchdown runs for the Saints before going out, appearing to reaggravate a chest injury that kept him from playing in a 15-12 loss to Philadelphia the previous week.
On the Saints' final possession, Derek Carr connected with Chris Olave on a couple of big third-down passes before Kamara finally punched it in on the Saints' third try from the 1, dragging Kaden Elliss into the end zone.
The Falcons won without the Cousins-led offense producing a TD. It was the special teams and defense that reached the end zone.
Early on, Rashid Shaheed inexplicably called a fair catch on a punt at the Saints 2 and then had the ball bounce off his shoulder pads into the end zone, where KhaDarel Hodge fell on it for Atlanta.
Linebacker Troy Andersen also scored for the Falcons on a pick-six after a pass from Carr was deflected by Matthew Judon. Andersen hauled in the fluttering ball for an interception and showed off his impressive speed, streaking 47 yards down the sideline to give Atlanta a 17-14 halftime lead.
“Those are the kind (of losses) that rip your heart out," Saints coach Dennis Allen said. “I know we’ve got a good football team in that locker room. Now, we have to play better. We can’t spot a team 14 points - a good team - and expect to win those type of games.”
New Orleans scored in more conventional fashion, though a Falcons turnover helped. Cousins was picked off by Adebo at the New Orleans 47, sparking an 11-play, 53-yard touchdown drive.
Hill ripped off a 7-yard run on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive going, and finished it off by crashing up the middle for a 5-yard score after taking a handoff from Carr.
Hill's first TD came off a direct snap at the 2.
Receiver Darnell Mooney has been a key weapon for the Atlanta offense over the first four games, and he made one of the biggest plays Sunday without catching the ball.
It was Mooney who drew the pass interference penalty on Adebo, making a split-second decision to flash his hands like he was going to make the catch, which lured the cornerback into making contact before the ball arrived.
“The way the ball was sitting in the air, I knew I was going to have to draw something,” Mooney said. “I was able to make Adebo push me a little earlier than he wanted to.”
Mooney finished with three catches for 56 yards. Yet he'll remember this game for the pass he didn't make.
“Your decision-making sort of changes from, ‘I’m going to make this catch’ to ‘I’m going to put myself in a position for the P.I.,’” he said with a smile.
Saints: In addition to losing Hill, LB Willie Gay Jr. went out in the first quarter with a hand injury, further depleting depth at that position. New Orleans already was missing LB Demario Davis (hamstring), who was inactive along with C Erik McCoy (groin), OG Cesar Ruiz (ankle). Kamara (hip pointer, ribs) was able to go for the Saints after being limited during the week.
Falcons: Andersen went out in the closing minutes with a knee injury and was replaced by rookie JD Bertrand. The offensive line was missing C Drew Dalman (ankle) and RT Kaleb McGary (knee).
