Can the Falcons shock the NFC? |Breakfast bowl
The 2024/25 NFL season is upon us, and Craig Carton, Danny Perkins, and Mark Schlares are making bold predictions about who will make the playoffs in the NFC. This includes the Atlanta Falcons being the No. 1 seed.
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo was under all the pressure when he took the field for a career-high 58-yard field goal en route to a victory over the New Orleans Saints.
With seven seconds left, Koo attempted a field goal and fired it into the end zone. With legs and accuracy, the Falcons defeated their NFC South opponent 26-24 thanks to some clutch kicks from Koo.
The Saints started the season 2-0 and are currently tied with the Falcons at 2-2.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins throws a pass during the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagine Images)
This matchup was a thriller to the end, but the Falcons wouldn't have needed Ku's heroics if Alvin Kamara hadn't jumped into the end zone on third-and-goal on the previous drive for 24 points. Probably. 23 leads. Kamara had 19 carries for 77 yards and caught seven passes from Derek Carr for 42 yards.
But Kirk Cousins, who had already hit the game-winning drive in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, stole the ball knowing he had only a minute left to get into field goal range for the potential winner. .
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A key play occurred on second-and-10 from Atlanta's 30-yard line, when Paulson Adebo was called for defensive pass interference on the Falcons' Darnell Mooney, who was 30 yards downfield. This immediately put the Falcons in New Orleans territory and set up a field goal.
Although Cousins didn't throw a touchdown, it wasn't his best game, as he completed 21-of-35 passes for 238 yards with one interception.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagine Images)
In fact, the Falcons offense had no offensive touchdowns in this game. Linebacker Troy Andersen hit Carr with a 47-yard pick-six, and Carr completed 28 of 36 for 239 yards with no touchdowns. The Falcons went first after Rashid Shahid blocked a punt in the first quarter for a touchdown.
Koo completed 4 out of 4 field goal attempts and added two more points for 14 points.
Meanwhile, the Saints' versatile offensive weapon Taysom Hill reached the end zone twice on six carries.
Yong-Ho Koo of the Atlanta Falcons kicks a field goal against the New Orleans Saints. (Brett Davis-USA Today Sports)
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Chris Olave (eight catches, 87 yards) and Shahid (eight catches, 83 yards) led the Saints in the passing game, while Drake Rondon had six catches for 64 yards for the Falcons.
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