Atlanta drove 77 yards on their first possession of the game and posted a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The touchdown marked the second time in as many games this season the Falcons scored a TD on their opening offensive possession. Running back Michael Turner capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown. * Running back Michael Turner notched his eighth touchdown of the season with a 13-yard rush in the first quarter. Turner has now scored at least one touchdown in six consecutive games. He has also topped his total from last season through seven games (six). * Running back Michael Turner posted 151 yards against the Saints, marking his second 100-yard contest of the season and the 10th as a member of the Falcons (2008-09). * On the Falcons first offensive possession of the second half, quarterback Matt Ryan hit wide receiver Roddy White for a 68-yard touchdown strike to cut the Saints lead to 28-21. The pass was the fourth-longest completion in Ryan's career, while the reception for White marked his 40th career catch of 25-plus yards. * The 68-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Matt Ryan to wide receiver Roddy White was the fifth time the two connected for a pass of 50-yards or longer in the last two seasons. * Quarterback Matt Ryan's third quarter touchdown pass to Roddy White marked the fourth consecutive game the second-year QB tallied at least one touchdown. The streak is the second longest in his career behind a five-game stretch in 2008 (10/12 – 11/9). * Wide receiver Roddy White finished with 108 yards, marking his second game 100-plus yard game this season and the 16th of his career. * At the 2:14 mark in the first quarter, safety Thomas DeCoud sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees (second of the season) and forced a fumble, which was recovered by defensive end Kroy Biermann for a touchdown. The fumble recovery and touchdown were the first of Biermann's career. * Defensive end Kroy Biermann's fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first quarter gave Atlanta a 14-7 lead. The recovery for a touchdown was the first by a Falcons defensive player since 2007 when cornerback DeAngelo Hall returned a recovery 56 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee. The recovery for a TD was also the first for a Falcons defensive lineman since 2005 when defensive end Chauncey Davis accomplished the feat with a 24-yard return against the New York Jets. * Cornerback Brent Grimes intercepted his first pass of the season with a leaping grab in the second quarter. The pick is the second of his career. * Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux posted his second sack of the season when he took down Drew Brees in the second quarter for a seven-yard loss. * Erik Coleman forced a Pierre Thomas fumble on a third and one play in the fourth quarter which was recovered by linebacker Stephen Nicholas. The force was the fifth of Coleman's career while the recovery was the second of Nicholas' career. * Falcons linebacker Coy Wire recovered a fumble on a third down rushing attempt in the fourth quarter and also recovered an onside kick attempt in the final 15 minutes of play. * The Falcons outgained the Saints in third quarter total yardage by a 135-64 margin. New Orleans' 64 yards is the lowest total for a third quarter this season while the Falcons added a touchdown with their total. * Running back Michael Turner posted his highest first quarter rushing total of the season with 44 yards on six carries. Turner also posted his longest rush of the season with a 37-yard scamper in the second quarter. * Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez recorded his first catch of the game in the first quarter, extending his consecutive games with a reception streak to 138. The catch was also Gonzalez's longest of the season (27 yards) and led to a Falcons touchdown. * Atlanta kicker Jason Elam tallied two field goals against the Saints from 25 and 40 yards. Along with three PATs, Elam finished with nine points against the Saints.
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