Saints: Travel to Kansas City next Monday night for a prime-time clash with the reigning two-time Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Falcons: Complete a three-game homestand Thursday night when they host another NFC South rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | 35:42 | 24:18 |
1st Downs | 25 | 14 |
Rushing | 12 | 4 |
Passing | 11 | 9 |
Penalty | 2 | 1 |
3rd Down Conv | 7-13 | 4-11 |
4th Down Conv | 1-2 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 366 | 315 |
Total Plays | 70 | 51 |
Avg Gain | 5.2 | 6.2 |
Net Yards Rushing | 131 | 88 |
Rush Attempts | 33 | 15 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.0 | 5.9 |
Net Yards Passing | 235 | 227 |
Comp. - Att. | 28-36 | 21-35 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.4 | 6.3 |
Penalties - Yards | 6-60 | 9-76 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 2 |
Rushing TDs | 3 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | 0 | 2 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-1 | 1-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 1 |
Punts - Avg | 3-40.0 | 3-44.0 |
Return Yards | 151 | 86 |
Punts - Returns | 2-17 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 5-133 | 2-39 |
Int. - Returns | 1-1 | 1-47 |
Red Zone Eff. | 3-4 -75% | 0-1 -0% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 3-4 -75% | 0-0 -0% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
D. Carr
4 QB
7 FPTS
|
D. Carr | 28/36 | 239 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
A. Kamara
41 RB
24 FPTS
|
A. Kamara | 19 | 77 | 1 | 15 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hill
7 TE
14 FPTS
|
T. Hill | 6 | 24 | 2 | 7 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Shaheed
22 WR
15 FPTS
|
R. Shaheed | 2 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Williams
21 RB
3 FPTS
|
J. Williams | 3 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Carr
4 QB
7 FPTS
|
D. Carr | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. Olave
12 WR
16 FPTS
|
C. Olave | 10 | 8 | 87 | 0 | 18 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Shaheed
22 WR
15 FPTS
|
R. Shaheed | 11 | 8 | 83 | 0 | 25 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Kamara
41 RB
24 FPTS
|
A. Kamara | 9 | 7 | 42 | 0 | 11 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Johnson
83 TE
3 FPTS
|
J. Johnson | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Williams
21 RB
3 FPTS
|
J. Williams | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Tipton
84 WR
1 FPTS
|
M. Tipton | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
P. Adebo
29 CB
|
P. Adebo | 10-2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Taylor
1 CB
|
A. Taylor | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Lattimore
23 CB
|
M. Lattimore | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Young
99 DE
|
C. Young | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Werner
20 LB
|
P. Werner | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Granderson
96 DE
|
C. Granderson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Turner
98 DE
|
P. Turner | 2-1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Harris
5 DB
|
W. Harris | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Mathieu
32 FS
|
T. Mathieu | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Prentice
46 RB
|
A. Prentice | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jackson
52 LB
|
D. Jackson | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Gay Jr.
6 LB
|
W. Gay Jr. | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Orji
58 LB
|
A. Orji | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Saunders
50 DT
|
K. Saunders | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Howden
31 SAF
|
J. Howden | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Shepherd
93 DE
|
N. Shepherd | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Jordan
94 DE
|
C. Jordan | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gray
48 DB
|
J. Gray | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
B. Grupe
19 K
6 FPTS
|
B. Grupe | 1/1 | 43 | 3/3 | 6 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Hayball
43 P
|
M. Hayball | 3 | 40.0 | 3 | 48 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
R. Shaheed
22 WR
15 FPTS
|
R. Shaheed | 3 | 25.0 | 33 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Williams
21 RB
3 FPTS
|
J. Williams | 2 | 29.0 | 30 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
R. Shaheed 22 WR
15 FPTS
|
R. Shaheed | 2 | 8.5 | 17 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
K. Cousins
18 QB
7 FPTS
|
K. Cousins | 21/35 | 238 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
T. Allgeier
25 RB
10 FPTS
|
T. Allgeier | 8 | 60 | 0 | 15 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Robinson
7 RB
10 FPTS
|
B. Robinson | 7 | 28 | 0 | 9 | 10 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. London
5 WR
12 FPTS
|
D. London | 12 | 6 | 64 | 0 | 16 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Mooney
1 WR
8 FPTS
|
D. Mooney | 6 | 3 | 56 | 0 | 36 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. McCloud
34 WR
11 FPTS
|
R. McCloud | 7 | 6 | 52 | 0 | 15 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Robinson
7 RB
10 FPTS
|
B. Robinson | 4 | 4 | 46 | 0 | 26 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Allgeier
25 RB
10 FPTS
|
T. Allgeier | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 13 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Pitts
8 TE
0 FPTS
|
K. Pitts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
T. Andersen
44 LB
|
T. Andersen | 10-7 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Alford
20 CB
|
D. Alford | 8-1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hughes
21 CB
|
M. Hughes | 7-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Elliss
55 LB
|
K. Elliss | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Terrell
24 CB
|
A. Terrell | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Carter
0 LB
|
L. Carter | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bates III
3 SS
|
J. Bates III | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Jarrett
97 DT
|