The Atlanta Falcons have once again engaged in a tense rivalry match against the New Orleans Saints, culminating in a heart-pounding 26-24 victory. The game was filled with missed opportunities for the Falcons, who struggled to capitalize on key plays and faced some unfavorable calls. This left them trailing by a point as time ran down, with kicker Younghoe Koo tasked with making a challenging 58-yard field goal for the win—an outcome that seemed inevitable given the team’s earlier mistakes.
However, Koo defied the odds, successfully landing the long-range kick and allowing the Falcons to triumph over the Saints. This victory not only broke the career-wins tie between the two franchises but also leveled their records for the 2024 season. Despite the ups and downs throughout the game, the outcome brought joy to falcon fans, especially when Koo’s kick sailed through the uprights.
Here’s a detailed recap of the game, play-by-play.
1st Quarter
The Falcons kicked off the game after a touchback. Bijan Robinson started strong, gaining two yards, followed by a swing pass that earned a first down. A deep attempt from Kirk Cousins to Drake London fell short due to defensive pressure. However, Cousins connected with Kyle Pitts on the next attempt, only for it to be dropped after a hit. Cousins then found London again for another first down. Following a penalty on Matthew Bergeron that negated a big play, the Falcons were forced to punt. A bobble on the fair catch led to KhaDarel Hodge recovering the football in the end zone, putting the Falcons up 7-0.
After a touchback, Saints quarterback Derek Carr quickly found Chris Olave for 15 yards, and Alvin Kamara followed with a four-yard run. The Saints managed to tie the game with a touchdown run by Taysom Hill.
The Falcons’ next drive saw a four-yard catch by McCloud and a near-first-down catch by London thwarted by a big hit. A pass interference penalty was declined, but an interception by Paulson Adebo brought the drive to a halt, leading to a Saints offensive series where they regained the lead with another touchdown.
2nd Quarter
The Falcons’ drive began cautiously, with short gains from Robinson, but Cousins connected with Mooney for a significant gain that set them up for a field goal from Younghoe Koo, shrinking the Saints’ lead to 14-10.
Carr and the Saints moved the ball efficiently, but the Falcons’ defense managed to intercept him with a touchdown return by Troy Andersen, flipping the momentum to give Atlanta a 17-14 lead.
A series of defensive plays resulted in a forced punt, ending the first half with both teams exchanging possessions without scoring.
3rd Quarter
The second half opened with an exchange of punts, but Koo would soon add to the Falcons’ lead with another field goal, making it 20-14.
The Saints responded with their own kicker getting in on the action after a series of offensive plays, closing the deficit to 20-17.
The Falcons began their series with a return and effective runs from Allgeier, but were unable to find the end zone as Koo’s field goal expanded their lead to 23-17.
4th Quarter
With time running out, the Saints executed a series of plays that brought them to the verge of scoring another touchdown. Kamara’s determination paid off as he found the end zone, putting New Orleans ahead 24-23 after a successful extra point.
The Falcons responded and faced a challenging situation, but Cousins managed to move them downfield. With seconds remaining, Koo stepped up for a 58-yard field goal attempt, securing the win for Atlanta in a dramatic finish.
This game highlighted both teams’ competitive spirit in what is a long-standing rivalry, and the Falcons will undoubtedly cherish this victory as they look forward to the rest of the season.