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Falcons Takeoff: Facts, stats, quotes from opening NFC South win over Saints

A one-stop shop for an overall statistical and factual look at the Falcons-Saints game in Week 4.

For the 2024 NFL season, digital team reporter Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to show how the Atlanta Falcons are taking flight into the new week.

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons won, 26-24, against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 72,204 ticketed fans.

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STELLAR STATS

— Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge was responsible for the Falcons' first muffed-punt-turned-touchdown of this century. Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed dropped the punt after the Falcons' first drive, and Hodge collected the loose ball in the end zone, thus scoring a special teams touchdown.

— With his two rushing touchdowns – a 2-yarder in the first quarter and a 5-yarder in the second quarter – Saints tight end Taysom Hill is now responsible for 11 touchdowns against the Falcons. He has had one receiving, four passing and six rushing. According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, only quarterbacks Tom Brady (28 passing), Jameis Winston (27 passing, two rushing) and Drew Brees (54 passing, two rushing) have more.

— Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo's 58-yard field goal to win the game signified not only the longest field goal of his career but also the longest field goal made in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was Koo's eighth game-winning field goal (kicked within the final 10 seconds) since 2021, too, which is good for most in the NFL over that span.

— Safety Jessie Bates III made his 100th career regular-season start Sunday, doing so in every single game in which he has played since his debut in 2018.

— The Saints have intercepted at least one pass in every game this season. Cornerback Paulson Adebo picked off Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in the first quarter. The pass was intended for wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III, but he slipped while coming out of his break. New Orleans' six interceptions overall ranks third through Sunday's games, solely behind the Green Bay Packers' and Minnesota Vikings' eight picks.

OBSCURE FACTS

— Falcons inside linebacker Troy Andersen had the first pick-six of his career Sunday, intercepting Saints quarterback Derek Carr in the second quarter and returning the ball 47 yards to the end zone. Saints wide receiver Chris Olave tried to chase down and stop Andersen but was unable to do so. Both Andersen and Olave were 2022 NFL Draft picks. Andersen ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at their combine, while Olave ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. And yet, Andersen outran Olave in the moment three seasons later.

— The Falcons special teams (first quarter) and defensive unit (second quarter) each scored a touchdown, but the offense did not. The last time Atlanta won a game without an offensive touchdown was 2004 Week 3, when it defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 6-3. In that same breath, however, Sunday marked the third time the Falcons scored a defensive and special teams touchdown in the same game since 2000. The other two instances were 2005 Week 6 in 31-31 win over the Saints and 2016 Week 14 in a 42-14 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

— The last team to lose a game after scoring at least 24 points and not giving up a single offensive touchdown was actually the Saints again, back in 1983 when New Orleans lost to the Rams. The only other team to do so was the New York Giants in 1981. All of these losses featured a 26-24 outcome.

— The Falcons and Saints' all-time record is now 56-55, including one playoff meeting between the two teams, with Atlanta taking a lead after Sunday's win. New Orleans won the first-ever meeting, 27-24, but then lost the next nine straight games in the bi-annual series, which began in 1967.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, no team has participated in more one-score games since the 2022 season than the Falcons (27). That number includes all four games in 2024 so far.

QUOTING RAHEEM MORRIS

On tight end Kyle Pitts not having a single reception…

"Really, for me, stats are for losers, man. I don't get involved in that stuff. You go out and try to win each game. We were able to win it today, and that's what we did."

On whether he thinks this is a team of destiny…

"No. I don't feel like Cinderella. I feel like you got to go out there and play every single game, and you've got to try to go out there and win. The more poised team usually wins. Right now, I'm trying to show my team poise and show them poise, what it looks and feels like, what it feels like to be resilient.

QUOTING THE FALCONS

Long snapper Liam McCullough

On KhaDarel Hodge's touchdown off a muffed punt…

"To be completely honest, I'm not surprised at all that Hodge got that. I mean, that man works harder than anyone I've seen on special teams. That man loves to play on special teams. And he flies down the field. So, I'm happy for him, not surprised at all."

Quarterback Kirk Cousins

On whether he noticed the intensity of the rivalry…

"I loved it. It was the fourth quarter we were a little bit backed up, and it was a TV time-out. They were playing that song about you swag and surf, and the whole stadium was moving. I looked around, like this is pretty sweet. And the (Dirty Birds) Nest especially, I love the Nest. The Nest may be my favorite thing about being a Falcon. It's awesome, the energy they bring. Yeah, you felt it."

QUOTING THE OPPONENT

Saints head coach Dennis Allen

On Rashid Shaheed's decision to call for fair catch on first punt that turned into a Falcons touchdown…

"Bad decision. We don't ever want to field that ball. Look, he's typically been a guy that's made a lot of really good decisions back there, so it was uncharacteristic for him to make that decision to field the ball there. We certainly don't want to do that."

Quarterback Derek Carr

On his interception that Falcons inside linebacker Troy Andersen turned into a 47-yard touchdown return…

"I don't know the last time I've seen that happen on a screen. But hey, it happened. It sucks, but I've got to get rid of it quicker when it's not there. So, yeah, can't wait too long to throw it away."

GAME LEADERS

Top 3 rushers

  1. Saints: Alvin Kamara | 19 carries for 77 yards, a touchdown
  2. Falcons: Tyler Allgeier | eight carries for 60 yards
  3. Falcons: Bijan Robinson | seven carries for 28 yards

Top 3 receivers

  1. Saints: Chis Olave | eight receptions for 87 yards
  2. Saints: Rashid Shaheed | eight receptions for 83 yards
  3. Falcons: Drake London | six receptions for 64 yards

Top 3 passers

  1. Saints: Derek Carr | 28-36 for 239 yards (sacked once, intercepted once)
  2. Falcons: Kirk Cousins | 21-35 for 238 yards (sacked once, intercepted once)
  3. N/A

Top 3 defenders

  1. Falcons: Troy Andersen | 16 total tackles, nine solo (an interception)
  2. Saints: Paulson Adebo | 12 total tackles, 10 solo (an interception)
  3. Falcons: Dee Alford | nine total tackles, eight solo (a sack)

NEXT UP

The Falcons (2-2) have a quick turnaround with a Thursday game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) for Week 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Prime Video will carry live coverage nationally, along with FOX 5 locally.

The Buccaneers are coming off a Week 4 home win of their own, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 33-16.

Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Week 4, presented by Grady.

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