Prayers Answered: Falcons win first home game on a Koo 58-yard FG

The Atlanta Falcons (2-2 overall, 1-0 NFC South), ahead 20-17, began the fourth quarter of their game against the New Orleans Saints with 58 total rushing yards. Running back Tyler Allegeir had 32 of those yards to that point, but he would double his tally on a drive that would end in a 42-yard field goal for Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo and a 23-17 lead.

With New Orleans down by six with 3:28 left on the clock, the Saints drove down the field and managed to get running back and former Norcross High School star Alvin Kamara into the end zone with a minute remaining in the game. The successful extra-point attempt put New Orleans up 24-23. Atlanta had one last drive and one of the best kickers in the National Football League. Long story short, Koo connected on a 58-yard field goal to win the game, the Falcons’ 26-24 victory was their first in Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season.

“That thing was going to end with a Koo make or miss anyway you look at it,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said during his postgame presser. “Koo was going to go out there.”

The Atlanta Falcons lost 22-17 to the Kansas City Chiefs last week and even though Atlanta’s overall record was 1-2 coming into this week, the most important part of the season began on Sunday. The New Orleans Saints, 2-1 overall, had already won a division game (over Charlotte) in week one.

The Falcons failed to score an offensive touchdown during the game. Morris didn’t acknowledge that fact but said, “Stats are for losers” during his postgame comments.

The game began like all of the Falcons games have begun this season, with a strong start but this time it wasn’t due to a successful opening drive. Saints punt returner Rashid Shaheed fumbled a punt on the New Orleans one-yard line and it was recovered by Falcons receiver KhaDarel Hodge for the first score of the game.

When New Orleans finally got the ball for the first time they took just 4:34 to get running back Taysom Hill in position to score from two yards out and tie the score at seven. Following a Kirk Cousins interception by New Orleans defensive back Paulson Adebo, the Saints drove downfield and scored again.

There were several third and fourth down conversions, including another run by Hill that would eventually set up a five-yard touchdown run by Hill to put the Saints in the lead, 14-7 early in the second quarter.

Atlanta would go into halftime ahead by a score of 17-14 following a successful Younghoe Koo 53-yard field goal and an interception and touchdown return from linebacker Troy Anderson. The latter was courtesy of a tipped Derek Carr pass at the line of scrimmage.

Neither team took advantage of having the ball multiple times during the latter part of the second quarter.

The third quarter began with a heavy dose of third-year running back Allgeier. First on a big third down catch, then on a run for a first down, Atlanta was in field goal position in less than four minutes. A 44-yard field by Koo, his second of the game, put the Falcons ahead 20-14. New Orleans put together a 10-play drive that ended in a 43-yard field goal to pull back within three points with a minute remaining in the third quarter.

Who’s Who: AUC in the House

The Florida A&M University Marching 100 performed at halftime and The Spelman College Glee Club performed the National Anthem before the game. They recently celebrated their 100th anniversary with a performance inside Krog Street tunnel in March.

What’s Next: Thursday Night Football

The Falcons will host the Tampa Buccaneers on Thursday, Oct. 3. The game will be broadcast on Prime Video. It’s the only Thursday night game on Atlanta’s schedule. The Falcons already played a Monday night game and will have one more on Monday, Dec. 16 in Las Vegas against the Raiders.

Who’s Who: AUC in the House

The Spelman College Glee Club performed the National Anthem before the game. They recently celebrated a 100th anniversary with a performance inside Krog Street tunnel in March.

What’s Next: Thursday Night Football

The Falcons will host the Tampa Bucaneers on Thursday, Oct. 3. The game will be broadcast on Prime Video. It’s the only Thursday night game on Atlanta’s schedule. The Falcons already played a Monday night game and will have one more on Monday, Dec. 16 in Las Vegas againts the Raiders.

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