New Orleans
Saints
11-4
27
FINAL
14
Atlanta
Falcons
3-12
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a decisive showdown in Week 17, the New Orleans Saints topped the Atlanta Falcons 27-14, solidifying their playoff positioning as the regular season draws to a close. Both teams entered the game with high stakes, but it was the Saints who emerged victorious, showcasing their offensive and defensive prowess.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough had a standout performance, throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns, effectively leading his team to victory. Colston Loveland was a primary target, racking up 128 receiving yards, while the Saints' ground game provided consistent support throughout the contest. Justin Fields of the Falcons did his best to keep pace, rushing for 76 yards, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Saints' offensive firepower.
Defensively, the Saints made their mark with a strong effort, highlighted by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's five tackles and Christen Miller's two sacks, applying relentless pressure on the Falcons' backfield. The game's turning point came when Charles Demmings intercepted a crucial pass, halting an Atlanta drive and shifting momentum firmly in favor of New Orleans. The combined efforts on both sides of the ball proved decisive, allowing the Saints to outlast their division rivals.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough | QB | 35 | 25 | 333 | 3 | 0 | 129.8 |
| Justin Fields | QB | 32 | 22 | 259 | 0 | 2 | 67.0 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Fields | QB | 11 | 76 | 6.9 | 2 | 27 | 0 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | HB | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Tyler Shough | QB | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Eli Heidenreich | HB | 6 | 8 | 1.3 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colston Loveland | TE | 8 | 128 | 16.0 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Eli Heidenreich | HB | 7 | 76 | 10.9 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Christian Betancur | TE | 4 | 69 | 17.3 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| DeVonta Smith | WR | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 3 | 58 | 19.3 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Bryce Lance | WR | 5 | 50 | 10.0 | 2 | 24 | 0 |
| Lotzier Brooks | WR | 3 | 49 | 16.3 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | HB | 6 | 38 | 6.3 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Messiah Hampton | WR | 4 | 34 | 8.5 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| De'Zhaun Stribling | WR | 2 | 30 | 15.0 | 1 | 22 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | WILL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Charles Demmings | CB | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Christen Miller | DT | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D'Angelo Ponds | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Deonte Banks | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will McDonald IV | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | FS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Pearce Jr | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joshua Josephs | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dequavis Beck | SAM | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Azeez Al-Shaair | SAM | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bishop Fitzgerald | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Hughes | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Greenard | LEDG | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Que Russaw | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kamari Ramsey | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nehemiah Pritchett | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Danny Stutsman | SAM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Emerson Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Giovani Tuggle | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clark Phillips III | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Folk | K | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Charlie Smyth | K | 2 | 2 | 3 | 59 |

