The Saints will always have the Hurricane Katrina game on September 25, 2006. Steve Gleason’s Falcons block of a punt is commemorated in a statue outside the Superdome titled “Rebirth.”
But Monday night belonged to the Falcons.
Atlanta ruined New Orleans’ Domecoming celebration, beating the Saints 45-24.
The Superdome was cleared in the second half as the Falcons ran all over the Saints, with 205 of their 420 yards coming on the ground. Bijan Robinson had 19 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and Brian Robinson added 14 carries for 62 yards and three touchdowns.
Bijan Robinson went 59 yards for a touchdown on the third play from scrimmage, a foreshadowing of how the night would go.
The Falcons led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and 24-7 at halftime before going on a scoring spree in the second half.
The Falcons scored the fewest points in the NFL through the first two weeks, with 16. In the last two games since quarterback Michael Penix returned, the Falcons have an NFL-leading 80 points. The Falcons are 2-2 and tied with the Panthers atop the NFC South. The Saints are 1-3.
Penix went 15 of 20 for 223 yards and a touchdown, which was a 31-yarder to Jahan Dotson. Drake London caught five passes for 96 yards and Dotson two for 54.
Alvin Kamara turned back the clock by scoring two of the Saints’ touchdowns on runs of 3 and 5 yards. He tied Deuce McAllister’s franchise record for most rushing games with his 14th.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the game out of reach, Devaughn Vele made one of his best catches of the season. He got both feet down for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:13 left.
Tyler Shough went 30 of 48 for 286 yards and a touchdown despite hurting his left hand. Chris Olave caught eight passes for 116 yards before suffering a knee injury late in the game.
The only bad news for the Falcons was the loss of edge rusher Za’Darius Smith (concussion) and left tackle Jake Matthews (groin). They left in the first half with their injuries and now have a short week to return for the Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
