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Saints look to derail upstart Falcons

Dec 2, 2008 - 7:30 PM ATLANTA (8-4) AT NEW ORLEANS (6-6), 1:00 pm EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Saints expected their Week 14 game to have playoff implications - just not for the opposing team.

The Saints face one of the league's biggest surprises when the Atlanta Falcons pay a visit to the Louisiana Superdome on Sunday.

One year removed from a disastrous 4-12 campaign, the Falcons continued their improbable surge for a postseason berth with a 22-16 victory at San Diego last weekend.

The victory doubled Atlanta's win total from 2007 and kept the Falcons one game behind co-leaders Tampa Bay and Carolina in the rugged NFC South.

"We're certainly in a good position and we've got an opportunity (for the postseason), so we're excited about that," rookie quarterback Matt Ryan said.

Ryan finished 17-of-23 for 207 yards and two touchdowns to lead Atlanta to its fourth win in five games, during which he has thrown just one interception. Roddy White had six catches for 112 yards, giving him back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Michael Turner rumbled for 120 yards on 17 carries against his former teammates - his second straight 100-yard game and sixth of the season.

"It felt great coming back here again and seeing all of the old fans," Turner said. "Coming into the stadium, and with all of the memories I have here, I'm just glad we came out with the win also."

New Orleans' postseason chances were dealt a lethal blow with last weekend's 23-20 loss at Tampa Bay. Trailing the Bucs and Panthers by three games and the Falcons by two, the Saints would need a miracle to get to the playoffs.

Drew Brees, the league leader in yards and touchdown passes, finished 25-of-47 for 296 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Two of the picks came in the fourth quarter.

"It hurts right now," Brees said. "I know how well we played. You try to be in a position to win in the end, and we were."

Sunday's showdown will mark the second meeting between the teams in five weeks. Atlanta won the previous matchup, 34-20, on November 9 as Ryan tossed two scoring passes and the Falcons picked off Brees three times.