Game notes: New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons

The Saints defense recorded a season-high four turnovers and a season-high six sacks

Nov 23, 2018 at 01:21 AM

New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons - Mercedes-Benz Superdome - Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 - Saints postgame notes

With the win, New Orleans Saints starts the regular season 10-1, giving the franchise their 12th double-digit win season in history with seven having taken place under Head Coach Sean Payton.
The Saints return to action on Thursday (11/29) in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas when they face the Dallas Cowboys. The game will air on Fox and the NFL Network at 7:20 p.m. CT.
The win gave the Saints a 10-1 record through the first 11 games, the only better start for the club would be their 13-0 start in 2009.
With the win, the Saints run their winning streak to 10 games, giving them their second such win streak, second to a 13-game winning streak to start the season in 2009.
The Saints currently have a streak of 267 regular season games without having been shut out, dating to a 26-20 victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 6, 2002 at Raymond James Stadium, the longest running streak in the National Football League and the fifth-longest all-time.
The head coach-starting QB duo of Sean Payton and Drew Brees opened their 185th game together, moving them past the Don Shula-Dan Marino combination for second place in NFL history.
The Saints defense held the Falcons to 12 yards rushing in the first half.
The Saints defense recorded a season-high four turnovers and a season-high six sacks.
The Saints outrushed the Falcons 150-26.
QB Drew Brees completed 15-of-22 passes for171 yards, four touchdowns and a 111.9 rating. Brees played in his 260th career game, moving him into a tie for 32nd all-time in NFL record books with Nick Lowery and Julius Peppers. Brees has 3,135 passing yards in 2018, marking his 15th 3,000-passing yard season, moving him out of a tie with Tom Brady and in third behind Peyton Manning (16) and Brett Favre (18). Brees' five-yard touchdown pass to Keith Kirkwood made the undrafted rookie the 51st Saints player to record a touchdown catch from Brees. Brees has now thrown a touchdown to 66 players in his career. The game marked Brees' 157th multi-touchdown game and his 35th four touchdown game, tying him for first in NFL history in the latter category with Peyton Manning. Brees also has tied an NFL record by throwing a touchdown pass to 13 players this year, tying Matt Ryan (2016).
RB Mark Ingram played in his 101st career game. Ingram finished with 52 rushing yards on 11 carries.
RB Alvin Kamara finished with a team-high 89 rushing yards on 14 carries.
WR Michael Thomas finished with four catches for 38 yards.
WR Austin Carr recorded his second touchdown as a Saint, hauling in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brees.
WR Keith Kirkwood recorded his first touchdown of the season and of his career, hauling in a five-yard touchdown pass.
WR Tommylee Lewis scored the first touchdown, his first of the season, catching a 28-yard pass from Brees.
TE Dan Arnold recorded his first career touchdown, hauling in a 25-yard pass from Brees. Arnold finished with a team-high 45 yards on four receptions.
DE Cameron Jordan started in his 123rd consecutive game, having never missed a game, moving him past RB Fred McAfee for sole possession of 29th on the club's all-time games played list. Jordan has 67.5 career sacks with his two takedowns, moving into a tie for fourth with DE Will Smith (2004-12). Jordan finished with two sacks, four total tackles and three hits on the quarterback.
DE Sheldon Rankins recorded his seventh sack, taking down Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan for a seven-yard loss.
DE Tyeler Davison deflected a pass by quarterback Matt Ryan, which was then intercepted by LB A.J. Klein for a six-yard return. It was first interception of the season.
LB Alex Anzalone forced a fumble just before half, recovered by S Vonn Bell. Anzalone finished with six tackles.
LB Demario Davis recorded his third sack, taking down Ryan for a seven-yard loss.
CB Marshon Lattimore recorded his first force fumble of the season, recovered by CB Eli Apple for a two-yard gain. Lattimore finished with five tackles (four solo) and two passes defensed.
CB Eli Apple recorded a team-high 10 total tackles (eight solo).
CB P.J. Williams recorded his first career sack, creating a 10-yard loss. Williams finished with six total tackles (five solo).
S Marcus Williams recorded a strip sack, forced fumble and recovery on Ryan for a four-yard loss. Williams finished with five tackles.
S Vonn Bell finished with seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
K Wil Lutz nailed a 22-yard field goal and converted four extra points. Lutz has made 20 consecutive field goals for the second time in his career, tied for the second most consecutive in club record books with his streak from 2016-17 and one by kicker Morten Andersen from Nov. 24, 1985-Oct. 5, 1986.
P Thomas Morstead punted three times for 144 total yards (48.0 avg.) with a long of 56 yards.