The Aftermath: What the players were saying . . .
THE THRILL OF VICTORY: The Atlanta Falcons bench reacts after winning their NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in overtime, 27-24. Associated Press
MATT BRYANT, kicker
ON THE KICK: “I just kept saying, stay down and kick through. Down and through. Down and through. I hit it pretty good and it went through.”
JONATHAN BABINEAUX, defensive tackle
ON HARTLEY’S MISSED KICK: “We just wanted to get some pressure on that guy. We knew that he could be off at times. We just wanted to get pressure on him. Coach iced him for a little bit and took him out of his rhythm. He looked up and a shanked it.”
JASON SNELLING, running back
THE AGONY OF DEFEAT: Saints place kicker Garrett Hartley (5) reacts after missing a field goal during overtime against Atlanta. Associated Press
ON HARTLEY’S MISS: “I was watching and I was happy that he missed it.”
ON THE DRIVE: “We got a lot of push and were able to make plays in the running game.”
ON THE PERSEVERANCE: “It says a lot. It shows how close we are. How we deal with adversity as a team. No one got down on each other. When the opportunity came, we were able to come up big at the end.
MIKE TURNER, running back
ON FOURTH DOWN GAMBLES: “That’s coach, he believes in us. It builds the confidence and gets the momentum going for the offense. We have to keep pushing and fighting. We had to fight for everything we got out there. It was a great win.”
ON THE DRIVE: “We just pounded the football.”
ON PERSEVERANCE: “We are a growing team. We are not a perfect team, but we are growing. We are trying to do what the Saints did last year. We just have to learn how to win games like this and keep fighting.”
JOHN ABRAHAM, defensive end
ON PERSEVERANCE: “We are playing well together. We are finally become a team that believes we can win. Before I really didn’t want a moral victory out of this, oh, you played the Saints tough. This time, we can say we won.”
RODDY WHITE, wide receiver
ON PERSEVERANCE: “We have to fight through everything. We hung in there until the end, that’s all you can ask. If you go down, go down fighting.”
ON HIS TOUCHDOWN: “They did a good job of doubling me all day. They had a safety over the top. We expected them to do that. When they do stuff like that you have to quick snap them.”
CURTIS LOFTON, middle linebacker
ON THE WIN: “This is a big win. It’s a division win, but there is still a lot of season left.”
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97 comments Add your comment
ctfalconsfan
September 27th, 2010
1:33 pm
As I have said since January!
Saints – One and done!!
Hopefully this win puts us on a several game wining streak and likewise sends the saints into a 5-6 (or more) game downward spiral!!
FalconsFan284
September 27th, 2010
1:35 pm
Proudsaintsfan—–It was going so nicely until you decided you didn’t have the ability to talk football. Everything I said is proven by the huge victory the Falcons had. Really the only thing you can say is “We won it all last season.” Well, skippy, this isn’t last season. It’s this season and Atlanta just gave your team a heart check and found no pulse!!!!
FalconsFan284
September 27th, 2010
1:38 pm
The Saints are this year’s version of the ‘09 Arizona Cardinals; great offense and no defense!
proudsaintsfan
September 27th, 2010
1:58 pm
284 — i’ll talk football all day. i freely admit you guys played better yesterday. all i’m saying is to hear you talk, you won by 30 instead of 3. those kind of stats should have provided an easy win for you guys. if hartley doesn’t yank his kick, you guys are crying instead of singing. you had enough to get the job done yesterday, & you should be happy. just don’t get carrie away cause like my team, yours has things to clean up in order to be playing in late january.
geneg
September 27th, 2010
2:14 pm
For the first time in my Falcon Fandom (going back to the news reports that Tommy Nobis would be the first Falcon, I feel we have a football team that is talented enough, is coached well enough, and has the commitment of the owner to go to the elite level. There was only one problem with yesterday’s game: it was too exciting. I hate exciting football. I’ll take a 57-6 blowout any day over a game like yesterday’s. My heart can’t stand it.
