Monday Night Football Live Blog - New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons

The New Orleans Saints’ unbeaten start has come entirely outside the NFC South, but a seventh straight victory could give them a crystal-clear path to a division title.

A Monday night win over visiting Atlanta would also match the best start in franchise history and keep the Saints alone atop the NFC, and the Falcons’ defense will need to improve quickly if it hopes to slow Drew Brees’ high-powered attack.

A trip to Miami provided New Orleans with its stiffest test Sunday, and after spending most of their season playing from ahead, the Saints (6-0) erased a 21-point first-half deficit and scored 22 unanswered in the fourth quarter to beat the Dolphins 46-34.

One more win would match the 1991 Saints, the only time the club has begun 7-0, and the previous victory only served to confirm New Orleans’ claims that this season’s team is different from its previous offensive-minded versions - even though it still boasts the NFL’s top-ranked offense.

Saints inactives: QB Chase Daniel, SS Chris Reis, PK Garrett Hartley, CB Leigh Torrence, RB Lynell Hamilton, C Nick Leckey, LB Scott Fujita, DL Sedrick Ellis

Game begins at 8:30 EST. Live blog starts at kickoff!

8:55 EST: Game started off with a Falcons TD.

8:56 EST: TD Pierre Thomas Saints 7 - 7 and we’re even.

9:01 EST: Watching both teams play and respond further lets me know that the Giants suck. That’s my random Giants plug for the game. Now back to our regularly scheduled live blog.

9:03 EST: Saints defense is tightening up on the Falcons on this drive.

9:05 EST: Second sack of Ryan, Saints defense forces a 3 and out.

9:09 EST: Brees fumbles the ball as he’s sacked and the Falcons score a TD. Falcons 14 - Saints 7

9:11 EST: It’s too early to even begin to look at the possibilities of how Atlanta could win this game.

END OF FIRST QUARTER - Falcons 14 - Saints 7

9:19 EST: Brees sacked again and almost makes another costly.

9:20 EST: Brees completes to Shockey for a 1st down.

9:21 EST: Falcons D came to play.

9:27 EST: TD Saints game tied at 14.

9:29 EST: Saints player is down. Can’t see who it is.

9:34 EST: Great run by Michael Turner for 37 yards.

9:37 EST: A dropped pass by Jenkins and a missed FG. ARE YOU SERIOUS ATLANTA FALCONS?! This is why you have no championships. Stupid mess like this!

9:41 EST: Pierre Thomas with a good run for 34 yards. And the Saints are running down the Falcons throats right now and can’t be stopped.

9:44 EST: Interception Falcons! That’s one fumble and one interception and two turnovers for Brees.

9:52 EST: Do the Saints receivers ever drop passes? I mean every pass Brees throws is caught. SMH

10:00 EST: TD Reggie Bush. Saints 21 - Falcons 14

10:04 EST: Matt Ryan intercepted for another Saints TD. Saints 27 - Falcons 14.

10:06 EST: In 6 quarters the Saints have 5 turnovers and are still undefeated. The Giants could only wish to be that lucky. If the Giants committ one turnover a win is hardly likely.

10:08 EST: Saints defense is all over Matt Ryan who looks rattled and uncomfortable right now. If not for that dropped pass by Jenkins and that missed FG by Elam this team would still be in it.

10:10 EST: Darren Sharper is a mad man on the field right now. LOL! He’s such a cutie.

10:13 EST: Tony G. beasting on the Saints D right now.

END OF FIRST HALF

Receiving REC YDS TD LG
J. Shockey 3 47 0 27
M. Colston 3 43 1 18
D. Henderson 2 32 0 24

If the Falcons have any shot at winning this game they need to play smart football and not make any more mistakes. Jason Elam has missed 2 FG’s and Matt Ryan threw a costly interception that went in for a TD.

On the other hand the Saints have two turnovers both by Brees and aren’t looking back. Mistakes equal success for this team so they don’t have anything to worry about.

10:37 EST: Falcons come out with a statement touchdown to open the second half. Falcons 21 - Saints 28

10:46 EST: Falcons defense holds John Carney misses the FG!

10:56 EST: The Saints are going to play for 60 minutes. Will the Falcons be able to and regain the lead?

11:11 EST: Drew Brees with the pouty mouth on the sidelines.

11:12 EST: TD Falcons! But it’s coming back b/c that ball hit the ground. WOW Refs WOW!

11:17 EST: Jason Elam misses 2 FG’s that would have made the score 31-28 but instead it’s Falcons 24 - Saints 28.

11:21 EST: This Falcons has been impressive in the second half. Can they continue to hold them.

11:23 EST: WOW Did the Falcons force a fumble. WOW! Of course it’s being challenged but it looks like that ball is coming out.

11:25 EST: If this call is uphelp it would be the 3rd turnover in the game for the Saints. And their 6th in 2 games.

11:27 EST: Michael Turner is a BEAST! Nuff said!

11:28 EST: Interception NO!

11:30 EST: Another missed opportunity. The Saints over the past few weeks have been the LUCKIEST team in the NFL. 6 TURNOVERS in two games and they still can win.

11:32 EST: Falcons just lost any hope to win this game. Honestly at this point it’s a wrap. They allowed the Saints to crawl right back in it and they only have themselves to blame. Saints are 6-0 because they play 60 minutes of football.

11:34 EST: First down Saints and the defense is being carved up right now. SMH

11:35 EST: Reggis Bush out there flexing on these Falcons. LOL! Starting fights and whatnot after plays.

11:40 EST: This game is over. Falcons deserve to lose this game. Let the Saints stay in the game and now they’re 7-0. Good job Atlanta!

11:42 EST: Who will stop the Saints? I really wonder? It will likely be an AFC team b/c at this point the NFC teams have all fallen short.

11:44 EST: These wide receivers go up and snatch the ball for their QB. Just go up and sacrafice their bodies to get the ball. Makes no sense.

11:45 EST: Sharper almost had his weekly pick.

11:47 EST: Matt Ryan’s pass is ruled a fumble when his arm is clearing moving forward. Refs have just been terrible.

11:52 EST: I pray the referees in this game never work a Giants game. EVER!

11:55 EST: Saints win! Falcons 24 - Saints 35.

END OF GAME

FINAL SCORE: Saints 35 - Falcons 24

Wait a minute I stand corrected! Fumble by the Saints? Falcons ball with a 1:20 … not much life but they do have life.

Gotta give Atlanta credit they’re not giving up. They’ve forced 4 TURNOVERS in this game. 4 PEOPLE!

12:03 EST: So on 1st down Ryan completes for a 1st down. With no timeouts this game will not be won but I love the fight in this team.

12:05 EST: Would someone get Arthur Blank some Starbucks or something. There’s no yawning on the sidelines.

12:07 EST: Why am I in here yelling at the television as if I can afford to let this game go into overtime as tired as I am. Would you just lose already Atlanta so I can get some sleep?

12:09 EST: Someone just said they need to take the E from Elam and put it at the end of his name. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA LAME! I’m delirious!

12:10 EST: WOW Can this BE? Can the Falcons pull off the upset? It’s not gonna happen b/c I want it to.

12:14 EST: Interception Darren Sharper! Saints win. Damn shame Falcons you really could have won this.

END GAME - FINAL SCORE ATLANTA 27 - NEW ORLEANS 35

Receiving REC YDS TD LG
M. Colston 6 85 1 29
J. Shockey 5 72 0 27
D. Henderson 4 46 0 24

Saints are one LUCKY TEAM with 5 turnovers in the game. 8 over the last two games! UNREAL!