<body><div><h2> The Saints lined up in victory formation, but scored a 1-yard touchdown instead with under 90 seconds remaining while leading 41-17 </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0KJnq2_0qdCt7Ml00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0KJnq2_0qdCt7Ml00" width="2000" height="1333" ><figcaption>Smith confronted Allen at midfield postgame, saying that the play was “f—ing bulls—.” Edward M. Pio Roda / Stringer / Getty Images </figcaption></figure><p> Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith did not hide his frustration when he met New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Smith at midfield after New Orleans scored a touchdown after lining up in victory formation with a minute remaining to push its leas to 48-17. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1744103668184478017?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> View post on Twitter </a><p> "That's f---ing bulls---," Smith appeared to say, as other coaches from both sides attempted to calm the situation. </p><p> The Saints regained possession with just under 90 seconds remaining when safety Tyrann Mathieu returned an interception to the 1-yard line. </p><p> New Orleans lined up as if it was taking a knee to run the clock down, holding a 41-17 lead, but quarterback Jameis Winston handed the ball off to running back Jamaal Williams for the score instead. </p><p> After the game, Winston explained that the players made a <a href="https://x.com/RodWalkerNola/status/1744111524258423181?s=20" rel="nofollow"> "collective decision" </a> to override Allen's call to take a knee. </p><a href="https://twitter.com/garlandgillen/status/1744111151946826152?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> View post on Twitter </a><p> Allen recognized that the touchdown was wrong and apologized to Smith and the Falcons in his postgame press conference. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> "I'm gonna start off by apologizing to Arthur Smith and the Falcons," Allen said. "That was not a play we intended to run down there to finish out that game. That's not who we are. That's not how we operate. We should've taken a knee. </p><p> "We got a good rivalry, and it's a heated rivalry. But, there's a way we go about doing our business, and I wasn't happy about that." </p><p> With the win the Saints improved to 9-8, moving into seventh place in the NFC to keep their playoff hopes alive, while the Falcons fell to 7-10 and were eliminated. </p></div></body>

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The Saints lined up in victory formation, but scored a 1-yard touchdown instead with under 90 seconds remaining while leading 41-17