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Sunday, the Falcons showed why they deserve the label of "contenders" as they knocked off the New Orleans Saints 24-17. The win not only gives them a season sweep over their long-time rival, it also extends Atlanta's unbeaten streak to six games.
The Falcons rebounded from that "incomplete feeling" of a 34-34 tie against Pittsburgh the previous week, by knuckling down on defense and smothering the high-powered, offensive attack of the Saints.
Michael Vick played up to the standards fans have come to know and love. He completed 11 of 23 for 160 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to a rushing touchdown and 55 yards on the ground.
Vick's first touchdown strike came in the second quarter when the southpaw lobbed a pass near the roof of the Georgia Dome, only to have Trevor Gaylor run under it and take the ball 74-yards to the house for the opening score.
"It was basically just a simple slant play to try to get the first down," said Gaylor. "It wasn't open at first...Mike scrambled out of the pocket and waited for me to go deep. I turned around and I saw that there was nobody back there."
Gaylor stepped into the starting, wide-receiver role for the injured Shawn Jefferson. He filled in admirably, tallying 100 yards on three receptions.
"Shawn has been such an inspirational person to me since I've been here, I owe a lot to him for everything that happened in the game," Gaylor said.
Following a New Orleans punt to open up the second half, the Falcons gave the Saints a healthy dosage of Vick and Warrick Dunn, as they marched down the field to about the seven yard line. Vick, who was lined up in the shotgun formation, rolled out to his right, sprinted around the corner for seven yards before lunging towards the pylon, giving his team a 14-0 lead midway through the third quarter.
After a Jay Feely 42-yard field goal gave the Falcons a 17-3 advantage, a sense of urgency finally began to creep in on the New Orleans sideline.
The Saints made it a game again after Joe Horn snatched an Aaron Brooks bullet on fourth-and-one and took it 57 yards up the middle for the touchdown. The lead was cut seven.
New Orleans got the ball back after a tough defensive stand, clearly with momentum in its favor. However, all that changed when Brooks' pass, intended for Horn, was picked off by cornerback Juran Bolden at the Saints 29 yard line.
Atlanta capitalized on the turnover eight plays later when Vick found tight end, Alge Crumpler, in the back of the end zone, giving the team a 24-10 cushion with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.
Although Brooks would throw another touchdown pass to cut the deficit in half, New Orleans failed to recover the on-side kick, ending the chance for a comeback.
The rowdy crowd of over 75, 000 inside the Georgia Dome rose to their feet in celebration of the team's sixth victory of the season.
"The 12th man did a heck of a job," said Falcons coach, Dan Reeves. "Our crowd really was loud and created a lot of problems. It makes it really difficult when you are on the road with that kind of noise."
Atlanta will look to continue its winning ways as it takes on the struggling Carolina Panthers in Charlotte this week.
