Roddy Finds Paydirt: After a few quiet performances, Roddy White came up big for Matt Ryan and the offense during the first quarter thanks to an eight-yard touchdown—his first of 2015. White's TD grab helped the Falcons trim an early deficit and brought a successful end to a nine-play, 80-yard drive. The veteran WR finished with 23 yards on three catches.
Julio Produces: Despite a hamstring injury that put his status in question, Julio Jones looked solid en route to 93 receiving yards. Though he wasn't 100 percent healthy, he managed six total catches—four of which went for 15-plus yards and first downs. He should be more agile in Week 7 after having plenty of time to recover between games.
Devonta Continues to Shine: Devonta Freeman's fourth career start went a lot like his first three. The second-year back registered 156 total yards and two scores—one on the ground, one through the air. He now has 505 rushing yards, 296 receiving yards and 10 TDs on the season and has clearly evolved into one of the NFL's most dangerous offensive threats.
Clayborn Eats: Adrian Clayborn was one of Atlanta's most effective defenders—especially as a nickel DT. His sack on Drew Brees helped end a promising drive, and his work in the run game prevented Mark Ingram from moving the ball between the tackles.
First Challenge a Smart Call: Dan Quinn's first challenge as a head coach proved to be the right decision. By getting a 12-yard pass to Brandin Cooks reversed to an incompletion, New Orleans had to deal with a third and 18 instead of a third and six. The Saints failed to convert on the ensuing play and were forced to punt.
Time to Bounce Back: This loss marks the first sizeable taste of adversity in the Dan Quinn era. The competitive, intense head coach and his staff will be tasked with correcting a variety of mistakes—including two red zone turnovers—and get their club prepared for it's next challenge: an interconference matchup in Nashville with the Tennessee Titans. How Atlanta responds to this defeat will say a lot about its mental toughness.
