Saints come back to down hapless Atlanta in overtime
By By Richard Dark / EMG staff writer
Nov. 17, 2003
NEW ORLEANS It will undoubtedly go down as one of the craziest, quirkiest, and most dramatic games the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons have ever been involved in.
And there have been many in this gritty backyard brawling-esque rivalry. But in overtime when Saints kicker John Carney booted the 36-yard game-winner to end the nearly four-hour marathon by a 23-20 count, all that mattered was that the Saints (5-5) had finally clawed their way to the .500 mark by overcoming a multitude of mental errors, costly penalties and near-fatal turnovers.
Indeed redemption was the order of the day and Saints running back Deuce McAllister showed why he is full of the trait that Haslett spoke of by turning around a slow individual start to crank out a career-high 173 rushing yards on 28 carries and two touchdown runs (5 and 7 yards) that helped the Saints roar back from a 20-3 deficit in the second half.
He also caught nine passes for 64 yards, but two critical fumbles nearly gave the Falcons (2-8) their second straight win over a playoff contender. His first came just inside the two-minute warning with the hosts trailing 20-17. Facing second and 9 from the 16, McAllister was hit after a gain of 2 and coughed up the football. Falcons NT Ellis Johnson picked up the ball and ran four yards but fumbled when Saints OG Montrae Holland popped him. Tight end Boo Williams then recovered his fumble for a New Orleans first down.
But the Saints couldn't recover mentally. Aaron Brooks, who was sacked seven times and threw a pair of interceptions that led to a pair of Atlanta TDs in the first half, got thrown back for a 2-yard loss and the Saints wound up having to settle for Carney's 26-yard chip shot to tie the game and force the OT.
It didn't take long for the Deuce to get loose in the extra session. On the second play from scrimmage, he busted through and got free in the secondary, rumbling 58 yards for what looked to the entire 68, 432 in attendance to be the electrifying game-winner. But as he reached the 3, former Mississippi Delta Junior College standout Juran Bolden caught up with him and stripped him of the ball from behind with an arm whip, resulting in a touchback for Atlanta.
He showed that for all to see after heading back to the bench. But even after Falcons RB Warrick Dunn (23 car., 162 yds.) stiff-armed Tebucky Jones and ripped off a 40-yard jaunt on the next play, the Saints defense stiffened and Jay Feeley's potential 54-yard game-winning boot fell short, giving Deuce another chance to atone for his gaffes.
That's exactly what he did, following a clutch Joe Horn 14-yard catch with a 23-yard burst that set Carney up for the clincher.
Bolden also had three tackles and a pick for the Falcons that set up a 4-yard scamper by T.J. Duckett, giving the Birds a 17-0 lead with 12:52 to go in the second quarter.
Michael Lewis, getting more time at the wideout spot because of a banged up Horn, caught four balls for 85 yards. All were critical to sustaining scoring drives. New Orleans victimized themselves, garnering seven penalty flags for 46 yards.
