By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons closed out the Thanksgiving Football feast. The Saints won 26-18 over the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
With the win, the Saints improved to 10-2 on the season. New Orleans is the first team in the league to clinch a playoff berth, as the NFC South Champs.
The loss dropped the Falcons to 3-9. This disaster season will likely mark the end of Dan Quinn’s tenure either at some point during the rest of the season, or at the conclusion of the season.
The Saints are perfect on Thanksgiving, as they improved to 3-0 on this special day in the United States. Two of the wins have come against the Falcons, as New Orleans also won 31-17 on Thanksgiving Day in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The team also won 30-27 over the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving on Nov. 25, 2010.
The Falcons fell to 1-3 all-time on Thanksgiving Day games. Atlanta has lost its past three games on Thanksgiving, as the team also lost 31-13 to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 22, 2007.
Atlanta’s lone Thanksgiving Day win came on Nov. 24, 2005 when they defeated the Detroit Lions, 27-7.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees went 18 of 30 for 184 yards. He had one touchdown pass.
Alvin Kamara had 11 carries for 61 yards. Jared Cook had three receptions for 85 yards.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan went 35 of 50 for 312 yards. He had two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Devonta Freeman had 17 carries for 51 yards. Calvin Ridley had eight receptions for 91 yards.
Both teams scored nine points in the second half. Wil Lutz made three field goals.
Ryan hit Russell Gage for a 13-yard touchdown reception. The two-point conversion failed.
Younghoe Koo then made a 43-yard field goal.
New Orleans led 17-9 at halftime. Brees hit Taysom Hill for a three-yard touchdown reception.
Hill scored on a 30-yard rushing touchdown. Lutz also made a 22-yard field goal.
Ryan hit Jaeden Graham for an 18-yard touchdown reception. Koo made a 45-yard field goal.
