TNF Highlights: Saints 17 – Falcons 13

ATLANTA – It wasn’t easy, but the New Orleans Saints improved to 9-2 with a 17-13 victory over Atlanta to set up a huge showdown next week in Seattle with the conference-leading Seahawks.

The Saints and Falcons have played a number of close games in recent season and this one was no exception. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes to lead the way, but it was the New Orleans that stepped up big as Atlanta threatened to take the lead in the fourth quarter. First, the Saints forced the game’s only turnover on a Darius Johnson fumble in the red zone. Then, the defense stiffened and Matt Bryant missed a long field goal just before the two-minute warning.

Ian Eagle and Trent Green called the action on WestwoodOne Sports.

(Steven Jackson’s 1-yd TD run puts Atlanta up 7-0 early)

[podcast id='1']

(Benjamin Watson’s TD grab ties the game at 7-7)

[podcast id='2']

(Drew Brees connects with Jimmy Graham and New Orleans leads 14-10)

[podcast id='0']

(Tony Gonzalez hauls in his 1,300th career reception – only the second player in NFL history to hit that number)

[podcast id='3']

(Pierre Thomas’s postgame interview with WestwoodOne sideline reporter Laura Okmin)

[podcast id='4']

(Postgame recap from Ian Eagle and Trent Green)

[podcast id='5']