Absolutely the best team on the field yesterday won that game and it should not have been as close as it was. Special teams need to pick up the pace.
waynelaster
September 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
WE CONTROLLED THE CLOCK AND WE WON THE GAME. A very well coached game, our pass defensive was not that good, but we stopped the run. I am certain Mike and the staff will make the corrections. 1 play did not determine the game both teams had a chance to win. Falcons are well balanced, that is why the won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Butch
September 27th, 2010
3:02 pm
Slowed down the dvr a bit….#74 was standing over Abraham with his hand in his face (eye). Dirty team….dirty city….dirty coaches
FrontRow
September 27th, 2010
3:04 pm
You all need to lay off the Saints fans. They don’t appreciate being reminded they GOT THE BALL JAMMED DOWN THEIR THROAT!
LOL
TheBurner32
September 27th, 2010
3:24 pm
@ProudSaintsFan
“If Hartley doesnt miss that kick yall are crying…” Hmm ok…
IF Decoud doesnt stay in bounds you dont get than turnover and score….IF Decoud and Grimes didnt blow coverage Moore doesnt get free on the 80 yard pass…IF Harry Douglas and Ryan had more timing they score on the first drive and that kick doesnt matter….IF IF IF IF…..shutup…..this game isnt about WHAT IF….its about WHAT HAPPENED…..we can play this game all day….you were outplayed yesterday…..you were outplayed….outcoached…..you were sized….measured….and found left wanting….get over it.
TheBurner32
September 27th, 2010
3:28 pm
Again @ Proudsaintsfan…
1. big edge in time of possession
2. big edge in the running game
3. won the turnover battle +2
thats what wins football games….thanks for posting that and making everyones point…..and making yourself seem ignorant.
proudsaintsfan
September 27th, 2010
3:46 pm
burner — the point is with those stats, you should have won by more than 3 & it shouldn’t have taken overtime to do it. that’s the problem with falcon fans — even when you win you’re nothing but a bunch of bitchy little girls.
Boston College Falcon
September 27th, 2010
4:00 pm
proudsaintsfan: Scoreboard.
Boston College Falcon
September 27th, 2010
4:00 pm
Now stop crying like a little girl.
TheBurner32
September 27th, 2010
4:01 pm
@ProudSaintsFans….
and thats the problem with Saints fans…..when you lose youre a bunch of whiney little babies….see how I can flip that?
and you were COMPLETELY outplayed in San Francisco…….and pulled a win off…..so my point is that stats dont always tell the tale of the 4 quarters of football that are played……
TheBurner32
September 27th, 2010
4:05 pm
@ProudSaintsFan…
and youre calling us bitchy little girls….when you are the one on a Falcons forum…trying to downplay our win….and some how glorify your loss….it just doesnt work that way…you lost…..its over with……
Blake
September 27th, 2010
4:18 pm
Point Is…their kicker chocked and ours didn’t !They had their shot and they blew It !
Blake
September 27th, 2010
4:24 pm
It’s like Drew Brees said after the game.It wasn’t about the kick.They made critical mistakes throughout the game!They got beat by time of possession and 2 int’s and 2 sacks and having the ball shoved down their throats In OT. An elite team took advantage of the missed field goal and marched down the field and wore out your defense and scored! Nuff’ said!!!!
ninerbacker
September 27th, 2010
4:26 pm
An elite team? What are you smoking?
ninerbacker
September 27th, 2010
4:30 pm
My guys are going to come to town & tear you a new one. Guys are playing for their jobs now & will finally start playing ball. You ladies are pathetic. One good win & you think you’r something. Face it ladies, the saints are top dog for now & it will take more than one loss to knock them out. We know what a gift looks like cause we gave them one on Monday night & they truned around & gave it to you. How’s it feel knowing you will lose to a winless team?
Blake
September 27th, 2010
4:31 pm
And If you think the Birds are going to lay down for Brees and Co. In our building…better think again!Ya just may get beat again…
Blake
September 27th, 2010
4:35 pm
Ninerbacker…I’m not talking about the niners..I’m talking about the Saints.But by all means…BRING IT.Seems to me, as I recall we whooped you guys all over the field on your own turf.It’s all a process and we’re learning quick…
Blake
September 27th, 2010
4:45 pm
Aint got nothing to say.That’s a lot of smack coming from someone whose team Is 0-3.We’ll see what happens Sunday on our turf!
ninerbacker
September 27th, 2010
4:55 pm
i got plenty to say. the falcons are just like kids. they learn quick but have add. so just like kids the falcons will forget what they learn real quick.
ninerbacker
September 27th, 2010
4:56 pm
and just like kids, the falcons need someone to step up & beat their butt. mike sing just the guy to do it.
