Saints deliver Falcons first loss

NEW ORLEANS — Quarterback Drew Brees completed 30 of 39 passes for 312 yards as the New Orleans Saints handed Atlanta Falcons their first loss of the season with a 31-21 victory Thursday. Tight end Benjamin Watson grabbed a key fourth-down touchdown pass in the third quarter for the Saints who finally found some consistency on offence after sputtering in the first part of the season. Watson finished with 10 catches for a career-high 127 yards. Not wanting to let their season slip away, the Saints improved to two wins and four losses. They held the high-powered Atlanta offence in check, forcing two red-zone fumbles and blocked a punt for a touchdown. The running game also got going. New Orleans running back Mark Ingram scored twice on runs of two and one yards, and the Saints rolled up 207 yards of total offence and 17 points in the second half. Heading into the contest, New Orleans had allowed the most yards in the National Football League this season at 2,045. The Falcons trailed 14-7 at the half and 24-7 heading into the final quarter. Atlanta (5-1) had rallied for victories in the fourth quarter for four of their previous five wins, but they could not get closer than 10 points late in Thursday’s game. Quarterback Matt Ryan completed 30 of 44 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns, but he was sacked five times and fumbled three times. Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan had three sacks. The Saints’ injury-depleted offensive line took another hit when rookie first-round draft pick Andrus Peat suffered what appeared to be a left knee injury on the game’s first series. Peat was starting at left tackle in place of the injured Terron Armstead. — AFP