Some efficient offensive play from Eric Weems and Devonta Freeman handed the Atlanta Falcons a 30-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the NFL this evening, ending the team's two-game losing streak.
The defeat for the Saints also ensured that they will no longer stand a chance to compete in the playoffs.
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New Orleans were the first side to seize the initiative and they found themselves 7-0 up inside the opening moments when Mark Ingram completed a one-yard rush, allowing Shayne Graham to cap off the extra.
The Falcons notched their first points when Matt Bryant marked an impressive field goal from all of 44 yards, before the kicker returned in the second quarter to go one better and produce another from 50 yards to leave the scores at 7-6.
Atlanta grabbed an important half-time lead with just a few seconds of the first period remaining when Matt Ryan threw from three yards to find Weems for the touchdown, leaving the score at 13-7 going into the interval.
Freeman got the crowd going in the third quarter as he pushed the Falcons further in front nby rushing an impressive 31 yards to move the proceedings to 20-7.
New Orleans finally created something of note in the offensive department when Drew Brees threw for Jimmy Graham from four yards in the fourth, but it wasn't enough as Bryant kicked again and Osi Umenyiora ensured a fumble recovery late on to give Atlanta a 30-14 win.
Christopher Dodd