WhoDat Believer
September 27th, 2010
5:26 pm
Congratulations are in order for the Atlanta Falcons who have still yet to win a Super Bowl! Who Dat Proud!!!
FalconsFan284
September 27th, 2010
6:05 pm
Proudsaintsfan—-I’m not going to get into a gutter war with you. I don’t like New Orleans or the Saints. I do think Drew Brees is potentially a Hall of Famer however he was one of the reasons the Saints lost.
What you seem to be missing is that with out secondary playing poorly yesterday, the Falcons used the perfect game plan to defeat the Saints. They controlled the ball and ran down the clock.The offensive game plan was not designed to get into a high scorring afair. Rather it was put in place to keep Drew Brees and the rest of the offense on the sidelines for as long as possible! It worked!!!! What’s better is that it seems to have dishearten your team and their fans.
The Saints were physically manhandled on both sides of the ball. The pressure the Falcon D-line put on Brees forced him to make some very costly plays on poorly thrown balls. They contained Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas for the entire game; while Turner and Snelling were wearing out the poor Saints defense. The only mistake Atlanta made, in overtime, was having a ball bounce off of DeCouds’ foot on a punt. You don’t seem to mind forgetting, the fact, that your offense needed a lucky bounce to get into position for that missed field goal.
Let me also point out that something is, as I have predicted all off season, happening that has happened in every one of Greg Williams stops; the defense is worse in it’s second year. There are currently four or five Falcons that individually have as many sacks as your entire team. Here’s a little stat for you, since you can talk football all day, which team is leading the NFL in INTs?
Ninerbacker—–Correct me if I’m wrong here but didn’t the Niners get beat down by Seatle and Kansas City? Is this the same team that got handed a 45-10 loss against the Falcons in your stadium? Is this the same 49ers team that just fired their offensive coordinator? Is this the same 49ers team that has been unable to stop the run? The best shot for your team to get a win was last Monday, against the Saints, but now they are comming to a Georgia Dome crowd and team that is angry and wants to show the world they are for real!!!!! The only chance San Fran has is if Atlanta has an emotional let down after doing something your team couldn’t; beat the Saints! Outside of that, your team is in for a looooooong day!
FalconsFan284
September 27th, 2010
6:07 pm
Whodatbeliever—-Thanks for the congrats but the question is…….Who dat just knocked da Aints back down to Earth?
Mac
September 27th, 2010
6:31 pm
The ONLY reason we won the game??? NO kicker MISSED the game wining FG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t care what the numbers or stats were..Drew Brees drove his team down the field to tie the game in regulation..NO stop by our defense!!
Then Bree’s drove his team down the field in overtime, put them in position to WIN & the kicker mised the FG,,,,,NO stop by our defense!!!!!!
I take offense with “smitty” on our 1st drive in overtime…he elects to go for it on 4th down..turns the ball over on downs at NO 37 yard line..
I believe the call there is to punt!! IF you want to gamble, kick the FG!!.
Yes, the falcons were LUCKY to win this game!!
Paddy O
September 27th, 2010
6:35 pm
proud saints – if we were on the Picayune web site yukking it up, you can complain – THIS IS THE ATLANTA JOURNAL – home of the Falcons, you pathetic rube. You admitted it – you got your butt kicked all day long. Our special teams play KEPT YOU IN THE GAME, plus a lucky punt off Decoud’s leg – or do you forget about the Moore pass that Shockey was clearly holding Spoon on that did NOT get called – go home to the swamps & bayous if you going to gripe about Falcons fans whooping it up on their home blog. – what a marooon.
Paddy O
September 27th, 2010
6:38 pm
proud – if there is someone on this blog with a painful kitty, it is you, buddy – if you can’t take the heat, get out of the south.
FalconsFan284
September 27th, 2010
6:51 pm
Mac—-The only reason we wone the game is because the Falcons out played the New Orleans Saints!!!!! Did we cry about missing a field goal that would have defeated the Steelers? Nope! Did the Falcons defense create three, yes three, turnovers yesterday? Would the Saints have been able to kick the field goal had they not gotten a lucky bounce off of Decoud’s foot when Atlanta clearly stopped their first drive? The Fourth down play you seem to have an issue with did not cost us the game!!!! Had the ball not bounced off of Decouds’ foot then Atlanta gets the ball in pretty good field position and needs only 30 yards to kick the field goal themselves!!!! Quit trying to apologize for a great Falcons win!!!!
