Bijan Robinson rushed for a touchdown and caught another as the host Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints 24-15 on Sunday to move into a tie for first place in the NFC South.
Robinson had 91 of his team’s 228 rushing yards and added 32 receiving yards from Desmond Ridder, who returned from a two-game benching to start for the Falcons (5-6). Ridder completed 13 of 21 passes for 168 yards and was intercepted twice by Tyrann Mathieu.
Derek Carr passed for 304 yards for the Saints (5-6), who never reached the end zone despite five trips inside the Atlanta 20-yard line. Carr threw a first-quarter interception that Jessie Bates III returned 92 yards for a touchdown.
Blake Grupe’s 45-yard field goal pulled the Saints within 14-12 with 3:27 left in the third quarter.
New Orleans was threatening to take the lead before Taysom Hill fumbled on the last play of the third quarter and Albert Huggins recovered for Atlanta at its 5-yard line, preserving the two-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Falcons took advantage by driving 95 yards and getting Ridder’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Robinson to expand the lead to 21-12.
Grupe’s fifth field goal, from 39 yards, trimmed the lead to 21-15 with 6:24 remaining, but Younghoe Koo answered with a 39-yarder with 1:47 left.
On the Saints’ second possession, Carr connected with Chris Olave for completions of 51 and 6 yards, leading to Grupe’s 25-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. Olave caught seven passes for 114 yards before he was diagnosed with a concussion.
New Orleans was poised to increase the lead before Bates’ pick-6 gave Atlanta a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Grupe kicked a 52-yard field goal on the third play of the second quarter to trim the lead to 7-6.
Robinson ran 10 yards for a Falcons touchdown in the second quarter before Grupe kicked a 41-yard field goal shortly before halftime to pull New Orleans within 14-9.
Atlanta reached the Saints’ 10 in the final minute of the half before Mathieu intercepted Ridder, leaving the Falcons with a five-point halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
