Forbath's FG on final play sends Saints past Falcons

By foxsports
Published

ATLANTA (AP) -- Jamarca Sanford's interception at the Atlanta 25 with less than two minutes remaining set up Kai Forbath's 30-yard field goal as time expired, giving the New Orleans Saints a 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Sanford cut in front of Devonta Freeman for the interception with 1:47 remaining.

It was the Saints' sixth sweep of the season series with the Falcons in 10 years under coach Sean Payton. Payton is 15-5 against Atlanta.

The loss denied the Falcons (8-8) their chance to give first-year coach Dan Quinn a winning record. The Saints (7-9) avoided giving coach Sean Payton his first 10-loss season.

Drew Brees threw for 323 yards, including a touchdown pass to Ben Watson.

Julio Jones had nine catches for 149 yards for Atlanta and moved to second place in the NFL single-season records for receiving yards and catches with 136 for 1,871 yards.

Ryan threw first-half scoring passes to third-string tight end Tony Moeaki and Freeman, but his only interception of the game was devastating.

A crucial personal foul penalty against Falcons left guard Andy Levitre cost Atlanta a possible field-goal opportunity with less than three minutes remaining. A 6-yard pass from Ryan to Justin Hardy would have left the Falcons with a field goal of about 46 yards, but Levitre charged in late to the pile near the catch after Hardy was ruled down, drawing the flag and forcing a Falcons punt.

The Saints took possession at their 14 with 2:39 remaining, but had to punt less than a minute later, giving the Falcons the ball at their 24 with 1:47 remaining. The interception by Sanford came on the next play.

There has been much speculation this could be the end of the Payton-Drew Brees era in New Orleans. The Saints had their second straight losing record under Payton, leaving his future with the team in some doubt.

Brees has one more season on his contract, which counts about $30 million against the 2016 salary cap. Brees will celebrate his 37th birthday on Jan. 15. The Saints could lower the cap figure by extending Brees' contract.

The teams traded red-zone turnovers to open the fourth quarter.

With the score tied at 17, the Falcons wasted a chance to take the lead when Freeman fumbled on a first-down run from the Saints 3. John Jenkins recovered for the Saints, who drove to the Atlanta 3 before Falcons safety Charles Godfrey forced a fumble by Travaris Cadet. Robert Alford recovered at the 1.

Payton's request for a review of a play initially ruled an incompletion in the end zone paid off big for the Saints. Officials overturned the call, ruling Watson made the 13-yard touchdown catch, giving the Saints a 14-10 lead in the second quarter.