WhoDat Believer
September 27th, 2010
7:27 pm
FalconsFan284 – Gutter war? I like Atlanta, it’s been a great football team for the Saints to whip up on for the last several years… So you won a game against the Super Bowl Champions? Gotta play 13 more regular season games then the playoffs or have you forgot? I’m not knocking the Dirty Bird win, the Saints played to lose but will be back next week and remaining season. I’ve got a great counselor in case you want to deal with your hate issues……
bcinbuford
September 27th, 2010
8:07 pm
Great game yesterday, yes it will be a classic for years to come. The repeated complaint that we got lucky needs to stop. We did get lucky at some points of the game. So did the Saints. Ours came when it counted though. We out played the Saints. Yes the stats might show that we should have blown the Saints out, but when was the last time that happened at the Superdome? (Not implying anything about the refs other than they kept out of the game mostly) When all is said and done, the Falcons did what they needed to do to win the game. We controlled the clock, like the better team is suppose to do. We didn’t turn the ball over excessively, like the better team is suppose to do. We kept Brees and Co. off the field like the team who wants to beat the Saints are suppose to do. What did they do? They turned the ball over 3 times, big no-no. They couldn’t run the ball, big no-no. And they
couldn’t capitalize on our mistakes, big uh-oh. What else needs to be said? Now on to the 49′ers.
kelvin davis
September 27th, 2010
9:19 pm
How about we talk about how lucky the saints were when thomas decouds foot hit the ball… we were up by 3 and getting the ball back when that happened… we were about to go score again cause our offense was rolling… and by the way i like the combination of turner and snelling better than norwood and turner… we are able to run between the tackles better and thats when we are best running the ball… sean weatherspoon and curtis lofton look good together… and dunta robinson is shutting down his side of the field… the saints got some big plays but only because of blown coverage
FalconsFan284
September 27th, 2010
10:04 pm
Whodat——First of all, I was mentioning some of your more choices responses to others as to not wanting to get into a gutter war with you. Even in your response you feel the need to try and insult me. One of us needs a counselor and it isn’t me.
Secondly, I will make me points about your team and not mentioning the Atlanta Falcons; since you obviously don’t understand what happened to your team yesterday or has been happening to your team since late last season. What has happened is that the Saints have slowly but surely been allowing more and more teams hang in games they should dominate. Points of reference include the Tampa Bay, San Fransisco and Minnesota games. Each of those teams came out and were physical with the Saints and the Saints were starting to give them the momentum. Also, go back and watch the Dallas game and you’ll see the Cowboys taking the Saints to the woodshed. Sure, you’ll say that the game didn’t matter to the Saints but the footage doesn’t lie. Go back and look at Dwight Freeny taking on and taking out your O-line in the Superbowl. You must have forgotten how the Colts were dominating the Saints until Dwight got hurt or re-injured as the case may be.
Yes, the Saints have a great offense that can score on any team in the league and from about anywhere on the field. What they don’t have is a defense that can match it! The loss of Scott Fujita is really starting to look like it was huge. Alex Brown is not looking like a wise pick up either; which leaves the defense vulnerable on two levels. And don’t forget about the ongoing problems Darren Sharper has been having with his knee. That means you have some lost leadership and explosiveness on the field.
And let’s talk about your coach. Sean Peyton has a wonderful offensive mind. Greg Williams is a very good defensive coordinator. That being said
FalconsFan284
September 27th, 2010
10:08 pm
Sorry, I must have hit the wrong button. What I was going to say is, that being said neither of them is perfect. Greg Williams has failed at every stop he’s made and Sean Peyton hasn’t put a complete team together. Yes, they caught lightning in a bottle last season and won it all. I congratulate them for doing that and for having the foresight of landing Drew Brees. But the fact is they can both be out coached and the Saints can be out played. Just look at the games I mentioned above for proof!
Blake
September 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
FalconsFan284..I love it buddy…keep laying It on thick!
