• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Ryan, Falcons roll over Saints

Nov 9, 2008 - 11:16 PM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer*

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Winning is getting to be routine for rookie Matt Ryan and the high-flying Atlanta Falcons.

Ryan passed for 248 yards and two scores Sunday, leading the upstart Falcons to a 34-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

The rookie completed 16-of-23 passes, including a 67-yard TD strike to Jerious Norwood on the second play of the fourth quarter to make it 27-6.

Roddy White caught five passes for 68 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta, which improved to 4-0 at home this season.

"I think everybody was excited with the win," Ryan said. "Anytime you play against a team of that caliber and walk away with the win, we're excited."

The Falcons, expected by most to be in rebuilding mode this season, have won four of their last five games to improve to 6-3 overall.

"There aren't any surprises in the NFL," Atlanta strong safety Lawyer Milloy said. "If you work hard and play hard, you have a chance in this league. Everybody was like, It's a rebuilding year, it's a rebuilding year. But I'm 35 years old. I don't have time to rebuild."

Ryan found White deep down the middle with a 16-yard strike to give Atlanta a 7-0 lead with 9:12 remaining in the first quarter, and the Falcons never looked back.

"That was an outstanding football game," Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. "We played a very explosive offensive team. I liked the way we played. Our players executed the game plan on both sides of the ball."

The Falcons, who allowed just 14 first-quarter points entering Sunday - the best mark in the NFL - held the potent Saints' offense out of the end zone for more than 50 minutes. New Orleans managed only two field goals through the first three quarters.

Atlanta, which blanked the hapless Oakland Raiders last Sunday, set the tone from the outset as safety Erik Coleman intercepted Drew Brees on the first play from scrimmage. The Falcons maintained a high intensity level throughout.

Brees tried to rally the Saints (4-5) in the fourth quarter, but rookie cornerback Chris Houston stopped a New Orleans' scoring drive with an interception in the end zone.

Rookie cornerback Chevis Jackson sealed the win with a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown that gave Atlanta a 34-13 cushion with 1:17 remaining.

"We've had some success the beginning of the year," Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking said. "I think we've exceeded everyone's expectations on the outside. It's very encouraging."

Michael Turner rushed for 96 yards on 27 carries and scored a touchdown for the Falcons. He also was an integral part of a clock-grinding drive that took more than eight minutes of the clock in the third quarter.

Jason Elam capped the long possession with a 27-yard field goal, giving Atlanta a 20-6 lead with 2:06 remaining in the period.

"They just played a better game than us," Saints receiver Devery Henderson said. "We just need to get our act together. It's how it happens sometimes. This is the NFL, and if you're not ready, you're going to be in trouble."

Norwood collected 178 all-purposes yards - 17 on the ground, 88 in the air and 73 on kickoff returns - for the Falcons, who won for the first time in three tries against NFC South Division opponents.

"These (division) games count as two," Turner said. "You want to win (games within) the division. We're trying to make our run for the playoffs."

But Atlanta's young quarterback is not ready to start thinking about the team returning to the postseason just yet.

"We've gotten off to a good start," Ryan said. "The biggest thing for me is that I don't think that way. I try to think about it week in and week out and try to pull my weight out there."

Brees connected on 31-for-58 for 422 yards and two touchdowns, but his three interceptions sealed his club's fate as tensions escalated on the New Orleans sideline.

The Saints quarterback got into a heated exchange with emotional tight end Jeremy Shockey on the bench after New Orleans went three-and-out on a series late in the third quarter.

Shockey spent the fourth quarter on the bench, and the Saints had their best success moving the ball without him. The former New York Giant downplayed the incident.

"No (there wasn't any miscommunication)," Shockey said. "The more time Drew and I spend with each other, the better it's going to get."

The Saints claimed Shockey sat out the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.

New Orleans finally got in the end zone on Brees' 16-yard TD pass to Deuce McAllister with 9:40 remaining. Brees then hit Lance Moore for a 31-yard TD on a "Hail Mary" pass on the game's final play.