The victory improved New Orleans record to 7-and-0, matching the franchise’s best start to a season. It also gave the Saints a three game lead over the Dirty Birds for first place in the NFC South.

Two interceptions by the Saints starting cornerbacks were the key plays in this game. Right before halftime, Jabri Greer returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown to give New Orleans a two touchdown lead at halftime. The other key pick came in the fourth quarter as Atlanta was set to take the lead. But Tracy Porter intercepted Atlanta Quarterback Matt Ryan near the goal line to prevent the score.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees paced the offense by throwing for 308 yards and two touchdowns. Pierre Thomas rushed for 91 yards on 14 carries, but had a critical fumble in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Marques Colston made a couple of amazing catches as he finished with six receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown. Tight end Jeremy Shockey had another solid game, five grabs for 72 yards.

The Falcons started the scoring by taking a page out of the Saints playbook. They marched down the field on the opening drive and scored a touchdown. Running back Michael Turner capped an 8-play, 77-yard drive, with a 13-yard touchdown run.

The drive featured two big plays, a 22-yard run by Turner and Quarterback Matt Ryan hooked up with tight end Tony Gonzalez for a 27-yard pass play.

The Saints missed defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis as Turner had 38 yards rushing during the drive, after rushing for only 50 yards against the Cowboys last week. He finished with 151 yards and one touchdown. Ellis is reportedly out four to six weeks with a knee injury that he suffered in the win over Miami.

The Saints answered the Falcons touchdown, with one of their own. Thomas scored from 22 yards out to complete a 10-play, 80-yard drive. He broke two tackles near the line of scrimmage and then turned on the jets to run past Atlanta’s secondary.

It was a balanced drive, with six rushes and four passes. Three different players ran the ball, and four different players caught a pass. Shockey had a 13-yard grab on third down to keep the drive alive. Thomas’ touchdown run was also on third down.

The Falcons would regain the lead later in the 1st quarter when they scored on a defensive touchdown. The Saints had the ball on their own 14-yard line, when Falcons free safety Thomas DeCoud came on a delayed blitz and smacked Brees, forcing a loose football. Defensive tackle Kroy Biermann picked up the football and rumbled four yards for the touchdown. The extra point made it 14 to 7 Atlanta, with 2:22 left in the 1st quarter.

The defensive touchdown by the Falcons did not deter the Saints. They came right back and tied the game with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Marques Colston’s sixth touchdown catch of the season. It was an 18-yard pass play that saw Colston go up high for the pass and he brought it down in the end zone. During the drive, Brees was 5 for 6 for 79 yards and the touchdown.

New Orleans would finally take the lead with 1:05 left in the second quarter. Reggie Bush scored his fourth touchdown of the season on a one-yard out to make it 21 to 14. Bush took a pitch from Brees and walked into the end zone as the defense was sucked to the middle of the field.

Two long pass plays to Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson helped set up the touchdown. Brees finished the first half by completing 15 of 17 passes for 201 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

But New Orleans was not done scoring in the 1st half. As Atlanta was trying to put some points on the board before halftime, Cornerback Jabari Greer picked off a Ryan pass and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown to give the Black-and-Gold a 28 to 14 lead. It was the Saints 14th interception of the season, and the fifth time they returned one for a touchdown.

At the time, it seemed like the Falcons would have a hard time overcoming Greer’s interception for a touchdown. But they would score the next ten points to get back into the game.

A 68-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to wide receiver Roddy White cut the Saints lead to 28 to 21 with 12:34 left in the third quarter. Ryan threw a rainbow to the Falcons best wide receiver, who caught it along the sidelines and raced past Greer for the score.

That was the only touchdown of the quarter, as the Saints were shutout for only the third time in a quarter this season. New Orleans had one good drive, but John Carney missed a 37-yard field goal.

The fourth quarter began with Atlanta marching the football into Saints territory, but they had to settle for a Jason Elam 24-yard field goal to cut the Saints lead to 28 to 24 with 11:33. The Falcons thought they were a point away from tying the game, but an apparent touchdown catch by White was overturned by instant replay.

The momentum would stay in Atlanta’s favor when Pierre Thomas fumbled the ball on the Saints next drive, giving the Falcons excellent field position at the New Orleans 34. The fumble occurred on third and one, as Thomas lost control of the football on a simple dive play. Strong safety Erik Coleman knocked the ball away and recovered it at the 35.

On the next play, Turner would break off a 24-yard run to the New Orleans 11. But the Saints defense would come up with a big stop two plays later. Saints cornerback Tracy Porter would make a shoe string interception at 1-yard line on a pass tipped by linebacker Jonathan Vilma, to keep the Saints in the lead 28 to 24.

Porter’s pick got the momentum back on the Saints side. Brees would then orchestrate a time consuming drive that resulted in a touchdown to seal the victory. The one-yard touchdown pass to Thomas made it 35 to 24. It completed an 11-play, 81-yard drive that took 5:27 off the clock. It was the Saints fourth scoring drive that was 80 yards or longer.

Atlanta had the final score, a 40-yard field goal by Elam with 31 seconds left. The Falcons would recover the ensuing on-side kick. But Darren Sharper would intercept a desperation pass by Ryan in the final seconds to secure the victory.