Popeye
September 28th, 2010
12:23 am
In December on that special Monday night, all Falcon fans bring a brown paper bag to the game and remind the Saints of who they realy are. So when they say “Who Dat” we all put on our paper bags and tell them “You Dat” Who Dat with that Bag Head You Dat…You Dat…
Each time we run up the score…Put on the paper bag and give them a big ole “Who Dat”
Jimmy
September 28th, 2010
1:26 am
“…the stats show we should have blown the Saints out…”
Actually, the stats don’t show that. Brees had 350 yards passing. By that stat , the Saints should have blown us out. Don’t diminish our win by suggesting there’s something wrong with it. We had long, smashmouth drives. We were running well against 8 men in the box. That usually means a lower scoring game. The Saints had to move it down the field just to stay in the game. I think the score reflects what happened…nothing more or less.
WhoDat Believer
September 28th, 2010
10:03 am
Great point Jimmy, glad to see someone from Atlanta not drinking the coolaid yet….. It’s amazing that so many self-professed analysts can diss the Saints about how bad they should be but the bottom line is the W-L column. Given all this, Dirty Birds and Aints will probably be playing for division crown and home field advantage in playoffs. Look forward to late December rematch but I won’t be wearing my paper bag, just holding it to put the flour in for cooking up some fried Falcon. From experience it does taste a lot like chicken! Who Dat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
proudsaintsfan
September 28th, 2010
10:09 am
284 – need to get your arguments straight. mac makes the same point as me. the decoud mistake happened in the 4th quarter, not overtime. in ot, falcons won the toss & first drive was stopped by a sack on 3rd down. when a stop was needed by your defense, they came up empty in regulation & ot. credit to your guys for driving & scoring & playing ball control all game long. my point again is when needed, brees drove the team into scoring position but the kick was choked. i agree with you on another point – the saints have been letting teams they should dominate hang around longer than they should. it finally cost them against the falcons.
Dr. Warren
September 28th, 2010
11:25 am
This was the most exciting Falcons win at New Orleans since the BIG BEN hail Mary in ‘78.
Ms. KP
September 28th, 2010
2:54 pm
The play was unfolding when it was blocked. The defense eased up when the whistle was blown that is how it was blocked. I beg to differ, teams that should have taken the Saints out have allowed them to stay in the game, these last second or ot wins have just played in their favor.
Ron
September 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
FIN…what are you talking about?? You don’t make sense.
Peacemaker
September 28th, 2010
4:07 pm
No one has mentioned the fact that the Falcons did all of this in THEIR HOUSE. GO FALCONS!!!!!
GTechEngnr
September 28th, 2010
6:53 pm
@ ProudSaintsFan and WhoDat Believer – ” I like Atlanta, it’s been a great football team for the Saints to whip up on for the last several years”
Y’all are delusional… Since 2002 the Siants beat the Falcons only 3 (three) times Game 2 in 2008 and twice in 2009.
.
So that’s Falcon’s 12-3 in the last 15 games. Saints won no games against Atlanta from 2002 through 2007, and only once in 2008.
.
Y’all need to get your big heads examined…
2010 9/26/2010 Atlanta 27 – New Orleans 24
2009 12/13/2009 Atlanta 23 – New Orleans 26
2009 11/2/2009 Atlanta 27 – New Orleans 35
2008 12/7/2008 Atlanta 25 – New Orleans 29
2008 11/9/2008 Atlanta 34 – New Orleans 20
2007 12/10/2007 Atlanta 34 – New Orleans 14
2007 10/21/2007 Atlanta 22 – New Orleans 16
2005 12/12/2005 Atlanta 36 – New Orleans 17
2005 10/16/2005 Atlanta 34 – New Orleans 31
2004 12/26/2004 Atlanta 26 – New Orleans 13
2004 11/28/2004 Atlanta 24 – New Orleans 21
2003 11/16/2003 Atlanta 20 – New Orleans 0
2003 10/19/2003 Atlanta 45 – New Orleans 17
2002 11/17/2002 Atlanta 24 – New Orleans 17
2002 10/27/2002 Atlanta 37 – New Orleans 35
proudsaintsfan
September 28th, 2010
10:58 pm
gtech – nice job of forgetting the falcons were swept in 2006. let me end this boring discussion with you crackers by referring you to one of your own, Mac, earlier in this blog. he seems to be the only one of you guys with any sense.