Atlanta
Falcons
5-1
14
FINAL
34
New Orleans
Saints
3-2
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a decisive Week 17 clash, the New Orleans Saints topped the Atlanta Falcons with a final score of 34-14, solidifying their playoff positioning as the regular season winds down. The victory was crucial for New Orleans as they aim for a strong postseason run, while the Falcons were left searching for answers heading into the offseason.
C.J. Stroud was stellar under center for the Saints, throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his ability to connect with key targets. Lotzier Brooks emerged as a standout receiver, racking up 109 receiving yards and proving to be a reliable option for Stroud throughout the game. Meanwhile, Justin Fields led the Falcons on the ground with 111 rushing yards, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with New Orleans' offensive firepower.
Defensively, the Saints were relentless, highlighted by Jonathan Greenard's two sacks and Rasheem Biles' two interceptions, which played a pivotal role in stifling Atlanta's momentum. The turning point came in the second quarter when Biles' interception resulted in a quick touchdown drive, effectively shifting the game's momentum in favor of New Orleans. With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah leading the defense with six tackles, the Saints' defensive unit proved to be a formidable barrier against Atlanta's attempts to claw back into the game.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud | QB | 28 | 21 | 75% | 314 | 3 | 1 | 132.1 |
| Justin Fields | QB | 32 | 22 | 69% | 291 | 2 | 4 | 78.5 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Fields | QB | 13 | 111 | 8.5 | 10 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Chris Johnson Jr. | HB | 4 | 4 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | HB | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C.J. Stroud | QB | 3 | 2 | 0.7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Christian Betancur | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotzier Brooks | WR | 7 | 109 | 15.6 | 35 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Christian Betancur | TE | 8 | 102 | 12.8 | 27 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Chris Johnson Jr. | HB | 6 | 92 | 15.3 | 82 | 1 | 49 | 0 |
| DeVonta Smith | WR | 5 | 87 | 17.4 | 22 | 1 | 37 | 0 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | HB | 7 | 63 | 9.0 | 57 | 1 | 19 | 0 |
| Cam Coleman | WR | 2 | 39 | 19.5 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Colston Loveland | TE | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 21 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Bryce Lance | WR | 3 | 33 | 11.0 | 7 | 1 | 21 | 0 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr | WR | 2 | 33 | 16.5 | 22 | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| Alex Honig | TE | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasheem Biles | MIKE | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| D'Angelo Ponds | CB | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | WILL | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Greenard | LEDG | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bishop Fitzgerald | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Giovani Tuggle | FS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| James Pearce Jr | REDG | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Echoles | DT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Charles Demmings | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kamari Ramsey | FS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Que Russaw | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalon Walker | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | REDG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dequavis Beck | SAM | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jailin Walker | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Germaine Pratt | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deonte Banks | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zane Gonzalez | K | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Charlie Smyth | K | 2 | 2 | 4 | 58 |

